ISO 27001 and VaaSBlock’s Risk Management Authentication (RMA™) work together to strengthen security and credibility for blockchain organisations. ISO 27001 provides a globally recognised framework for managing information security, while RMA™ evaluates blockchain-specific risks such as governance, operational integrity and technical robustness. When a crypto platform holds both, it sends a clear signal to investors, partners and regulators that security and credibility are treated as core disciplines.
Introduction
As blockchain technology matures, crypto platforms, custodians and tokenisation projects are being asked tougher questions about security and governance. Institutional investors and regulated counterparties often look for ISO 27001 certification for crypto platforms, because it is a familiar standard in traditional finance. At the same time, they also want assurance about blockchain-specific risks such as smart contract behaviour, token design, team integrity and governance.
VaaSBlock’s Risk Management Authentication (RMA™) is designed to complement, not replace, ISO 27001. ISO 27001 focuses on information security management systems. RMA™ looks more broadly at how a Web3 organisation behaves, discloses risk and runs its operations. Organisations that achieve both can demonstrate that they manage information security through a formal framework and that their wider business practices have been independently reviewed.
Understanding ISO 27001 and Related ISO Standards
ISO 27001 is one of the best known international standards for information security management. In many financial institutions, cloud providers and large enterprises it is treated as a baseline expectation rather than a “nice to have”. For blockchain organisations, ISO 27001 can be the first serious step toward aligning security practices with the expectations of traditional finance and regulators.
What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It sets out how to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve an Information Security Management System (ISMS). An ISMS is a structured way of managing sensitive information so that confidentiality, integrity and availability are protected over time.
Key Objectives of ISO 27001
- Confidentiality: Make sure information is accessible only to authorised people.
- Integrity: Keep information accurate, complete and reliable.
- Availability: Ensure authorised users can access information and systems when needed.
Practical Applications Across Industries
ISO 27001 is widely used outside blockchain and is already familiar to many of the counterparties that crypto platforms want to work with:
- Financial institutions: Protect customer data, trading systems and payment flows.
- Healthcare providers: Safeguard patient records and meet privacy obligations.
- Technology companies: Secure cloud platforms, APIs and user information.
- Government agencies: Protect citizen data and sensitive internal systems.
Core Components
- Risk assessment: Identify information security risks and evaluate how serious they are.
- Security controls: Put policies, procedures and technical measures in place to reduce those risks.
- Continuous improvement: Review incidents, audits and changes so the ISMS is kept up to date.
ISO 27001 is valued because it provides a structured and repeatable way to manage information security. For crypto and digital asset custody platforms, it helps answer questions such as “how are private keys protected?”, “how are incidents handled?” and “how are security risks reviewed over time?”.
Understanding VaaSBlock’s RMA™
The Risk Management Authentication (RMA™) is VaaSBlock’s independent review framework for Web3 and digital asset organisations. The RMA™ badge is a tokenised credential that signals a project has been assessed for governance, operational integrity, transparency and technical security, not just code-level issues.
RMA™ fills the gap between narrow smart contract audits and broad but non-specialised certifications. It is relevant for wallets, custodians, token issuers and also for service firms such as marketing agencies, legal advisors and technology providers that work with blockchain clients.
The framework was built by a team with experience in Web3, insurance and international risk. It brings together lessons from traditional assurance practices and the practical realities of decentralised markets. Rather than focusing on one narrow dimension, RMA™ sets minimum expectations across multiple categories so that weak projects find it hard to pass.
RMA™ is not positioned as “better than” ISO 27001. Instead, it sits alongside ISO 27001 and other standards. ISO 27001 focuses on information security management. RMA™ focuses on blockchain-specific credibility and business conduct. Together, they provide a more complete picture for stakeholders.
Key Objectives of RMA™
- Enhance credibility: Help investors and communities distinguish serious projects from unreliable ones.
- Promote transparency: Encourage clear explanation of structures, risks and dependencies.
- Foster trust: Provide an independent view of how a project manages security, governance and operations.
Core Components
- Comprehensive verification: Structured questionnaires and workshops covering technical design, legal position, governance, operations and market behaviour.
- Technical reviews: Assessment of smart contract architecture, cybersecurity posture and supporting infrastructure, which may include specialist audits.
- Business evaluation: Review of compliance, governance arrangements, crisis planning and evidence of responsible decision-making.
Comparing RMA™ and ISO 27001
Scope and Focus
ISO 27001
- Information security: Focuses on policies, procedures and controls to manage information security risks.
- Cross-industry use: Designed for organisations in any sector that handle sensitive information.
- Formal risk process: Requires documented risk assessment, treatment and review.
- Internal practice: Concentrates on how the organisation manages its own systems and data.
RMA™
- Blockchain-specific credibility: Built for decentralised and token-based business models.
- Holistic evaluation: Combines technical, legal, governance and reputation considerations.
- Trust in Web3: Helps address scepticism by showing how an organisation behaves in practice.
- External reputation: Considers how the organisation is perceived by users, partners and regulators.
Certification Process
ISO 27001
- ISMS implementation: Design and implement an information security management system.
- External audit: Undergo an audit by an accredited certification body.
- Ongoing monitoring: Maintain compliance through surveillance audits and internal reviews.
RMA™
- Questionnaire and workshops: Provide detailed information and participate in review sessions.
- Rigorous examination: Assessment of controls, governance, legal posture, team reliability and market risks.
- Badge issuance: If standards are met, a tokenised RMA™ badge with a verifiable QR code is issued.
- Optional communication support: VaaSBlock may assist with communicating the result, without promising specific marketing outcomes.
Benefits
ISO 27001 Benefits
- Recognised security baseline: Familiar to banks, institutional investors and regulators.
- Supports compliance: Helps align with data protection and security obligations.
- Clear governance structure: Encourages well-defined roles, processes and documentation.
- Improved resilience: Reduces the likelihood and impact of security incidents.
RMA™ Benefits
- Web3-relevant credibility: Addresses concerns specific to crypto, such as scams and weak governance.
- On-chain verification: Tokenised badges and QR codes make verification straightforward.
- Broader scope: Looks beyond security to behaviour, communication and team integrity.
- Network effects: Connects verified organisations within the RMA™ ecosystem.
Diving Deeper: Differences and Synergies
Technical vs. Business Focus
- ISO 27001: Concentrates on information security management inside the organisation.
- RMA™: Covers both technical security and how the organisation runs and presents itself to the market.
Industry Challenges Addressed
ISO 27001
- General information security risks: Suitable for any organisation that stores or processes sensitive data.
RMA™
- Blockchain’s credibility gap: Responds to concerns about scams, poor governance and limited disclosure.
- Regulatory uncertainty: Encourages proactive compliance and clear explanations of risk.
- Smart contract and token risks: Promotes thoughtful design and scenario planning.
Tokenization and Verification
RMA™ Badge Tokenization
- Tokenised certification: Each RMA™ badge is represented on-chain and linked to a unique QR code.
- Simple verification: Third parties can confirm the status of a badge without relying on screenshots or static PDFs.
- Aligned with blockchain principles: Uses verifiable, tamper-resistant infrastructure.
ISO 27001 Certification
- Traditional certification: Issued as a formal certificate by an accredited body.
- Verification: Usually confirmed through the certifying body or the organisation’s compliance team.
Cost and Time Investment
ISO 27001
- Resource heavy: Requires significant time and effort to implement and maintain an ISMS.
- Ongoing commitment: Needs internal audits, management reviews and periodic external audits.
RMA™
- Focused but detailed: Designed to be practical for blockchain teams while still thorough.
- Variable duration: Time depends on project complexity and how quickly information is supplied.
Which Certification is Right for You?
Many blockchain organisations will benefit from pursuing both ISO 27001 and RMA™. ISO 27001 demonstrates that information security risks are handled through a formal management system. RMA™ shows that blockchain-specific risks, governance and communication have been independently reviewed. Together, they support stronger conversations with exchanges, institutional investors and regulators.
Consider Pursuing ISO 27001 if:
- Your organisation handles sensitive customer or transaction data across multiple systems.
- You work with banks, funds or institutions that already use ISO 27001 as a benchmark.
- Regulators or counterparties ask for documented information security controls.
- You are ready to invest in a long-term security management framework.
Consider Pursuing RMA™ if:
- Your organisation operates in the blockchain or Web3 space.
- You want independent validation of credibility, governance and operational integrity.
- Your users, investors or partners are concerned about scams, weak governance or limited transparency.
- You want to be visible within a network of projects that have passed an external review.
Consider Pursuing Both if:
- You want to demonstrate that information security and broader business conduct are both taken seriously.
- You work with stakeholders in both traditional finance and Web3 communities.
- You plan to scale digital asset products that must satisfy multiple layers of scrutiny.
For organisations that handle both internal data and on-chain value, ISO 27001 and RMA™ together provide a more complete picture than either in isolation. ISO 27001 addresses information security management. RMA™ extends that foundation into blockchain-specific credibility and risk.
Benefits of Dual Certification
- Stronger trust signal: Combines a familiar global standard with a blockchain-specific review.
- Better positioning with institutions: Helps bridge the gap between Web3 projects and traditional financial stakeholders.
- Regulatory readiness: Supports future regulatory engagement by showing proactive risk management.
- Broader risk coverage: Addresses both information security and industry-specific vulnerabilities.
Conclusion
ISO 27001 and VaaSBlock’s RMA™ address different but complementary aspects of trust. ISO 27001 provides a structured approach to information security management that is recognised across many industries. RMA™ focuses on the realities of operating a blockchain or Web3 organisation, including governance, communication, technical risk and team integrity.
By combining ISO 27001 certification with an RMA™ badge, a project can offer stakeholders a clearer view of how it manages risk. This dual approach supports more confident decisions by investors, exchanges, partners and regulators.
Final Thoughts
VaaSBlock’s RMA™ was designed to sit alongside existing standards, not to compete with them. When used together, ISO 27001 and RMA™ help blockchain organisations move beyond simple claims about security and trust and show independent evidence instead. For teams that plan to operate at scale and work with regulated counterparties, that evidence is becoming less of a differentiator and more of a basic requirement.
Organisations that invest early in structured security and credibility frameworks are better prepared for the next phase of digital asset adoption, where scrutiny will be higher and expectations clearer.