In recent months (2025) we have seen a steady increase in interest for the ISO 20000-1 international standard for IT Service Management. After helping a number of new clients through the process we understand better why.
The UK Government’s Crown Commercial Service (CCS) has launched the latest tranche of framework contracts, Technology Services 4 (TS4), and one key requirement is ISO 20000-1 Certification. Here we look at what this means for your company, and how you can utilise ISO 20000 to win other public sector and private contracts.
What is TS4?
TS4 is the latest iteration of the UK Government’s framework for procuring IT services across central government, local authorities, NHS trusts and other bodies. It replaces TS3, naturally, and is part of a regular cycle.
The framework is designed to streamline the purchase of services such as desktop support, network management and cloud hosting.
At the time of writing, 1st December 2025 is the awarding date for places on the framework, and therefore suppliers are under increasing pressure to comply and certify
Why Does ISO 20000-1 Matter to the Government?
Being an international standard, ISO 20000-1 sets out tried and tested requirements for an IT Service Management (ITSM) system, ensuring consistently high-quality IT services, independently assessed and certified by an impartial certification body.
This helps the government manage risks in its supply chain.
From the perspective of you, the vendor ISO 20000-1 Certification is often used by buyers to rule-out candidates at an early stage of the tender process, while also having the structure processes in place brings benefits to your company.
The standard is also easily integrated with others such as ISO 27001 for information security or ISO 9001 for Quality Management.
An ISO 20000-1 Certification Boom?
While it’s true we have recently seen an increase in interest driven by TS4, the standard is consistently popular with IT Services companies or managed service providers working in both the public and private sectors.
However, operating to the requirements if the standard is a commitment that needs to be maintained throughout the company.
Which ISO 20000-1 Certification Body to Use?
In the UK there are several certification bodies who offer ISO 20000-1 in their portfolio and they are generally accredited by one of two bodies, either UKAS or APMG.
For the TS4 framework, the government is fairly clear in requiring UKAS accredited certification, whereas in other supply chains APMG is also accepted.
There are several factors to consider when choosing a certification body, so it’s worth talking to our certification management team here at Assent for advice.
Read to Implement ISO 20000-1?
Whether you are applying for a place on the TS4 framework, working in another supply chain or looking to open new doors, ISO 20000-1 Certification brings many benefits. However, it is a serious commitment that requires a management system to be embedded throughout your organisation.
Assent’s expert ISO 20000 consultants can offer a short gap analysis exercise to understand what you have in place already and give detailed guidance on how to achieve full compliance. We can then guide you through the entire process of closing the gaps and achieving full ISO 20000-1 Certification.
