Going all-in for certifications.

With our ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems certification up for its annual renewal, and in passing that with a perfect bill of quality health without a single non-conformity, we decided to push things further.

Why would we do that? Well, being accredited serves our customers exceptionally well. They know that our processes and procedures have been professionally and independently audited to the highest standards, which gives them confidence in our abilities to deliver what we promise. And it’s good for us at DLB too. These certifications are challenging. They can even be onerous. But it shows – and proves – that our internal processes are top-notch. Had there ever been an instance where something fell short, we could put it right. That hasn’t happened yet because we keep our house in very good order.

So, with ISO 9001 under our belt for another year, we’ve embarked on more accreditation journeys. First up is ISO 14001 to showcase our Environmental Management System (and policies) and adopt a framework that helps us manage our environmental impact – because it’s right that we remain good citizens in our business dealings and are recognised for that. We’re setting out on it right now.

Next is ISO 27001 for Information Security Management. This may be a more obvious certification for DLB, given the staggeringly sensitive personal data that we need to process in our investigative work. Our customers quite rightly expect that we have robust Information Security Management Systems in place – and of course we do, and this has been continuously verified via our Cyber Essentials certification. But ISO 27001 accreditation will go even further, providing confidence that DLB has the mechanisms to be 100% trusted with sensitive data and communications protocols. We’re already halfway into that certification, working with our consultation partners.

And in addition, our fully compliant code of practice will soon be accredited with BS 102000:2018. This standard couldn’t be more up our street as it relates to codes of practice for investigatory services. That’s what we do. Specifically, the British Standard seeks to help providers of investigative services demonstrate accountability, and we relish the prospect of that.

Our enthusiasm comes from the fact that we operate in an unregulated sector that, in our experience, can be open to abuse. So, it can be tricky for customers who need our exemplary services to compare the expertise we deploy, the speed with which we operate, the successes we achieve, and the value we deliver against other investigations practices – many of whom would pretend that they are our equals. The vast majority are not. Most don’t even come close.

This British standard provides clear differentiation. It will be awarded through independent adjudication and will carry weight as a result. It means that we won’t have to continue to self-regulate or mark our own homework – a respected and authoritative organisation will do that for us, and we (and our customers) will benefit.

We will tell you more about this exciting development as we progress. Watch this space!