CIRQ (the Certification Institute for Research Quality), an International Standards Organization (ISO) audit and certification body that is a subsidiary of the Insights Association, has awarded certification to London-based Verian Group UK for compliance to the ISO 20252:2019 Standard—Market, opinion and social research, including insights and data analytics; and ISO/IEC 27001:2022, a widely recognized and internationally accepted information security standard.
Updated in 2019 to align with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), ISO 20252 establishes globally recognized terms, definitions, and service requirements for project management in research organizations. Processes outlined in ISO 20252 are designed to produce transparent, consistent, well-documented and error-free methods of conducting and managing research projects. Included in the scope of Verian’s 20252 certification are sampling including access panels, fieldwork, physical and digital observation, self-completion, and data management and processing.
ISO 27001 provides a framework for companies to manage their data security. It establishes requirements for information controls to manage people, processes, and technology. The standard covers both the technological aspects of security as well as corporate security, physical security, etc., and relies on regular risk assessments enabling a company to consistently identify and treat security threats. ISO 27001 is accepted worldwide as an assurance that proper and continual measures have been taken to protect valuable company data.
Both certifications run through July of 2027.
“It was rewarding to immerse ourselves in the various aspects of Verian’s business operations in performing two comprehensive certification audits, plus an assessment of ISO 9001 (for Quality Management Systems),” commented Juliana Wood, Managing Director of CIRQ. “Verian’s teams shared a passion for providing quality service and their organization and responsiveness aided the process immensely.” Verian joins Burke, Inc. and M3 as the only dually certified companies on CIRQ’s growing roster.
“We are delighted to have maintained our ISO certifications following our recent divestiture. Our ISO certifications are our license to operate, and the Standards and the associated processes they require are critical in providing our clients with the assurances needed in relation to quality and information security”, says Craig Watkins, Verian’s UK CEO. “As an industry specialist who understood our work and client base, CIRQ were able to accommodate our needs and meet our certification deadlines to ensure continued certification.”
About Verian Group UK
Verian Group UK launched in November 2023 following the divestment of Kantar Public from Kantar Group. Verian is a world leading, purpose-led and independent research, evidence, evaluation, and communications agency, providing services to government and the public realm with offices in the United Kingdom.
About CIRQ
A subsidiary of the Insights Association, CIRQ (the Certification Institute for Research Quality) was established to provide assessment and certification services to market research firms seeking certification to ISO 20252 and ISO 27001. A non-profit entity, CIRQ is committed to providing timely, thorough, and impartial assessments of its customers' research process management or information security management systems regarding certification to corresponding standards. CIRQ was established in compliance with all ISO requirements for certification bodies that provide auditing and certification services and is fully accredited by ANSI’s National Accreditation Board. To conform to its mandate of objective and impartial audits to these ISO standards, CIRQ is independently operated and managed under the oversight of an independent Board of Directors and submits to annual moderation by external authorities on ISO certification bodies.