Key themes in 2025: cybersecurity and AI

This year’s conference spotlighted two of the most pressing topics facing the sector today: cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. 

AI was a recurring topic, particularly in the context of upcoming European legislation and a proposed ISO standard for its use in conformity assessment. These developments reflect a growing effort to establish structured, responsible frameworks for deploying AI across accredited systems, bringing questions of transparency, oversight, and accountability to the forefront.

Cybersecurity, meanwhile, is no longer a background concern. It’s becoming a baseline requirement. With increasing digitalization across conformity assessment workflows, secure data management and system integrity are critical. Across the industry, ISO 27001 certification is becoming mandatory for an increasing number of accreditations, underscoring the importance of aligning with international standards for information security. As digital tools and platforms become more embedded in assurance processes, cybersecurity is not just a technical safeguard, it’s a core component of trust and compliance.

Takeaways for the conformity assessment community

The focus on AI and cybersecurity at AKKKO 2025 reflects a broader shift in how the conformity assessment sector is responding to technological and regulatory change. As new legal frameworks and international standards take shape, organizations are being called to adapt, both operationally and strategically.

The overarching message was clear: to remain relevant and resilient, the conformity assessment sector must be prepared for a future in which AI plays a key role across operations. Meeting that future will require not just regulatory compliance, but well-defined structures for oversight, accountability, and transparency. At the same time, cybersecurity remains a foundational concern, especially as digital tools become more deeply embedded in audit infrastructure.