i-SIGMA approves bylaws changes to eliminate market confusion

Members of the Phoenix-based International Secure Information Governance & Management Association (i-SIGMA) have approved bylaws changes proposed last year that limit the use of “NAID” and “PRISM International” to the organization’s certification programs to remove market confusion between membership and certification.

As a result, members now are to refer to themselves as i-SIGMA members, and only where members have completed necessary certification audits, including unannounced third-party audits, may they refer to themselves as being NAID AAA certified or PRISM Privacy+ certified. All information also has been consolidated from three association websites to one.

“At the end of the day, it means the NAID member and PRISM International member status and logos are going away,” says i-SIGMA CEO Bob Johnson. “They will no longer be confused as inferring any form of certification.

“Certified firms may continue to represent themselves as being NAID AAA certified and/or PRSIM Privacy+ certified,” he adds, “however those service providers choosing not to be certified will be limited to the use of the i-SIGMA member logo.”

After the merger of NAID and PRISM International in 2018 that formed i-SIGMA, the association bylaws created a divisional structure that divided member companies into two constituencies. According to a news release, removal of the divisional structure will not affect the continued availability of NAID AAA certification or PRISM Privacy+ certification but will allow all i-SIGMA members to access those programs.

“With the NAID and PRISM International designations limited to the i-SIGMA certification programs, it will retain the strength of those brands without diluting the names with market confusion over companies which are or are not certified,” Johnson adds. “This will create greater clarity in the marketplace and allow members to still receive the full benefits and backing of their trade association.”

The release also states that association members should actively be transitioning any nomenclature and logo usage since brands outside of certification will be retired. More information regarding the changes at i-SIGMA can be found at its newly updated website: www.isigmaonline.org.