DIN EN ISO 19011:2026-09

What is DIN EN ISO 19011 about?

DIN EN ISO 19011 provides guidelines for the auditing of management systems. It describes the principles of auditing, the management of audit programmes, the performance of audits, and the evaluation and development of auditor competence. The standard supports organizations in conducting internal and external audits systematically, transparently and effectively.

It is applicable across industries and is intended for organizations of all sizes that audit management systems or manage audit programmes. The guidelines can be used, among other things, for quality, environmental, energy, information security and occupational health and safety management systems.

What content does the standard cover?

DIN EN ISO 19011 describes the complete planning and performance of audits as well as the requirements for auditors and audit programmes. A particular focus is placed on a risk-based audit approach and the effective evaluation of management systems.

Topics covered at a glance:

• Auditing of management systems
• Audit principles and risk-based audit approach
• Planning, management and monitoring of audit programmes
• Conducting internal and external audits
• Audit methods, sampling and audit evidence
• Audit findings, audit reports and audit follow-up actions
• Competence, qualification and evaluation of auditors
• Remote audits and virtual audit sites

Why is the standard relevant in practice?

DIN EN ISO 19011 supports organizations in planning and conducting effective management system audits. It creates a uniform basis for internal audits, supplier audits and other types of audits, and helps assess the effectiveness of management systems as well as identify potential for improvement.

The requirements relating to audit programmes, audit methods, auditor competence, audit evidence and the risk-based audit approach are particularly relevant. In this way, the standard supports transparent audit practice and the continual improvement of management systems.

What changes have been made compared with the previous edition?

Compared with DIN EN ISO 19011:2018-10, the standard has been expanded and updated. The most important changes include:

• Expansion of the guidelines for remote audits through the integration of content from ISO/IEC TS 17012
• Inclusion of the term “remote audit method” in the terminology section
• Restructuring of the audit principles with a separate structure for the seven audit principles
• Expansion of Annex A to include guidelines on remote audits and virtual sites
• Expansion of the guidelines on auditing supply chains
• Linguistic and editorial revision of the standard

Target group

• Auditors and audit team leaders
• Quality managers and quality management representatives
• Professionals responsible for management systems
• Compliance and risk managers
• Certification and conformity assessment bodies
• Management system consultants
• Organizations with quality, environmental, energy or information security management systems

Supplementary standards

For the application of management systems, further standards may also be relevant, in particular DIN EN ISO 9000 for the fundamentals and vocabulary of quality management, ISO 9001 for quality management systems, and other management system standards such as ISO 14001, ISO 45001 or ISO/IEC 27001.

This document replaces DIN EN ISO 19011:2018-10 .