To remove market confusion between membership and certification, members recently approved a bylaws change limiting the use of NAID and PRISM International to the association’s certification programs. As a result, over the coming months members will transition to referring to themselves as “i-SIGMA Members.” Only where members have completed the necessary certification audits may they refer to themselves as being NAID AAA Certified and/or PRISM Privacy+ Certified.
“At the end of the day,” i-SIGMA CEO Bob Johnson said,” it means the “NAID Member” and “PRISM International Member” status and logos are going away. 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 PRISM Privacy+ Certified; however, those service providers choosing not to be certified will be limited to the use of the i-SIGMA Member logo.”
Here are answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the most recent i-SIGMA® bylaws change.
Yes, but only as part of their corresponding certification programs. There will no longer be NAID or PRISM International Members, instead, you will be an i-SIGMA Member and still receive all the same great benefits!
Active/Service Provider Members will all now be i-SIGMA Members. You will still receive the same great benefits, support, and advocacy you have always had. However, now there will be a streamlined voice in the marketplace without any confusion between members and certified members. Also, the dues structure will be better aligned to serve all members equally.
It makes it stronger! The names of our certification programs are NOT changing. NAID AAA Certification and PRISM Privacy+ Certification will continue to exist as i-SIGMA programs offered by approved i-SIGMA Members.
The Board of Directors will be reviewing the annual dues structure for the association and adjusting as appropriate. The annual dues for 2022 will be released later this year. There are no plans to change certification dues.
All organizations will be transitioned to an i-SIGMA Membership. You will be able to indicate if your organization offers RIM and/or Secure Data Destruction Services for display on the Online Directory.
You will still be able to indicate if your organization offers RIM and/or Secure Data Destruction Services for display on the Online Directory. However, only NAID AAA or PRISM Privacy+ Certified companies will have details regarding the services they offered available for filtering within the Online Directory.
Primary voting member representatives from all Vendor Member Companies were surveyed earlier this year regarding the preferred name for this membership segment. A clear majority voted that the membership have its name changed to Corporate Partners, which the Board of Directors approved with a bylaws change at the September Board meeting; this change will need ratification by the membership in the New Year. A new logo has been designed for for immediate implementation, as the historic i-SIGMA Vendor Member logo has the words “NAID” and “PRISM” on the emblem and would propagate market confusion. To download the new Corporate Partner logos, contact i-SIGMA Staff.
Everywhere! Members are encouraged to promote their i-SIGMA membership and certifications. We are stronger together. You can use your i-SIGMA Membership in the following locations just to name a few: Your website, vehicles, employee uniforms, business cards, collateral, and more. We ask that you refer to the i-SIGMA Brand Style Guide for use guidance.
Please Note: As of 1 January 2022, members may NO LONGER USE historic logos in their materials (e.g., website, business cards, brochures, trucks, etc.). Should a member be found to be in violation of the i-SIGMA Brand Style Guide by false advertising and using a historic logo, they will be in violation of the association’s Code of Ethics and subject to penalties and sanctions of the i-SIGMA Board of Directors, which may include public censure, fines, and termination of membership.
Your active membership has transitioned to an i-SIGMA Membership; however, nothing has changed regarding your certification. So, you will remain either NAID AAA Certified and/or PRISM Privacy+ Certified. You may continue to use this language and corresponding logos.
A Note on Certification Logos:
The NAID AAA Certified logo was updated in 2018. If you have not done so already, we recommend that at this time you move to using the revised version of this logo instead of using the dated historic version. NAID AAA Certified Companies, also if you are not already, you may wish to take advantage of the Marketing Materials available in the Certification Portal. This includes code you can place on your website to automatically display the “NAID AAA Certified” logo in teal, black, or white on your site along with a link that will automatically pop-up your current NAID AAA Certified credentials directly from our database when clicked. Check it out today!
The PRISM Privacy+ Certified logo was slightly updated in 2019. If you have not done so already, we recommend that at this time you move to using the revised version of this logo instead of using the dated historic version.
Effective immediately, you may use the logos indicated below. Please refer to the full i-SIGMA Brand Style Guide for appropriate usage.
The new i-SIGMA Member logo is now available for download the Members Portal My Digital Library.
Members have through the end of the year to make updates. As of 1 January 2022, members may NO LONGER USE historic logos in their materials (e.g., website, business cards, brochures, trucks, etc.). Should a member be found to be in violation of the i-SIGMA Brand Style Guide by false advertising and using a historic logo, they will be in violation of the association’s Code of Ethics and subject to penalties and sanctions of the i-SIGMA Board of Directors, which may include public censure, fines, and termination of membership.
Learn about NAID AAA Certification and PRISM Privacy+ Certification today.
Still have questions? Contact the Certification Department today.
