NAID & PRISM International are Evolving: What Every Member Needs to Know About Membership & Logo Changes
July 8, 2021
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.
The pre-existing i-SIGMA bylaws create a divisional structure that divided member-companies into two constituencies; data destruction (NAID) and records management (PRISM International). This resulted in separate dues structures, with some member-companies paying dues twice, and under represents the addition of service providers who do not clearly fall into one or the other. Additionally, maintaining this divisional structure adds bureaucratic red tape that creates unnecessary expense. Removal of the divisional structure will not affect the continuing availability of NAID AAA Certification or PRISM Privacy+ Certification, and, in fact, will allow all i-SIGMA members to access those programs.
With the dissolution of the divisions, the membership structure is changing along with how members will be able to represent themselves. All members will now be identified as i-SIGMA members. The NAID and PRISM International designations will be limited to the i-SIGMA Certification Programs, retaining the strength of those brands, without diluting the names with marketing confusion over companies which are or are not certified. This will create greater clarity in the marketplace and allow all members to still receive the full benefits and backing of their trade association.
“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.”
i-SIGMA wanted to be sure to give members ample time to make updates as needed throughout the rest of 2021, so that all members and the association can start 2022 re-aligned together.