Every Kantara Trust Mark is backed by certification. Your first step is choosing the Class of Approval that fits your service: whether you're certifying a Full Service or a Component Service, which criteria set applies (NIST SP 800-63 Revision 3 or Revision 4), and the assurance levels you're aiming for.
Not live yet? You can still apply through our Ready to Operate pathway.
Start by reading the Service Approval Handbook and the Trademark License Agreement so you understand your obligations from the outset, and see our Classes of Approval page to find your fit.
Once you've chosen your class, review the Service Assessment Criteria (SAC) that apply to it. You'll use these to prepare your Statement of Criteria Applicability (SoCA), which tells us which criteria apply to your service and how.
Applying under Revision 4? You'll also prepare a short risk narrative (DIRM) explaining how you chose your assurance levels.
Not sure about your scope? Contact the Secretariat early. We're happy to help you get it right before you apply.
Send us your application package: the Application for Certification, service description (S3A), your SoCA, and your DIRM narrative if applicable. We check it for completeness and confirm the criteria you've chosen fit your service. Once accepted, your service is listed on our Trust Status List as a Registered Applicant. You're officially on the path to your Trust Mark.
Kantara assigns a Kantara Accredited Assessor to evaluate your service. You can tell us if you have a preference, but we make the assignment to keep the process impartial. Your assessor reviews your service against the criteria and produces an assessor report (KIAR) and Statement of Conformity. If anything falls short, you'll work with your assessor to put it right before the package moves forward for review.
Once your assessment package is complete, an independent ARB Review Team reviews it and makes the certification decision: certify, certify with conditions, defer, or decline. Every decision comes with documented reasons, and a final integrity check by our Executive Director before anything is issued. It's a rigorous process, and that's exactly why the Trust Mark carries weight.
Once certified, you sign the Trademark License Agreement and your service is published on the Trust Status List, licensing you to display the Kantara Trust Mark. Use it on your website, in sales material, and in tender responses. Certification runs on a three year cycle, with lighter annual reviews in years two and three to keep your Trust Mark current.
Ready to apply for a Kantara Trust Mark?
Download our application form to start your certification journey