Is ISO/TS 31050 a standard or a technical specification?
ISO/TS 31050 is a technical specification, which is what the TS in its name signals. A technical specification carries authoritative ISO guidance but is issued when a subject is still developing, and here it extends the ISO 31000 standard into the emerging risk field rather than replacing it.
The TS in ISO/TS 31050 is the answer in the title. It marks the document as a technical specification rather than a full International Standard, which is a deliberate choice by ISO and a useful signal about how the guidance is meant to be used.
A technical specification is published when a topic is important and well developed enough to warrant authoritative ISO guidance, yet still evolving enough that the full consensus of an International Standard would be premature. That fits emerging risk exactly, because the practice is maturing quickly, and a technical specification lets ISO put credible guidance in front of organisations without waiting years for the field to settle.
In practice, the status does not weaken the guidance. ISO/TS 31050 is developed through the same ISO process and carries real authority, and PECB has built a full certification on it. The main thing to understand is its relationship to ISO 31000, since 31050 is designed to extend that standard into emerging risk rather than to stand alone or compete with it.
For a risk professional, the label matters mostly for expectation setting. You are working with current, authoritative guidance on a fast-moving subject, applied inside the established ISO 31000 process, which is precisely what makes the ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager credential relevant to boards asking about risks that have no long track record.
Related Information
- TS stands for technical specification
- A step below a full International Standard, by design
- Issued for important subjects that are still developing
- Developed through the ISO process and carries real authority
- Extends ISO 31000 into emerging risk
“The TS label worries some buyers. It should not. It is current, authoritative ISO guidance on a subject that is still moving too fast for a full standard.”
What's next?
Explore related training
Browse all: Governance, risk & complianceBrowse all Governance, risk & compliance training courses
Related Answers
What is the difference between ISO/TS 31050 and ISO 31000?
ISO 31000 sets the general principles and process for managing any risk, while ISO/TS 31050 is a technical specification that extends that process to emerging risks: threats that surface as weak, uncertain signals with no historical data. You apply 31050 inside the 31000 framework, not as a replacement for it.
byHenri HAENNI
What is ISO/TS 31050?
ISO/TS 31050 is a technical specification that gives organisations structured guidance for managing emerging risks: threats that are still forming and cannot yet be measured with confidence. It extends the ISO 31000 risk management standard into territory that conventional risk methods handle poorly, from detecting weak signals to treating risks whose probability and impact are still unclear.
byHenri HAENNI
What is the ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager certification and what does it qualify you to do?
The PECB ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager certification proves you can identify, assess and treat emerging risks using ISO/TS 31050 inside an ISO 31000 process. It qualifies you to run an emerging risk programme in a risk, resilience or governance role, and to give a board a credible read on exposure that cannot yet be quantified.
byHenri HAENNI
More from ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager
What is the ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager certification and what does it qualify you to do?
The PECB ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager certification proves you can identify, assess and treat emerging risks using ISO/TS 31050 inside an ISO 31000 process. It qualifies you to run an emerging risk programme in a risk, resilience or governance role, and to give a board a credible read on exposure that cannot yet be quantified.
How is the ISO/TS 31050 course delivered?
Abilene Academy delivers the ISO/TS 31050 course in three formats: in person in Morges, virtual live with an instructor, and self-study at your own pace. All three cover the same two-day programme and lead to the same PECB exam and certification.
How long is the ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager training?
The ISO/TS 31050 Emerging Risks Manager training runs over two days. The certification exam is a separate two-hour session, and at Abilene Academy the same two-day format is available onsite in Morges, as virtual live training, or as self-study.
What is an emerging risk, and how does it differ from a conventional risk?
An emerging risk is a threat that is developing but not yet well understood, with no reliable history to estimate how likely it is or how hard it will hit. A conventional risk is already known and can be measured against past data. The difference matters because standard risk tools tend to overlook emerging risks until they are already causing damage.
Browse all FAQs →
Full knowledge base