ISO IEC IEEE 15026-1-2019 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-1:2019 — Systems and software engineering — Systems and software assurance — Part 1: Concepts and vocabulary. This part defines assurance-related terms, presents an organized set of concepts and relationships for assurance practice, and provides context and vocabulary to be used with the other parts of the 15026 series (assurance case, integrity levels, etc.). It emphasises the statement of claims in an assurance case and the support of those claims through argumentation and evidence; it does not cover assurance for services operated and managed on an ongoing basis.

Abstract

This document establishes core vocabulary and conceptual relationships for systems and software assurance so that stakeholders across disciplines can share a common understanding. It introduces the assurance-case concept (claims, argumentation and evidence), explains integrity-level considerations, and clarifies relationships to lifecycle processes and related standards; detailed measurement or analysis techniques are intentionally outside its scope. The document was published in 2019 and later superseded by a 2025 edition.

General information

• Status: Withdrawn / Superseded (original 2019 edition withdrawn; newer edition published 2025).
• Publication date: March 2019 (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-1:2019).
• Publisher: Joint publication by ISO, IEC and IEEE (ISO/IEC/IEEE joint standard).
• ICS / categories: 35.080 (Software engineering / systems and software engineering).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (2019). Superseded by Edition 2 (2025).
• Number of pages: 27 pages (2019 edition).

Scope

Defines assurance-related terminology and an organized set of concepts and relationships to provide a common foundation for the remainder of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026 series. It is intended to help users of the other parts understand and apply assurance-case concepts, integrity levels and related notions in the context of lifecycle activities for systems and software. The standard explicitly excludes continuous operational service assurance.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions of assurance-related terms and a conceptual model for assurance practice (claims, arguments, evidence).
• Guidance on structuring assurance cases and expressing assurance claims and their supporting argumentation.
• Discussion of integrity levels and their role in setting assurance expectations and requirements.
• Clarification of relationships to system/software lifecycle standards (for example ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 and 15288) and to software quality frameworks.
• Non-normative guidance (conceptual focus); measurement, detailed analysis methods and specific evaluation techniques are outside the part’s prescriptive requirements.

Typical use and users

Used by systems and software engineers, assurance-case authors and maintainers, safety/security/quality engineers, evaluators, acquirers and certification authorities who need a common vocabulary and conceptual foundation for developing, assessing or requiring assurance for system and software properties. It is also used as a context-setting reference for the other parts of the 15026 series.

Related standards

Part of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026 series. Closely related documents include ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-2 (Assurance case), 15026-3 (System integrity levels) and 15026-4 (other assurance aspects); it is also aligned with lifecycle and quality standards such as ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207, ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 and the ISO/IEC 25000 series. The 2019 edition has been superseded by a 2025 edition which updates vocabulary and clarifications.

Keywords

assurance, assurance case, claims, argumentation, evidence, integrity level, systems engineering, software engineering, vocabulary, concepts, lifecycle

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-1 provides the vocabulary and conceptual framework for systems and software assurance, introducing assurance-case concepts (claims, argument and evidence) and related terms used across the 15026 series.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers assurance-related concepts and terminology, the structure and purpose of assurance cases, and the notion of integrity levels. It does not prescribe specific measurement or analysis techniques and excludes ongoing operational service assurance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Systems and software engineers, assurance-case developers and maintainers, evaluators, acquirers, safety and security specialists, and certification or accreditation authorities who need a shared conceptual basis for assurance work.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The 2019 edition (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-1:2019) has been withdrawn/superseded; a revised edition (ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-1:2025) is published as the current edition. Consult the 2025 edition for the latest vocabulary and clarifications.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 1 of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026 series. Other parts (for example Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4) address assurance cases, integrity levels and other assurance topics; Part 1 provides the shared vocabulary and concepts used by those parts.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Assurance, assurance case, claim, argument, evidence, integrity level, system assurance, software assurance, vocabulary, concepts.