ISO IEC IEEE 15026-2-2022 PDF

Full title and description

ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026-2:2022 — Systems and software engineering — Systems and software assurance — Part 2: Assurance case. This international standard specifies requirements for the structure and terminology used when developing and maintaining assurance cases (structured arguments that link claims about system properties to supporting evidence and assumptions).

Abstract

This document specifies requirements for the structure and terminology of assurance cases and is applicable to the development and maintenance of assurance cases used to support claims about system and software properties (for example safety, reliability, security, maintainability and related attributes). The standard defines the expected elements of a well-formed assurance case and promotes consistency and clarity in argumentation and evidence presentation.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: 7 November 2022
• Publisher: Joint publication — ISO / IEC / IEEE
• ICS / categories: 35.080
• Edition / version: Edition 2.0 (2022)
• Number of pages: 20.

Scope

Specifies requirements for the structure and terminology of assurance cases to improve consistency, comparability and stakeholder communication. It is intended for use when creating, reviewing and maintaining assurance cases that argue for claims about system or software properties by linking top-level claims through structured argumentation to evidence and explicit assumptions. The scope covers form and organization of assurance cases rather than prescribing detailed methods for measuring specific properties.

Key topics and requirements

• Definitions and terminology for assurance-case elements (claims, arguments, evidence, context, assumptions).
• Required structure and organization of an assurance case to ensure traceability from top-level claims to supporting evidence.
• Guidance on documenting assumptions, contexts and confidence in evidence.
• Requirements to support maintainability and reviewability of assurance cases over the system life cycle.
• Normative linkage to Part 1 (concepts and vocabulary) and references to related life‑cycle process standards where applicable.

Typical use and users

Used by systems and software engineers, safety and security engineers, assurance practitioners, systems integrators, certification bodies and regulators to produce or assess structured assurance cases (e.g., safety cases, security cases, reliability cases). Typical applications include regulated industries (aerospace, medical devices, automotive, rail, defense) and any complex system where evidence-based claims about properties are required.

Related standards

Part of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026 series (assurance): Part 1 (concepts and vocabulary), Part 3 (system integrity levels) and Part 4 (assurance in the life cycle). Related lifecycle and engineering standards commonly used together include ISO/IEC/IEEE 15288 (system life cycle processes) and ISO/IEC/IEEE 12207 (software life cycle processes).

Keywords

assurance case; assurance argument; structured argumentation; safety case; evidence; claim; assumption; system assurance; ISO 15026; terminology; traceability.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: An international standard that defines requirements for the structure and terminology of assurance cases used to argue claims about system and software properties.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the required elements and organization of an assurance case (claims, argumentation, evidence, assumptions and context) and guidance to make assurance cases consistent, reviewable and maintainable across projects and stakeholders.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Systems and software engineers, safety/security/assurance practitioners, project managers, certification and regulatory reviewers, and others responsible for producing or evaluating evidence-based claims about system properties.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: This is the current edition published on 7 November 2022 (Edition 2). It replaces ISO/IEC 15026-2:2011.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 2 of the ISO/IEC/IEEE 15026 series on systems and software assurance; other parts address concepts and vocabulary, integrity levels and assurance across the life cycle.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Assurance case, assurance argument, claim, evidence, assumption, structured argumentation, system assurance, safety case.