TISAX Compliance: Earn Trust Before You’re Asked To
- Thibault Williams
- May 23, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Trust isn’t granted - it’s assessed. And in the automotive supply chain, TISAX is the signal that your business is ready.
TISAX - the Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange—has rapidly become the minimum requirement for working with leading automotive OEMs. Brands like BMW, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz now expect their suppliers to demonstrate operational security maturity, not just documented policies.
Yet many suppliers still wait to “need it.” By then, it's too late.
Featured in this article:
Explore Our TISAX Compliance Support Hub
At TMWResilience, we help suppliers build the trust that wins contracts through secure, resilient, and compliant operations.
Whether you're pre-assessment or mid-implementation, our TISAX specialists guide you from gap to governance:
Gap Analysis
Control Implementation
Accreditation Navigation
Governance Integration for First-Time Approvals
What Is TISAX and Why Was It Created?
TISAX was launched by the German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) to harmonise how information security is assessed across the automotive supply chain. Instead of forcing each OEM to conduct bespoke audits, TISAX provides a unified standard and shared trust model.
Assessments are conducted via the VDA Information Security Assessment (ISA) catalogue, which maps to core ISMS principles while tailoring requirements to automotive-specific risk.
This framework enables supplier assessments to be securely shared among TISAX participants, saving time while improving transparency.
Source: VDA QMC White Paper, 2024
Why You Can’t Wait
TISAX is already mandatory for many suppliers operating within the German and EU-based automotive ecosystems. Its relevance is expanding rapidly, especially for component manufacturers, software providers, and logistics partners.
It signals to your OEM partners:
“We take information security seriously. We are mature, audit-ready, and continuously improving.”
And critically, TISAX assessments are not internal checklists—they're third-party validated maturity benchmarks.
Not a Checkbox Exercise - A Maturity Journey
TISAX isn't about documentation. It's about demonstrable governance and risk control. The audit will test whether:
You have scoped your information risks correctly
Your functions are governed by live policies and effective controls
Your governance is embedded, reviewed, and continuously improved
Your security posture enables trust, not just compliance
TISAX Level 3—commonly expected by OEMs—requires formal management of risk, comprehensive policy deployment, and evidence of ongoing security maturity.
Source: Cyturus TISAX White Paper, 2024
How TISAX Compares to ISO 27001 and Other Standards
While TISAX and ISO 27001 share a foundation in information security management systems (ISMS), they differ in scope and specificity:
Framework | Focus | Industry Use | Assessment Sharing |
ISO 27001 | General ISMS | All industries | No |
TISAX | Automotive security + maturity | Tier 1–3 automotive suppliers | Yes (via ENX) |
Cyber Essentials | Basic IT hygiene | SMEs, general businesses | No |
Unlike ISO, TISAX does not result in a “certificate” but rather a shared assessment status—trusted across the ENX network.
Source: TÜV SÜD White Paper, 2023
What Does a Level 3 TISAX Assessment Actually Require?
To achieve Level 3, your organisation must demonstrate:
A fully implemented ISMS
Defined and enforced policies across departments
Documented asset classification and access control
Security awareness training and cultural alignment
Formal risk assessments and continuous improvement processes
This is a material difference from Level 2, which largely focuses on procedural compliance.
The TISAX Journey
Self-Assessment (ISA Catalogue)
Complete the baseline maturity assessment using VDA’s ISA framework.
Gap Review and Action Plan
Identify priority risks, policy gaps, and implementation targets.
Implementation and Cultural Enablement
Roll out controls, educate teams, and reinforce governance.
Audit and ENX Coordination
Coordinate third-party validation and ENX trust registration.
Certification and Readiness for Future Renewal
Monitor, improve, and prepare for revalidation every three years.
TISAX Roadmap: Estimated Timeline
Phase | Activities | Typical Duration |
Self-Assessment | ISA completion, scoping | 2–4 weeks |
Gap Analysis | Delta identification, roadmap planning | 2–3 weeks |
Implementation | Policies, controls, training | 6–12 weeks |
Audit Preparation | Simulation audits, ENX registration | 2–4 weeks |
Certification & Renewal | Ongoing monitoring, reporting | Ongoing |
Source: TÜV NORD White Paper, 2024
Compliance as a Competitive Differentiator
At TMWResilience, we believe compliance is not a cost - it’s a competitive lever.
Trust – earned through demonstrable governance
Security – embedded into workflows, not siloed in IT
Resilience – sustained through processes, not reaction
The businesses that lead in TISAX maturity don’t wait for compliance to be mandated. They use it as a gateway to preferred supplier status, faster procurement, and long-term partnerships.
Ready to Lead the Standard?
TISAX readiness is a strategic signal to your clients and partners. It opens doors, accelerates onboarding, and demonstrates that you are not just compliant, but confident.
Or book a readiness consultation with our implementation team.
Trust. Security. Resilience.
Built before you're asked to prove it.
TISAX Compliance: FAQs and Guidelines:
Is TISAX mandatory in the UK?
Not currently required by UK regulators, but if you serve German OEMs or global supply chains, TISAX is likely to be requested or contractually required.
Do I need TISAX if I have ISO 27001?
You might—but it depends. TISAX includes sector-specific controls not covered by ISO. Many OEMs accept ISO only as partial evidence and still require a full ENX TISAX report.
What’s the difference between TISAX Level 2 and Level 3?
Level 2 requires process maturity; Level 3 requires operational maturity, with evidence of embedded controls, measurable performance, and risk oversight.
Comments