As it relates to ISO standards, certification is a certifying body's assurance that a service, product or system meets the requirements of the standard. While ISO develops the standards, third-party certification bodies certify conformity with those standards.
According to the ISO, the phrase "ISO certification" should never be used to indicate that a product or system has been certified by a certification body as conforming to an ISO standard. Instead, ISO suggests referring to certified products or systems using the full identification of the ISO standard.
For example, instead of "ISO certified", ISO recommends using the phrase "ISO 9001:2015 certified." This fully identifies the standard being certified, including the version -- in this case, the version of ISO 9001 released in 2015. An ISO certificate is a document that confirms that a company, organization, or product adheres to one or more of the standards established and published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ISO is a non-governmental, independent international organization that brings together experts worldwide to develop global standards that address various issues and promote technological advancement.
ISO certification indicates that the business or product meets specific requirements and operates responsibly and in compliance with industry standards and management procedures.
An external certification body typically carries out the certification process, which conducts audits and assessments to ensure that the organization or product meets the applicable ISO standard requirements.