Your auditor no longer has to come by. The audit is increasingly taking place via video call. Saves travel costs, but what does it mean for your certification?
What is remote auditing?
With a remote audit, the auditor is not physically present. Instead, the audit takes place via video call: interviews, sharing documentation via screen, and sometimes a virtual tour with a phone or tablet.
There are three forms:
Completely on-site
Auditor comes to your location
Fully remote
Everything via video call
Hybrid
Partly remote, partly on-site
Hybrid is the standard nowadays. Most certification bodies combine remote sessions (documentation, interviews) with a shorter on-site visit for physical observations.
When is an audit allowed remotely?
New international guidelines have been in force since January 2025 (IAF MD 4:2025). The most important change: there is no longer a fixed limit. In the past, "maximum 30% remote" often applied. The certification body now determines per organisation how much remote is allowed.
That decision depends on:
- Your sector - IT companies can often be 100% remote, production is usually not
- Your processes - Physical actions require on-site observation
- Your track record - Are you already certified and did the previous audit go well?
Key message. Remote or on-site makes no difference to the validity of your certificate. The certificate does not state how the audit was carried out.
Suitability per standard
information security
ISO 27001
80-100% - documentation and systems are digital
quality, service
ISO 9001
60-90% - depending on your activities
quality, production
ISO 9001
30-50% - production floor requires on-site visit
environment
ISO 14001
30-60% - check waste separation and storage on site
safety
ISO 45001
20-40% - workplace inspections must be on-site
Benefits for you
Cost savings
No travel costs for the auditor means 10-30% lower audit costs. The savings are even greater for international certification bodies or remote locations.
Faster planning
Not coordinating schedules for travel. A remote audit can often be planned within weeks, while on-site audits can sometimes take months.
Less disruption
No tours that stop production. Interviews can be spread over several shorter sessions instead of two full days.
Flexible participation
Do you work with remote teams or international colleagues? These can be more easily connected to a video call than to a physical visit.
Disadvantages and limitations
Technology must work
A faulty internet connection can disrupt the audit. Test your connection in advance and have a backup ready (mobile hotspot).
Not everything can be assessed remotely
What your production floor looks like, whether employees actually follow safety regulations, or whether waste is separated correctly - an auditor prefers to see with his own eyes.
Screen Fatigue
A day of video calls is intensive. For both you and the auditor. Some certification bodies therefore spread remote audits over several half days.
Less informal contact
The coffee machine conversations in which you provide extra context disappear. Make sure you take enough time to explain matters during the audit.
How do you prepare?
Preparation for a remote audit is at least as important as for on-site. Some tips:
Technical:
- Test your internet connection (minimum 10 Mbps)
- Ensure that all participants can log in to the platform (usually Teams or Zoom)
- Camera and microphone working - no echo or noise
- Documents digital and easy to find
Organizational:
- Inform colleagues involved about the remote setup
- Plan an internal audit as a dress rehearsal
- Ask the certification body for a test session one week in advance
Documentation:
- All procedures up to date and digitally accessible
- CAPAs (improvement actions) documented - transparency is appreciated
- Registrations complete (training, calibrations, internal audits)
What do you ask the certification body?
When comparing certification bodies - whether you're certifying for the first time or looking to switch - ask these questions:
- What is your policy for remote audits at my type of organisation?
- What percentage of the audit is allowed remote?
- Which platform do you use? (And may I suggest another platform?)
- Do you offer a test session in advance?
- What are the remote versus on-site costs?
- What happens if the technology fails during the audit?