The International Society of Automation

The International Society of Automation (ISA) is a non-profit professional association founded in 1945 with the mission to empower the global automation community through standards and knowledge sharing, ultimately striving to create a better world through automation. Headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, USA, the organization serves engineers, technicians, and management engaged in industrial automation worldwide.

ISA's core offerings include the development of widely used global standards, such as the ISA/IEC 62443 series for industrial cybersecurity, ISA-95 for enterprise-control system integration, and ISA-101 for human-machine interfaces. The society also provides professional certifications like the Certified Automation Professional (CAP) and Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST), alongside extensive education and training programs delivered through various formats. Additionally, ISA publishes technical articles and books, hosts conferences and exhibits, and fosters networking and career development opportunities for its members. Key initiatives include the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance (ISAGCA) and the ISA Security Compliance Institute (ISASecure), which focus on advancing industrial cybersecurity readiness and compliance.

The International Society of Automation has demonstrated a multi-year growth trajectory, reporting its fourth consecutive year of revenue and membership increases in 2025. Since 2021, membership has grown by 50% and revenue by 84%. Claire Fallon serves as the CEO and Executive Director, while Ashley Weckwerth is the President for 2026. The organization continues to be recognized as a globally trusted provider of standards-based technical resources, particularly for its contributions to industrial cybersecurity and professional certifications. In 2025, ISA also launched Mimo, an AI-powered large language model, which answered nearly 10,000 queries, reflecting a strong demand for accessible automation expertise.

Latest updates

Palindrome Gains Accreditation, Expanding ISASecure Certification Ecosystem

Event summary

  • Palindrome Technologies, a cybersecurity testing firm founded in 2005, has received full accreditation from IAS and ANAB as an ISO/IEC 17065 certification body for ISASecure.
  • The accreditation allows Palindrome to certify products against the ISA/IEC 62443 industrial security standards.
  • Palindrome is now accepting product submissions for ISASecure certification, expanding the program's reach.
  • Palindrome has been involved in the development of ISASecure's ACSSA program and its staff were early adopters of evaluator training.

The big picture

The accreditation of Palindrome Technologies represents a significant step in the maturation of the ISASecure certification program, which aims to standardize cybersecurity practices within the industrial automation sector. As OT environments become increasingly targeted by cyberattacks, the demand for independent validation of security controls is likely to increase, creating a growing market for accredited certification bodies. This expansion of the ISASecure ecosystem will likely accelerate adoption of the ISA/IEC 62443 standards across a wider range of industrial deployments.

What we're watching

Certification Volume
The pace at which Palindrome processes ISASecure certifications will indicate the demand for this specific validation within the industrial automation sector.
Geographic Expansion
Continued expansion of ISASecure's accredited certification bodies, as indicated in the release, will be a key factor in its global adoption and market penetration.
ACSSA Adoption
The uptake of Palindrome’s involvement in the ACSSA program, and the broader adoption of the scheme, will reveal the market’s appetite for asset-level security assessments.
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