ISO/IEC 38505 is officially titled "Information technology — Governance of IT — Governance of data." It is designed to help organizations apply the six core principles of ISO/IEC 38500 (Responsibility, Strategy, Acquisition, Performance, Conformance, Human Behavior) to data assets.
The standard is divided into two main parts:
Use KPIs derived from ISO 38505:
Because this keyword “iso 38505 pdf” is often used in piracy searches, let us redirect you to legitimate sources. Purchasing the standard is an investment in accuracy and compliance. iso 38505 pdf
| Source | Region | Format | Typical Cost (USD) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | ISO Store (Geneva) | Global | PDF (watermarked) | ~$150 (Part 1) | | ANSI (USA) | North America | PDF or Hard Copy | ~$170 | | BSI (UK) | United Kingdom | PDF (multi-user licenses available) | ~$210 | | DIN (Germany) | EU / Germany | PDF in German/English | ~$160 | | SAI Global | Australia/Asia | PDF with copyright protection | ~$175 |
Pro tip: If budget is a constraint, many national standards bodies offer “read-only” online viewing for a reduced fee. Additionally, academic institutions often subscribe to standards libraries (e.g., Perinorm, TechStreet) where you can download the ISO 38505 PDF for free as a student or researcher.
Here are the safe, professional ways to obtain the document: Pro Tip: Before buying, check if your organization
| Method | Best for… | Approximate Cost (USD) | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | ISO Store | Single, official PDF | ~$150–$200 | | National standards body (e.g., ANSI, BSI, DIN) | Local pricing & support | ~$150–$250 | | Organizational subscription (e.g., ANSI Webstore, Perinorm) | Multiple standards | Varies (annual fee) | | University library (if you are a student) | Academic research | Often free |
Pro Tip: Before buying, check if your organization already has a standards portal or subscription. Many large companies and consulting firms do.
Let us debunk three myths surrounding this standard. Let us debunk three myths surrounding this standard
Myth 1: “ISO 38505 is just an update to ISO 38500.” Reality: ISO 38500 covers IT governance (systems, infrastructure, applications). ISO 38505 focuses exclusively on data as a strategic asset. They are complementary, not interchangeable.
Myth 2: “I can use a free ISO 38505 PDF from a file-sharing site.” Reality: Those files are often outdated drafts, uncertified translations, or deliberately incomplete. Using them as your governance baseline exposes you to legal risk (copyright infringement) and operational risk (missing requirements).
Myth 3: “Certification to ISO 38505 is mandatory.” Reality: Unlike ISO 27001, there is no formal certification scheme for ISO 38505 (as of 2025). However, organizations use “self-declaration of conformity” or third-party gap assessments to prove alignment.
The standard is being developed in parts:
If your search for “ISO 38505 PDF” is broad, make sure you actually need Part 1—it is the foundational document.