Hyundai Capital UK Enhances AI Governance Through Alignment with ISO 42001
The Challenge
While HCUK already had a mature, well-functioning Information Security Management System (ISMS) certified to ISO 27001:2022, evolving AI risks and emerging expectations around ethics, transparency and accountability highlighted the need to expand the ISMS into an Integrated/Business Management System (I/BMS) incorporating the requirements of ISO 42001:2023.
The new ISO 42001 standard emphasises the need for responsible AI governance, lifecycle oversight and organisational readiness. These are areas that required additional enhancements within HCUK’s existing system. As AI technologies such as Microsoft Copilot became more prominent, HCUK recognised the importance of adopting a proactive approach to governance, ensuring that appropriate policies, risk methodologies, training programmes and oversight mechanisms were established before AI usage scaled further within the organisation.
HCUK wanted to implement requirements aligned to ISO 42001, rather than fully certify, due to current organisational need, and Bridewell worked with HCUK to implement key requirements by taking a risk-based approach to control selection.
Bridewell has a longstanding and trusted relationship with HCUK, having delivered numerous ISO 27001 internal audits, supported security enhancement activities and contributed to the development of security processes and ISMS documentation. As a result, Bridewell has deep familiarity with HCUK’s operating environment, risk profile and organisational culture that proved helpful in aligning with ISO 42001.
In addition, Bridewell demonstrated proven expertise in responsible AI governance, ISO 42001 implementation and the design of integrated management systems. This combination of technical capability, sector‑specific understanding and pre‑existing stakeholder rapport positioned Bridewell as the leading partner to guide HCUK through the initial stages of aligning its governance framework with the new ISO 42001 requirements.
The Solution
In delivering this engagement, Bridewell provided an ISO 42001‑experienced consultant to lead the development and integration of key controls from an Artificial Intelligence Management System (AIMS).
The work began with an updating and maturing a number of key policies that overlap between the ISO 27001 and ISO 42001 including:
- The scope of the management system to ensure that it formally encompassed AI‑related considerations and accounted for new roles, responsibilities and oversight obligations introduced through the standard.
- Identifying internal and external issues, defining interested‑party requirements and establishing AI‑specific objectives and KPIs.
- The AI Security Policy was reviewed and refined to ensure clarity of leadership responsibilities and to embed principles of responsible and transparent AI usage.
- New artefacts were developed to strengthen the organisation’s governance structure, including an AI Acceptable Use Policy.
- Bridewell also supported HCUK in the refinement of its risk management processes by updating the existing risk methodology to incorporate considerations unique to AI, such as fairness, interpretability, ethical risk, safety measures and potential societal impacts.
- Importantly, as a new requirement with ISO 42001, Bridewell worked closely with HCUK to create an AI Impact Assessment Framework for the organisation’s initial AI use case, ensuring that risk‑informed decision‑making frameworks were in place from the outset.
To support operationalisation of key controls, a programme of training and awareness was developed. This included training materials for HCUK’s general staff members, along with a tailored session for senior leadership. The training initiatives were designed to ensure that employees at all levels understood their responsibilities, the organisation’s ethical principles and the mechanisms for reporting concerns or uncertainties surrounding AI usage.
The Results
The collaboration delivered significant benefits to HCUK. By embedding AI considerations into existing governance structures and a certified ISO 27001 ISMS, the organisation can achieve a more robust and transparent approach to AI usage that anticipates rather than reacts to business change and as AI adoption increases.
The early integration of AIMS components within the broader ISMS reduces the likelihood of future compliance challenges and positioned the organisation to manage AI‑related risks with confidence, helping to reduce and mitigate AI risks quickly. Additionally, the effort needed to implement key requirements from ISO 42001 into a certified ISMS was significantly reduced to due to the integration and streamlining of processes and controls to meet the ISO 42001 standard requirements.
Using the ISO 42001 training material will help staff across the organisation develop a stronger understanding of responsible AI principles, enabling safer and more consistent use of AI. Updated policies, clearly defined roles and well‑structured processes increase the organisation’s readiness for audits.
Moreover, HCUK is now able to demonstrate enhanced accountability, ethical alignment and preparedness which helps to reinforce trust among customers, partners and internal stakeholders. Ultimately this helps to ensure HCUK remains future‑proofed in an environment of rapidly accelerating technological and risk landscape change.
UK Financial Company
