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What is a Recognized Verification Lab?
It is an independent organization that has met the criteria for a Recognized Verification Entity and is authorized by the Certification Authority to perform verification for the certification program.
Verification is where an independent entity uses the same verification toolset(s) to assess and verify that the Supplier’s product does meet the applicable conformance requirements. Once the Supplier passes the verification process, the Supplier can proceed to the certification stage.
The goal is to have a robust, diverse, and competitive market so that Suppliers have options with regard to Recognized Verification Labs. It is possible for a Recognized Verification Lab to focus on hardware only; e.g., PICs and external connectors. It is also possible for Recognized Verification Authorities to focus on software and security. We may see an ecosystem where Recognized Verification Authorities specialize in only one area.
What is the purpose of a Recognized Verification Lab?
O-PAS Recognized Verification Authorities are critical to the independence and credibility of the Program. Using independent entities to perform verification services provide a higher level of assurance for the Supplier and End User.
How to Become a Recognized Verification Lab
When a organization is considering applying for recognition, they need to consider which Profiles their organization can verify. There is a list of available Profiles on the main page. At this time, these are the only Profiles that can be verified and certified.
What is a Profile?
Because the O-PAS Standard is large and complex, OPAF has segmented the standard into a more manageable size. The forum has identified the logical set of Conformance Requirements that defines the capabilities a Product must support in order to be verified and certified. For Version 2.2, there are seven (7) that will be made available for verification and certification.
The complete set of requirements is documented in the respective Verification Matrix.
What is the Recognition Process?
Once the organization reviews all the requirements, documents and available Test Tools, the organization will put together a package of evidence to submit to the Certification Authority. Once submitted, the organization will sign the necessary legal documentation and pay the Recognition Fee. Once completed, the Certification Authority will review the documentation. For the more technical aspects of the submission, the Certification Authority will anonymize the information and enlist the Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to evaluate the validity of the evidence.
The Certification Authority will act as an intermediary between the SMEs and the organization to ensure objectivity.
Once the evidence is deemed enough to validate the organization's claim, the Certification Authority will recognize the organization as a Recognized Verification Lab for the O-PAS Certification Program. The organization will be listed on the Recognized Verification Lab Register. Only those organizations listed on the register will be able to perform verification services for the certification program.
First Step in the Recognition Process
The organization should read through all the necessary documentation and use the available toolset(s) to perform the verification services.
The organization must become familiar with the following:
- The Body of Knowledge
- Certification Policy
- Certification Guide
- Applicable Verification Matrixes
- The Open Group® Product Certification Portfolio: Verification Entity Requirements
- The Open Group® Product Certification Portfolio: O-PAS™ Verification Lab Requirements (In progress)
- The Open Group Product Certification Portfolio: O-PAS™ Verification Procedures (in-progress)
- Verification Tool Set(s) - This page contains the Recognized Test Tools and Verification Procedures needed to verify conformance
- Recognized Verification Lab Register
- Intent to become a O-PAS Recognized Verification Lab - You will be provided a VID that you will use for the remainder of the process.
- Recognition Agreement
- Recognition Trademark License Agreement (TMLA)
Submit Your Intent to Become a Verification Lab
In order to start the process, register your intent on the Intent to Become an O-PAS Verification Lab form.
On this form, the organization will also select the Profiles(s) it wishes to verify. It is recommended that the organization accommodate more than one area if the organization is able. This will alleviate any undue burden on Suppliers.
The organization will receive an receipt via the email provided and its Verification ID (VID)
Create an Organization Account with The Certification Authority.
- Log in to your account at The Open Group here. If you do not have an account create one here.
- Complete the online Organizational Contacts Form that designates the various individuals within the Organization who are the points of contact for certification by providing their name and email for the following contact roles:
- Authorized Signatory - the person who has overall responsibility for the certification activity for your Organization and who is authorized to enter into legal commitments on behalf of the Organization.
- Primary Certification Contact - the individual who is the primary contact for all certification activity and issues across your Organization.
- Alternate Certification Contact (optional) - a person who is an alternate to the Primary Certification Contact and who has the same rights and responsibilities for certification.
- Organization Finance Contact - your Organization's primary contact for payment or invoicing issues related to certification.
- Organization Marketing Contact (optional) - the individual to contact for any certification related marketing issues.
Submission
Once the organization is ready to submit its evidence to the Certification Authority, it must do the following:
- Download and sign the Recognition Agreement and Trademark License Agreement (Digital signatures are accepted). Upload the signed documents to the Legal Documentation form to be submitted.
- Provide the necessary evidence to prove the organization meets Verification Lab requirements described in The Open Group® Product Certification Portfolio: Verification Entity Requirements and The Open Group® Product Certification Portfolio: O-PAS™ Verification Lab Requirements documents
- Pay the fee at The Open Group Shop. If your organization requires an invoice, you can request on during the checkout process.
- Once all previous steps are completed, the Certification Authority will review the entire submission and notify the Organization in writing of the outcome of the recognition process.
- If successful the Certification Authority will issue the Recognition certificate and update the Recognized Verification Lab Register.
If you have any questions regarding the verification process you can reach out to the Certification Authority here.