1CERT.ORGGlobal Trust Registry

Insights

Glossary

Definitions of terms used across the registry, recognition and due diligence functions.

1Cert Identifier
A unique, persistent reference assigned to a registered entity, credential, licence or accreditation record at the point of publication in the registry. The format is defined in the Standard for the 1Cert Identifier (1C-STD-001).
Adverse Media
Publicly reported information suggesting an entity or individual may present integrity or reputational risk. Adverse media is reported as an allegation unless independently corroborated, and is never presented as a proven finding on that basis alone.
Authorised Agency
A body authorised in writing by a jurisdictional certification partner to carry out defined verification or certification activity within that certification partner’s jurisdiction.
Beneficial Ownership
The natural person or persons who ultimately own or control an entity, whether directly or indirectly, distinct from the entity’s registered legal owners of record.
Corroboration
Support for a finding from at least two independent sources, or one primary-document source such as a filing, judgment or licensing record. A finding that is not corroborated is reported as an allegation, not as an established fact.
Jurisdictional Certification Partner
A body formally recognised to operate certification activity within a defined jurisdiction under a recognition framework. Recognition, including use of the term "accredited", is represented publicly only once a written recognition arrangement has been concluded and recorded.
Politically Exposed Person (PEP)
An individual who holds, or has held, a prominent public function, or a close associate or family member of such an individual, warranting a heightened level of scrutiny in due diligence screening.
Recognition Authority
The body responsible for maintaining a recognition framework and deciding which certification partners are formally recognised under it. 1Cert.org acts as the global trust registry and recognition authority described in its institutional charter.
Recognition Chain
The sequence of authorities connecting a credential holder back to the recognition authority — for example, a recognition authority, a certification partner, an authorised agency, and the credential holder itself. A registry record discloses this chain where more than one link exists.
Relying Party
An organisation or individual that consults a registry verification result or due diligence report to inform its own decision-making. The relying party remains responsible for its own compliance and acceptance decision.
Verification Result
The outcome of a registry lookup, confirming the status recorded by 1Cert.org against a recorded source as of the stated verification time. A verification result does not guarantee the future conduct of the entity it describes.