What conformance means
Conformance to VES indicates that a system or process produces evidence that satisfies the normative requirements of the standard. It is assessed against the minimum evidence pack requirements, integrity mechanisms, timestamping, and independent verifiability defined in the specification.
Conformance levels
Level 01
Foundational
Basic capture of decision-state elements with timestamping and integrity mechanisms present but not consistently enforced.
Level 02
Structured
Consistent capture of evidence packs with defined structure, repeatability, and integrity preservation across workflows.
Level 03
Defensible
Evidence is complete, sealed, independently verifiable, and capable of surviving scrutiny with minimal reconstruction.
Important distinction
Conformance does not imply endorsement of a specific product. It indicates that the evidentiary substrate and defensibility layer meet the requirements defined by VES.