We’re happy to share some news: Deep Block has officially received GS (Good Software) Certification Tier 1, a national standard for software quality in South Korea.
While we completed this certification last year, we’re sharing more details now as we prepare for expanded entry into the Korean government procurement market this year.
For those unfamiliar, the GS certification is more than just a label. It means that our software has gone through a full independent evaluation, based on internationally recognized standards, and passed tests around functionality, performance, reliability, and security. It’s the kind of certification required by many government agencies and public institutions in Korea before adopting new software tools — and it’s an important step forward for us.
Why We Pursued Certification
From the beginning, Deep Block was designed to handle complex, large-scale image analysis — particularly in sensitive fields like microscopy, semiconductor inspection, geospatial intelligence, and defense applications.
In these environments, trust in software matters. You’re working with high-value data. You need systems that are secure, stable, and proven to work under pressure.
Moreover, this certification is a critical prerequisite not only for public sector partnerships but also for meeting the demanding qualification standards set by the Korean defense industry. Organizations in these sectors must ensure that any software they implement meets the highest levels of functionality, security, and reliability, as validated by strict, government-approved testing.
For Deep Block, earning the GS Certification demonstrates our readiness and commitment to supporting sensitive and high-stakes applications, whether it’s in national security projects, defense research, or public infrastructure—enabling our partners to move forward with confidence in our platform's credibility and technical rigor.
That’s why we decided to go through the GS certification process. It wasn’t just about compliance — it was about putting our platform to the test. The process involved extensive quality checks by an accredited government agency, using global ISO/IEC standards as the benchmark.
What is GS (Good Software) Certification?
GS Certification, short for Good Software Certification, is a national software quality assurance program in South Korea. Launched in 2001, its goal is to improve software quality and promote the adoption of high-caliber domestic software products.
There are two levels of this certification: Tier 2 and Tier 1. Tier 1 products, like Deep Block, receive broader authorization to participate in Korea's government procurement market, but must meet much stricter requirements. Tier 1 certification involves rigorous, multifaceted testing under a range of real-world deployment conditions.
The evaluation is conducted on systems with minimum hardware specifications, ensuring performance and reliability even in resource-constrained environments. Additionally, all certification tests for Tier 1 are carried out within a fully isolated network, simulating highly secure and controlled operating scenarios. This stringent process provides assurance that the certified software not only meets top-tier functional and security standards but is also proven to operate effectively across diverse and demanding use cases.
KOLAS stands for the Korea Laboratory Accreditation Scheme. It’s a national system in South Korea that accredits laboratories and testing bodies to ensure their test results are objective, reliable, and internationally recognized.
Accreditation is carried out in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025, the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories. In short, a test report issued by a KOLAS-accredited lab is not just trusted in Korea — it's also accepted in over 100 countries through the ILAC mutual recognition agreement.
The evaluation focused on seven core areas of software quality:
Functionality — Does the software do what it promises, and do it well?
Performance — Can it handle demanding workloads without lag or instability?
Usability — Is the platform intuitive enough for real-world users?
Reliability — Does it behave predictably over time, even under stress?
Security — Are there strong safeguards against unauthorized access or data leaks?
Maintainability — Can it be updated or modified cleanly as requirements change?
Portability — Can it be deployed across various operating environments?
We were particularly proud to receive strong marks in performance and portability — two areas that matter a lot when you're dealing with massive image datasets and tight deployment requirements.
As part of the GS certification and KOLAS-accredited testing process, our software underwent a series of rigorous security and vulnerability assessments, including:
Database integrity and security testing
Exposure risk analysis of confidential information (e.g., passwords, user data)
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability
Verification of secure communication protocols and encryption
Isolation of user-level data to prevent data leakage between users
Access control testing for sensitive data
Authentication mechanism testing for potential weaknesses
These tests were conducted to ensure that Deep Block meets high standards not only in performance and functionality, but also in data protection, privacy, and secure system design.
For our partners in public research, manufacturing, and government-funded projects, GS certification makes it easier to bring Deep Block into your workflow. In many cases, the certification is a prerequisite for procurement, and our software now meets that standard.
It also offers peace of mind:
You can trust that the platform you’re using has been formally verified to meet high standards, not just in terms of what it does, but how it runs, how secure it is, and how well it will hold up as your needs grow.
Whether you're running Deep Block in the cloud, on a local network, or in a completely offline on-premise environment — the certification confirms that it's ready.