ETOS maturity model
The Six Levels of Digital Maturity
From digitised operations to assured autonomy at machine speed: a proposed maturity progression for organisations adopting increasingly intelligent and autonomous technologies.
Maturity progression
Capability grows. At Level 6, consequence becomes governed.
Each level builds organisational capability. Assured Autonomy adds independent evaluation before consequential machine action proceeds.
- LEVEL 01
Digitised
Information and processes are converted into digital form.
- LEVEL 02
Integrated
Data, systems and processes operate across organisational boundaries.
- LEVEL 03
Automated
Repeatable activities proceed through codified workflows.
- LEVEL 04
Intelligent
AI interprets information, generates outputs and supports decisions.
- LEVEL 05
Autonomous
Agents pursue goals, use tools and execute activities within delegated boundaries.
- LEVEL 06
Assured Autonomy
Consequential machine actions are independently evaluated against evidence, governance, authority and readiness. Routine cases proceed automatically, exceptions escalate appropriately, and execution is governed by the resulting assurance state.
The defining distinction
Autonomy is not assurance.
Level 5 · Autonomous
Can the agent act within delegated boundaries?
Level 6 · Assured Autonomy
Has the proposed consequence earned the right to proceed?
Autonomy establishes that the agent can act. Assured Autonomy establishes that the consequence has earned the right to proceed.
Level 6 assurance dimensions
Six controls make autonomy governable.
Together, these dimensions preserve evidence, authority and unresolved conditions through to execution.
- D-01Separation
- The capability creator does not automatically become the authority for the resulting consequence.
- D-02Evidence integrity
- Decisions remain bound to verified, admissible and context-specific evidence.
- D-03State persistence
- Unresolved defects, conditions and assurance findings remain open until valid closure evidence is supplied.
- D-04Authority integrity
- Requesting, assessing, approving and executing remain distinct functions.
- D-05Exception-based operation
- Routine decisions proceed automatically; uncertainty, materiality and reserved authority escalate appropriately.
- D-06Execution consequence
- Assurance outcomes govern whether execution proceeds. A NO-GO is consequential, not merely advisory.
Framework context
See how ETOS GateKeeper governs evidence, authority and the decision record.
Test whether a consequential action has earned the right to proceed.
Bring the proposed action, its evidence and the applicable governance. GateKeeper returns a governed assurance state while preserving the relevant authority boundary.