Why You Should Get an ISO 27001 Certification for Your Firm?
ISO 27001 was previously known as ISO/IEC 27001:2005. The new specification, ISO 27001:2013, is also referred to as ISO/IEC 27001:2013. It is the internationally accepted standard, developed by the International Standards Organisation (ISO) as a specification for the development, implementation, and maintenance of an information security management system (ISMS). An ISMS forms the framework for an organisation’s policies and procedures regarding physical, legal, IT, personnel, and technical controls related to information risk management.
By gaining an ISO 27001 certification, your organisation demonstrates that you care about data security. You effectively show that your organisation follows the best practices regarding information security management. The ISO 27001 certification is done by an independent accredited body and therefore provides the credibility your firm needs to operate in the information-rich and sensitive business environment of today. The standard is supported by ISO 27002:2013 which provides the code of good practice relating to information security management.
ISO 27001 follows a top-down approach to information security management and is not specific to any type of technology. Implementation entails a six-phase planning process in which you first need to define the organisation’s security policy and then define the scope of the information security management system. Once done, you will conduct a risk assessment, followed by the application of risk management. You must select the relevant control objectives and choose which controls to implement. Finally, you must prepare a statement of applicability. The process must be completed if you want the ISO 27001 certification for your company.
Though the standard does not dictate which information security controls must be used, it does give a checklist of controls. You can use it in relation to ISO 27002, which sets out the objectives and codes of good practice regarding information security controls. The latter standard consists of no fewer than 12 sections, including access control, asset management, risk assessment, human resource security, and environmental security, to name a few.
Your firm must apply all the controls relating to the specific risks associated with them. Other standards related to ISO 27001 include ISO 27003, which covers implementation guidance, and ISO 27007 as the auditing guideline.
What is an ISO 27001 ISMS?
It is a system that your organisation implements and relates to the processes, documentation, people, and technology that are relevant to the control and management of information security risks. With an ISO 27001 certification, you show that your company has all the information security practices in place to manage risks effectively.
An important part of ISO 27001 is the assessment process. You must be able to assess which security risks exist that can affect your organisation specifically.
Compliance will help your firm avoid costly expenses associated with data breaches. These expenses can include prosecution and hefty fines. Having a certified ISMS in place helps your firm meet client requirements for improved data security. You also protect your firm’s reputation as any data breaches can lead to a negative impact on your company’s image. With an ISO 27001 certification, you thus prove to your clients that you take the protection of data seriously.
It also shows that your firm meets the local and international legislative requirements regarding information security management. The certification demonstrates to international trading partners that their data is safe with your company, and that you follow the best practices regarding processing and securing information.
You also gain proof of compliance and can thus use it as part of your marketing to gain new customers and build existing relationships. Considering the cost of a single data breach, it is certainly beneficial to have an ISMS in place to prevent it from happening. Cyber-attacks become more sophisticated by the day and increase in volume every 24 hours. Implementing an ISO 27001-compliant ISMS helps to protect against these attacks. The certification provides proof that you are doing what you say you are to protect information assets.
Compliance furthermore helps your firm take responsibility for the information assets. A fast-growing business is often vulnerable, simply because processes are not in place to ensure standardised protection from risks. With an ISO 27001 certification, your firm must follow ongoing improvement plans to ensure that your information is also protected against new forms of attacks. As such, your information security grows with your firm, and everyone in the organisation understands their accountability related to information security management.
With a certification, you ensure ongoing compliance and thus require fewer audits, which can take up valuable time. Your customers are less likely to demand audits on a regular basis if you are certified.
How Implementation Works
For the purpose of an ISO 27001 certification, you will follow a set process to implement the ISMS. Planning requires defining the project scope. You will need top-level management to commit to the ISMS, as you will have to secure a budget for the process. In addition, you will need to identify the regulatory, legislative, and contractual requirements, which must be met. The next step is risk assessment, followed by a review of the controls needed and the implementation of the relevant controls.
Part of preparing for an ISO 27001 certification entails the development of information security awareness, in addition to training employees on the various aspects of the standard. This also entails training for internal audits. You will need to produce the relevant ISMS documentation and have to measure, monitor, and audit the implemented ISMS. If you are ready, you can apply for ISO 27001 certification.
How We help
We provide consultation on how to implement the ISMS for certification purposes. In addition, we offer an extensive range of relevant courses and help you identify the appropriate ones. To this end, we also provide an e-learning platform to make training the relevant parties as cost-effective as possible. In addition, we provide implementation- and audit templates. You will also appreciate our expertise in helping you to integrate the ISMS system with your existing management systems.
Our team also provides GAP analysis assistance, which will help you identify shortcomings. In addition, we help with maintenance plans after the certification has been done. View our full range of ISO 27001 certification services and let us help you streamline implementation for certification purposes.