ISO 27001: All You Need to Know

ISO-27001 is part of a set of standards developed to handle information security: the ISO/IEC 27000 series. It is the only auditable international standard that defines the requirements of an information security management system (ISMS).

It is a leading international standard focused on information security, published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), in partnership with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

ISO 27001 safeguards the following three aspects of information:

a. Confidentiality: Only authorized people have the right to access information.

b. Integrity: Any change in the information can be done only by the authorized person(s).

c. Availability: The authorized people should be able to access the information whenever needed.

In this blog post, we’ll talk about how you can become ISO certified and the benefits it offers your business.

So, let’s get started!

How to Become ISO 27001 Certified?

Being ISO 27001 certified is a multi-year process and is a joint effort between both internal and external stakeholders. The ISMS must be fully mature considering all the potential technology risks. The certification process is divided into three phases. These are:

1. Phase 1: The organization hires a certification body auditor who can conduct a complete review of the ISMS and confirm that the standards are being followed.

2. Phase 2: The certification body/auditor conducts a more intensive audit of the individual components of ISO 27001 against the ISMS of the organization. Evidence must be presented in an information toolkit by the lead auditor concluding if the rules and regulations are being followed.

3. Phase 3: This phase includes the scheduling of follow-up audits between the certification body and the organization ensuring if complete compliance is achieved.

What are the Benefits of Being ISO 27001 Certified?

Improvement in Information Security

The implementation of ISO 27001 is done to improve information security. According to the IT Governance report, ISO 27001 is now a ubiquitous certification in information security circles.

According to a recent report, 40% of the organizations are either ISO 27001 certified and 40% are working towards certification.

The report also mentions that the ISO 27001 certification is aimed at identifying potential risks, and removing them at the earliest, given the rate at which cyber-attacks are taking place.

Competitive Advantage

ISO 27001 certification enables a company to gain some authority over its competitors by showing the customers that it is credible. Committing to ISO standards gives your organization a chance to display its core competencies to take active steps, if need be.

Being ISO 27001 certified is definitely the right thing to do and others will follow. It will not only help you stay updated with the latest technological changes, but also give you an edge over competitors.

Ensuring Legal and Regulatory Compliance

The Annexure A.18 of ISO 27001 ensures compliance with legal and contractual requirements. Its aim is to prevent any data breach concerning statutory, legal, contractual, or regulatory obligations.

An organization can document and describe how it follows ISO compliance and whether it was able to comply with all the necessary requirements. The stakeholders should be able to see if your business can endure control.

Gives Marketing Edge and Cuts Down on Expenses

Given how the competition keeps getting stiffer every single minute, you will need something that sets you apart from the rest of your competitors.

ISO 27001 certification tells your customers, stakeholders, business partners how seriously you take the safety of their data and other assets, thus boosting your marketing efforts.

Moreover, being ISO certified can cut down on any excessive costs that you might have to incur for your business if you do not comply with the ISO standards.

Strengthens Cybersecurity Cover

“Cybercriminals are expected to steal an estimated 33 billion records in 2023.”

Although cyber security means securing computer systems and ISO 27001 refers to maintaining an information security standard, they are two sides of the same coin. We cannot think of information security without cyber security.

Microsoft and Google are among the top-notch online information providers with various ISO 27001 certifications. Every other sector uses this industry standard for information security.

Global Recognition as a Reputed Supplier

Since ISO is an internationally approved certification and accepted throughout industry supply chains, it helps businesses set benchmarks for sourcing suppliers.

Being an ISO-certified supplier also helps your organization protect crucial business data and reputation.

To achieve the ISO 27001 certification means that you follow a full suite of standards designed to keep data assets secure. As a result, you get global recognition where more businesses find your business reliable and worth connecting with.

Key Takeaway

Achieving ISO 27001 certification doesn’t promise that security breaches won’t happen. But it ensures a robust system in place that helps:

a. Reduce risks and disruption
b. Improve customer confidence
c. Increase reliability and system security
d. Build business resilience

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