What Is ISO 27001 Certification, And What Does It Mean For Your Business?
If you’re your business, do you want to know what is Iso 27001 Certification?
Did you know certification means that your company adheres to certain industrial safety standards and parameters, as well as following best practices worldwide for producing high-quality products?
In order to achieve this, companies spend time investigating all aspects of operations, creating plans and strategies that are fully compliant with their needs in today’s global marketplace.
What is ISO 27001 certification?
ISO 27001 is an international standard that sets the requirements for an ISMS. It is a framework of policies, processes, and procedures to help organizations manage their information security risks.
ISO 27001 certification will provide independent, third-party verification that your organization’s ISMS meets these requirements. An accredited certification body grants the certificate after successfully auditing your organization’s system.
Organizations certified to ISO 27001 can use this certification to demonstrate that they have implemented an ISMS that meets international best practices.
What is the duration of ISO 27001 certification?
When you achieve certification, it will be valid for three years.
However, your ISMS must still be managed and maintained.
Auditors from the certification body will follow up every year with a surveillance visit to ensure everything is on track.
What advantages do ISO 27001 certifications offer?
The most important message is that externally reviewed information security management can trust and rely upon.
The ISO 27001 Certification has many advantages, such as:
Benefits to you
- Protect your reputation, brand, and intellectual property.
- Gain more business from both existing and new clients.
- Lower the cost of the sale,
- Keep more clients
- Process improvements that save costs and save time
- Avoid regulatory non-compliance penalties and fines (such as GDPR)
- Avoid civil lawsuits brought forth by data breaches.
- Avoid spending money on corrective action because of events or violations.
- Entice better personnel
Benefits to your employees
- Have faith in the organization’s long-term viability.
- Workplace training (and home security)
- Policies and procedures provide clarity.
- They are proud of the organization and its role in its protection.
Benefits to your customers
- Confidence in you and your supply chain
- There is less chance of a costly breach.
- Lower supplier onboarding costs
How to get ISO 27001 certification
To put your company through the ISO 27001 certification process, you first have to develop and implement an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that meets all of the requirements of the Standard.
Once you have an ISMS in place, you then register your company for certification with an accredited certification body. The certification body will conduct a round of random audits of the ISMS to ensure it meets all of the requirements.
If they find that your ISMS is compliant, they’ll issue you with a certificate. We’ve got a handy PDF guide outlining that process in case you need help.
How to prepare for ISO 27001 certification
Preparing for ISO 27001 certification can be challenging, but with these tips and advice from an expert, you’ll know what to do:
- Conduct a gap analysis to identify areas where your organization falls short of the Standard’s requirements.
- Create an implementation plan outlining how you will close any gaps discovered during the gap analysis.
- Train your employees on the Standard’s requirements and your implementation strategy.
- Create or update your company’s ISMS documentation, which includes policies, procedures, and other supporting documents.
- Conduct internal audits to ensure that your ISMS is working and that all employees follow the proper procedures.
- External certification audits of certification bodies are scheduled and completed.
The ISO 27001 certification process
When you’re ready for the certification, you’ll need to work with an independent, accredited certification body. The relevant national authority has rigorously evaluated these certification bodies based on their competence, impartiality, and performance capability.
A qualified auditor oversees the ISO 27001 accreditation process, which consists of two stages.
Stage 1: The auditor will review your documentation to ensure that it developed the ISMS in line with the Standards. You will expect to present evidence of all crucial elements of the ISMS, but how much depends on the certification body’s requirements.
Stage 2: If you pass the first stage, the auditor will conduct a more thorough evaluation. This assessment will include a review of the activities that support the development of the ISMS. The auditor will conduct an on-site investigation to examine your policies and procedures in greater depth. The auditor will also interview key personnel to ensure that all activities are carried out per ISO 27001.
How much does it cost to implement ISO 27001?
As the world becomes increasingly connected, and electronic data is transferred through the internet, protecting our information is crucial.
There are almost 4 billion people online and a burgeoning work-from-home economy, so the need for security will become more outstanding. Meeting the standards set by ISO 27001 often comes down to how much a company can afford, with many companies unable to afford this certification.
All ISO 27001 certification costs are not equal, but each company has different fees.
The cost of your certificate will depend on the following:
- How big is your business?
- How many certification criteria do you decide to use for your company’s risk level (high-risk industries come with added costs)
- Your information security management system’s degree of complexity (ISMS)
The cost of acquiring ISO certification ranges from $5,000 to $35,000. Small companies under 50 typically see three to six audit days, costing from $5,000 to $10,000. The average per audit day cost is around $1,500, with a total cost of about $1,500. So the whole process of getting certified can be anywhere from $5,000 to $75,000, excluding employee time spent preparing for the audits.
Conclusion
As businesses continue to grow and expand, it becomes increasingly important to have certification from reputable organizations like ISO 27001. This certification will show customers and potential partners that your business takes security seriously and has the infrastructure to meet the most up-to-date standards. Not only does having ISO 27001 certification protect your business financially, but it also demonstrates that you are committed to providing a quality customer experience.
Ready to Streamline Compliance?
Building a secure foundation for your startup is crucial, but navigating the complexities of achieving compliance can be a hassle, especially for a small team.
SecureSlate offers a simpler solution:
- Affordable: Expensive compliance software shouldn’t be the barrier. Our affordable plans start at just $99/month.
- Focus on Your Business, Not Paperwork: Automate tedious tasks and free up your team to focus on innovation and growth.
- Gain Confidence and Credibility: Our platform guides you through the process, ensuring you meet all essential requirements, giving you peace of mind.
Get Started in Just 3 Minutes
It only takes 3 minutes to sign up and see how our platform can streamline your compliance journey.
