ISO/IEC 27001 is the leading international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It provides a framework for companies of any size to establish, implement, operate, monitor, review, maintain, and continually improve their ISMS.
The ISMS is a framework of policies, procedures, and security controls that an organisation implements to manage and protect its information.
The standard helps organisations manage the security of assets such as financial information, intellectual property, employee details, and information entrusted by third parties. It focuses on three main principles of information security, often referred to as the CIA triad (Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability).
Many SMBs implement ISO 27001 because it is a contractual requirement from one or more of their clients, ahead of working on a project. Frankly, this is the main reason we are called to assist – and we fully appreciate this commercial reality of this.
However, implementing an ISMS based on ISO 27001 can provide numerous other benefits for organisations, including:
Systematic approach: ISO 27001 offers a structured methodology for identifying and managing information security risks, reducing vulnerabilities and ensuring data protection.
Preventing data breaches: By implementing security controls, organisations can minimise the risk of breaches, hacking, and other cyber threats.
Meeting standards: ISO 27001 helps organisations comply with various data protection laws and regulations (e.g., GDPR), reducing the risk of legal penalties.
Enhanced audit readiness: It prepares companies for audits by having documented and structured security practices.
Increased trust: Certification reassures customers, partners, and stakeholders that the organisation has strong security measures in place to protect sensitive information.
Competitive advantage: Being ISO 27001 certified can distinguish a company from competitors and attract business, especially in sectors where information security is critical.
Defined processes: The standard encourages the establishment of clear policies and procedures, which leads to better management of IT systems and operational efficiency.
Minimised downtime: By identifying risks early and establishing a plan, the organisation can reduce the likelihood and impact of security incidents, resulting in fewer interruptions.
Ongoing monitoring and improvement: ISO 27001 requires organisations to continually assess and improve their ISMS, leading to sustained security enhancement over time.
Proactive risk management: It shifts organisations from reactive to proactive management of risks, focusing on prevention rather than recovery.
Security awareness: The standard promotes a culture of security awareness across the organisation, ensuring that employees at all levels understand the importance of protecting information assets.
Clear accountability: Roles and responsibilities related to information security are clearly defined, making it easier to maintain and enforce security measures.
Overall, ISO 27001 enhances the security posture of an organization, fosters trust, ensures compliance, and supports long-term resilience against evolving threats.
With more than 20 years’ experience helping SMBs achieve ISO 27001 certification, we aren’t just template providers. We can work with you, your team and your suppliers to implement your ISMS and get it certified.
Our ISO 27001 team maintains deep domain expertise in information and cyber security as well as privacy and data protection (including certifications like ISO/IEC 27001 Lead Auditor, OSCP, CISSP and CIPP/E).
Our unique combination of security and privacy expertise, our flexible approach, and personable team contributes to our 100% success rate in helping SMBs gain ISO 27001 certification, and importantly, keep it.