ISO is an acronym for “International Organization for Standardization.” And it involved delegates coming together from 25 countries in 1946 to ensure that reliable technology development is assured and not interfered with by national borders.
The ISO is now uniting standardization from 166 countries globally and sending reports to a Switzerland central government. Also, they make a visible impact across different industries, including shipping containers that can be loaded and unloaded at almost any port and cameras whose light sensitivity is measured in units called ISOs.
ISO established the ISO 27001 framework to combat threats and attacks targeted at information systems.
The ISO 27001 is a unified standard created to heighten information technology security for organizations and minimize data risks across different industries to enable an effective information security management system.
The core aim of this framework is data risk reduction. As an organization, you must identify valuable or sensitive information that requires optimum security, determine all potential areas data could be vulnerable to attacks, and put controls in place to mitigate the risks. Click this link for a ISO 27001 checklist.
These risks include anything that can serve as threats to data availability, confidentiality, and integrity. The standards offer a framework for identifying the required controls and processes for securing information in an organization.
ISO 27001 requirements include:
- Defining a security policy.
- Finding stakeholders and their expectations of the ISMS.
- Defining the scope of your ISMS.
- Carry out a risk assessment to identify vulnerabilities and existing data risks.
- Determining necessary processes and controls for managing those data security risks.
- Establish clear objectives for each information security initiative.
- Put controls and treatment methods to address risks in place.
- Measure and strengthen the performance of the ISMS from time to time.
When it comes to information technology security, a company will get lots of international respect by becoming ISO 27001 certified. If an independent auditor approves your enterprise’s ISMS is ISO 27001 compliant, you are ISO 27001 certified.
What Is The Purpose of ISO 27001 Certification?
Organizations need to undergo a comprehensive set of security standards to secure sensitive data. In addition, the popularity of information security regulations also increased the need for ISO 27001 certifications.
The certification comes with a whole lot of perks. For instance, you might gain clients’ and customers’ favor, and your company would have demonstrated to them that you take their personal information seriously. More so, your company will comply with other standards lie GDPR. However, being ISO compliant doesn’t directly equate to being GDPR compliant.
Is ISO 27001 Certification Mandatory?
It is not mandatory to be ISO 27001 certified; however, it is necessary to be. In addition, organizations that want to comply with GDPR laws will find ISO 27001 compliance an easy avenue to do so.
Many clients and companies that understand the value of being certified will distance themselves from working with you if you do not have the certification.
What is the ISO 27001 Certification Process?
Upon request to become ISO 27001-certified, there are basic steps you’ll need to follow to complete the process successfully.
- Choose capable employees to take up the ISO 27001 certification process. This team member will define your ISMS scope, create a documentation process, work with the auditor directly, and receive support from the management.
- Scope your ISMS. Since every organization is unique and has data specific to the company, you’ll have to define the kind of data you want to be produced. For example, while some companies wish for the whole organization to be protected, others only want to concentrate on a system or department. The selected ISO 27001 team members will need to deliberate over the items in your ISO 27001 certificate.
- Carry out a risk evaluation and employ controls. This approach will help to uncover threats to your information security and help to define your approach to addressing risks.
- Ensure proper documentation and gather needed evidence. Have your ISO 27001 team members train the general staff on the basics of information security, ISO 27001 certification, and ISMS. With your employees, you are fully informed on approaches to handle IT security issues, thereby helping the company to reduce the possibility of vulnerabilities.
- Take a complete Stage 1 audit. After about four months of ISO management, you need to involve an ISO 27001 auditor from a certification body with ISO accreditation.
- Put your Stage 1 audit recommendations into operation. Pay close attention to areas marked for improvement in your framework. Perhaps there are lost information security controls; put them into practice and document them carefully.
- Put your Stage 2 audit recommendations into operation. Charge your auditor with the smooth functioning of your information security. The primary focus of this process is to ensure you are implementing the requirements correctly. If you document a process but refuse to follow it, that’ll result in a waste of effort. After completing this audit, you’ll be offered your ISO 27001 certification, valid for 36 months.
- Stay ISO 27001 compliant. Once you have been certified, ensure to allow constant auditing from time to time. The ISO framework requires a “surveillance audit” annually to provide that commitment to the process is upheld. After 36 months, you can complete a recertification audit to reactivate, staying certified for another 36 months.
