Do You Need ISO 27001 Certification?

Let’s look at the ISO 27001 certification and see whether it is something that your business should be pursuing.

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is a certification that focuses on your company’s information security management system.  The goal is to help organizations organize their information security in a way that enables proper confidentiality, without constraining the availability or integrity of the information.

Adhering to the guidelines of the certification requires you to identify any information security risks and address them with appropriate controls that aim to minimize the risk of privacy breaches.  The process will look something like this:

1. Scope and implement an information management security system.
2. Appoint a governing body to look after the system that includes management and other key stakeholders.
3. Perform an internal audit to evaluate how your system stacks up and make any changes that might be required.
4. Finally, undergo an external ISO audit to obtain your certification.  This will happen in 2 stages – a documentation review, and a testing process.

The certification is valid for up to three years, assuming that you’re completing annual audits to ensure that the controls are operating effectively.‍

Should My Company Be Certified?

There are a few factors to consider when deciding whether the ISO 27001 certification is right for your business:

• If you are doing business internationally, it’s a good idea to get certified because this is a globally recognized standard that holds a lot of weight.  It signals to all your stakeholders that you take privacy very seriously and that you are investing in the systems and controls that will ensure top-quality information security.

• Sometimes a significant customer might require the certification in order to do business with them.  And even if you don’t have a customer currently asking about it, the certification can open up doors for new customers who value that credibility and commitment.

• Are you dealing with a lot of sensitive data?  Then this might be a good way to audit your information security management and ensure that it’s in line with best-practice standards.

We Can Help!

Here at American Global Standards, we work with companies every day to help them obtain their ISO certifications.  So, if this is one that would be valuable for your business, we’d love to assist!  Get in touch today and let’s work together to get your information security in tip-top shape.