Digital transformation has provided new alternatives for organizations to manage records and information of the customers. It has also increased the chances of data breaches, data theft, and other cybercrimes. Data security is essential for public and private sector organisations as it is the responsibility of the company to protect their users and customer information and privacy. ISO 27001 provides a framework for organisations to safeguard data systematically and cost-effectively.
ISO/IEC 27001:2013, also known as ISO 27001. ISO 27001 Certification is an internationally accredited certification for Information Security Management system.
It helps organizations to address their information security and uses the best approach. It includes:
- Managing people
- Managing processes
- Managing technology
It is published by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), in association with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).
It focuses on risk mitigation associated with data security and privacy. It is designed to handle data security and provides a framework for an effective and efficient information security management system. It requires an effective ISMS. The ISO 27001 standard is not obligatory but makes the organisation more credible and trustworthy. It is not a legal requirement for any organisation as companies have to define their controls based on their needs. If the organisation is contractually obliged to safeguard customer data in that case, it is a legal requirement to have an ISO 27001 Certification. ISO framework integrated all the policies and procedures for an organisation to use.
7 Benefits of ISO 27001 Certification
7 key benefits of ISO 27001 implementation are as follows:
- Consumer satisfaction: Customers today are more aware and interested to learn how companies protect their valuable information. ISO 27001 exhibits the organisation’s commitment to upholding confidential information and privacy. It encourages annual internal audits to examine the performance and compliance with standards. It promotes robust security controls and enhances client relationships.
- Compliance with legal regulations: It shows the company’s obligation towards information safety and enforces information security regulations. It works to detect and prevent an approach to identify potential risks and reduces the risk of fraud, information loss, and disclosure of confidential data. It promotes compliance with legal, contractual and commercial regulations and makes the organisation reliable and credible.
- Increases business resilience: It concentrates on detecting potential risks and opportunities and enables the industry to deliver quality products and services consistently. It formulates strategies to mitigate the risk and reap the opportunities.
- Protects the reputation: It requires strict compliance with the legal regulations and shows the company’s obligation toward customer data and privacy. It enhances an organisation’s reputation and helps businesses win new partners and customers.
- Cost-effective: There is a provision for internal audits and management reviews to achieve desired outcomes. It suggests all the potential risks and provides time for the organisation to mitigate those thus, saves money. In countries like Europe and the United Kingdom, where GDPR is a legal requirement government can fine regarding non-compliance with data protection requirements.
- Improves the organisation’s structure: It promotes monitoring, maintaining, reviewing, and improving the security management system. It exhibits the company’s effectiveness in implementing an information security management system and reducing the need for regular customer audits.
- Provides a competitive edge: Every organisation has to define its security controls that depend on two factors. Needs of the organisation, and The requirements of the customers.
Aligning your security controls with ISO 27001 controls provides the industry with a competitive edge in the market.
It helps the organisation in many ways as ISO 27001 Certification related to Information Security Management System applies to most industries irrespective of their size, nature, and geographical locations. ISO 27001 is a versatile certification that can help the organization in many domains, such as Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Safety strategy, Data protection, GDPR, and many more.
Implementation of ISO 27001
Implementing an ISO 27001- complaint ISMS can be a challenging task. ISO 27001 Information Security Management System implementation requires nine steps to follow. These are:
Step 1: Assembling an implementation team
Step 2: Developing an implementation plan
Step 3: Initiating the Information Security Management System
Step 4: Defining the scope of ISMS
Step5: Identifying the organisation’s security baseline
Step 6: Establishment of a risk management process
Step 7: Implementation of a risk management strategy
Step 8: Measuring, monitoring, and reviewing the working of ISMS
Step 9: Certify Information Security Management System
Advantages and Disadvantages of ISO 27001⮯
Advantages of ISO 27001:
Following are the advantages of ISO 27001:
- It lowers the cost as it reduces the incidents of cybercrime and cyberattack.
- It improves business operations as it requires strict compliance with regulations.
- It makes the organisation reliable and credible.
Disadvantages of ISO 27001:
Following are the disadvantages of ISO 27001:
- Initially, the process can be a little expensive.
- It is less flexible as it requires strict compliance with the standard.
- Some organisations may resist it, considering the wastage of time and money during the implementation phase.
ISO 27001 Benefits of lead auditor certification ⮯
- ISO 27001 lead auditor certification offers training and expertise to conduct an ISMS audit.
- It provides guidance and knowledge of ISMS and its implementation techniques.
- It can help an individual to get hired smoothly and learn ISMS improvement techniques.
