4 Lesser-Known Facts About ISO 27001 Certification

Jan 26
17:39

2021

Alex Afford

Alex Afford

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This article aims to throw some light on ISO 27001 standard with some key facts. The standard was specially designed for establishing information security management system in organisations.

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ISO 27001 is the premier standard for information safety,4 Lesser-Known Facts About ISO 27001 Certification Articles and organisations need to achieve it to ensure that their every valued information or data are protected. However, there are many facts about ISO 27001 certification that are still unclear to businesses. Most of them have some general assumptions and know that it helps in formulating a firm framework or information security management system (ISMS) for safekeeping their vital information.

Apart from helping them to develop a robust ISMS, this ISO standard also enables businesses to demonstrate their accountability to stakeholders’ confidentiality. Thus, it also helps to protect their organisation’s integrity. In short, it is useful as a standard that can benchmark a company’s reputation in the matter of information security and can help obtain more clients, partners and associates.

However, keeping aside all these basic facts about ISO 27001, here are some lesser-known facts regarding it. You need to know them if you have planned to achieve the certification for your organisation. ISO 27001 Standard is Not Just a Documented Formality

It is a standard that specifies a set of regulatory practices for assuring information safety. Many organisations assume that it just requires a documented ISMS with all key practices established and formalised. However, just like other necessary certifications such as ISO 9001 or ISO 45001 certification, this too needs major changes in the organisation and implementation of a unified management framework integrating all processes. All implemented practices must be according to the documented system. Also, any new practices or regulations introduced must be freshly recorded and implemented. Thus, ISO 27001 calls for a comprehensive ISMS which should be documented as well as practised meticulously.

ISO 27001 is Not a Complex Certification

Information security certification is not at all complex, but many think it is because of its entire focus on datasets management, technology infrastructure, passwords, encryption, confidential data protection, etc. However, everything about the standard is simple enough that a non-technical person or official will be able to understand. Moreover, ISO 27001 is meant to only simplify the ISMS processes with some mandatory practices that can be easily understood and followed by all in your organisation.

Needed by Organisations in Every Industry

Since it is a standard for information protection, a lot of businesses consider that it is only needed by organisations which operate with IT systems and have their services based on collection and supply of information. It is not true. Almost all organisations in every industry are eligible to get this ISO certification because they have some form of information to collect, retain, use and share. General information such as customer details, sales figures, revenue growth or annual reports, intellectual-property assets, bills, receipts, contract papers, etc. are legit data assets of every business. They all must be protected with a strong ISO-certified ISMS, regardless of whether the organisation has a proper IT infrastructure or not.

ISMS is Not Much Very Rigid

Even though ISO 27001 certification specifies requirements for ISMS which an organisation needs to follow, there are not prescriptive. It includes the standard needs you to achieve some outcomes regarding information safety but how actually you incorporate the specified security practices into your processes and achieve those outcomes is not a concern. In fact, it outlines what need to be done for proper information safety and also set guidelines for that, but it up to you how to do it. This explicit data security standard is needed by every organisation today when cybersecurity risks, malware attacks, data breaches, etc. are on the rise. Implementing an ISMS based on ISO 27001 requirements will give you a higher return on investment. Firstly, it will help to uphold your stakeholders’ trust and enhance your corporate reputation. Secondly, by eliminating any undesirable risks or data management crisis, it will save your business from legal suits or penalties. These above facts were presented to remove any apprehension about the standard which has so far prevented you from achieving it. It is as simple and as significant as other ISO standards and so getting it implemented for ensuring your information security management will be worth it.