This article outlines the benefits of ISO 27001 accreditation.
ISO 27001 was published by international organisation for standards (ISO) and the international electrotechnical commission (IEC). It provides information security through a model which creates, implements, reviews and continually develops an information security management system. As well as this it can offer a foundation for third party audits.
It requires that management thoroughly examine any information security risks considering any threats and their possible impact. They then address the unacceptable risks by implementing security controls and have a managing process where they can continually control any new information security risks. One advantageous aspect being ISO 27001 certified is that it gives reassurance to clients that any information is secure and there is low risk of anything going wrong, it also adds to clients’ and business partners’ confidence in your organisation as a whole. Furthermore, it can offer a competitive edge in a crowded market; helping you to stand out. The certification can act as a statement about the performance and level of your organisation.
From a management perspective it is beneficial in various ways, among others, that is designed to work with and compliment other management standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. It also provides a certain level of assurance for management that you are using a well-recognised quality system that has been found to be effective. It often leads to more collaboration and communication between management and technical employees, meaning there is a greater understanding and the two departments are more in alignment with one another.
There tends to be more security awareness throughout the organisation as a whole; this certification makes people really consider information security and its importance. Having a standardised system such as this also means that no matter how diverse different parties are they can come together under a common guideline. Some of the benefits of the system are that it allows you to set up information security in the most efficient way possible and could even result in saving you money that you may have had to pay out if an incident regarding someone’s information had occurred. The system enables the management to define roles and responsibilities so the internal structure of the organisation is strengthened. The gaining the certification as a whole is helpful as it aids your compliance with legislation and meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998). It also helps to display your organisations capability whilst not exposing your exact security processes to competitors.
