All business decisions are informed ones. It is crucial to management and operations on a daily basis. But far too many businesses do not adequately safeguard it. It's too late to put an action plan into place when a business is hacked, when its data systems are down, or when information is no longer accessible.
Getting ISO 27001 certification might assist you in being ready in case your company is compromised.
Since 2005, there has been an ISO 27001 information security standard. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) created it so that businesses could design and put into practice a strategy for controlling the security of their information systems.
What is the purpose of ISO 27001 standards?
Implementing security standards helps you manage the security of your most sensitive assets, such as:
- Financial data
- Documents concerning intellectual property
- Personal data
- All the information you need to run your business smoothly
The most common risks to data security are phishing attempts and ransomware. In the first case, hackers steal your usernames and passwords using fraudulent emails that look legitimate. Ransomware is software that blocks access to data and hardware. Hackers demand a ransom for you to regain access to your data.
ISO 27001 certification requires the company put in place mechanisms to ensure information security and to develop a continuity plan that details how it will maintain operations in the event of a cyberattack.
5 steps to obtain ISO 27001 certification
1. Assess what is already in place
A series of audits ensures that processes and systems are working.
2. Establish the scope of the certification
Next, your company must establish the scope of the certification. A document containing more than 100 questions allows you to define risks, establish priorities and re-evaluate certain processes.
Obtaining certification makes it possible to redefine the broad outlines of existing mechanisms and identify the interactions among processes. It looks at all external and internal security threats and links them to your business objectives and key performance indicators.
Your business needs to be resilient on all IT security front.
Once it is obtained, the certification must be maintained. To do this, the business needs to demonstrate the effectiveness of controls, including through annual internal audits, vulnerability assessments and penetration tests.
3. Establish your management framework
More specifically, certification provides an IT security management framework for the entire organization. It covers practices, sound management and the establishment of responsible behaviors that are documented, repeatable and can be continuously improved. From private data processing to confidential information, including personal data, transactions, technical drawings, business plans, banking information and legal documents, ISO 27001 covers all aspects of information.
For example, the certification defines the security standards to be adopted when an employee leaves the company. It establishes guidelines for recovering their materials, terminating their access, managing passwords and preventing malicious acts.
4. Train your team
In order for all this to happen and for your company to benefit from ISO 27001 certification, you must also rely on qualified internal resources. That is why certification cannot be achieved without comprehensive and in-depth training of your staff who will be responsible for information security and compliance. ISO 27001 is a general standard, and with the right training of your key employees, it can be adapted to your company.
5. Get your company certified
Only an external agency can certify your company. There are multiple accredited registrars. Your company must make a three-year commitment to the certification agency of your choice.
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