How to get ISO 27001 Certified: A Beginners Guide

A robust information security management system (ISMS) can give you peace of mind in an increasingly digital world. ISO 27001 certification is a widely-recognized standard for ensuring the security of your company’s sensitive data. It also signals to customers and partners that your company takes data security seriously and has taken steps to protect its information assets. In this post, we’ll explain what ISO 27001 certification is and why it’s essential. You’ll also get details about getting certified, costs, time commitments, and more!

What is ISO 27001 certification?

ISO 27001 certification is a standardized way of managing information security. It’s a way of auditing and documenting your security program through a detailed Risk Assessment and Management process. If your organization gets certified, you can display a certificate that verifies your commitment to information security. Customers and partners will be more likely to trust your business if your security is up to par – and having an ISO 27001 certification can help show that. ISO 27001 certification is especially important for companies that handle sensitive customer data.

Why is ISO 27001 certification necessary?

ISO 27001 certification can help you become GDPR compliant, protect your company’s reputation, and mitigate risk. Plus, it can help you comply with specific laws, like PCI DSS and HIPAA. GDPR is a strict data privacy law that requires companies to protect sensitive data. It also requires companies to be transparent about their data protection. This includes disclosing how they’re protecting sensitive data, any third-party data processing, and what rights customers have regarding their data. Any company that handles sensitive data – such as financial data, medical records, or customer data – needs to be GDPR compliant. If you don’t have an ISO 27001 certification, you can still become GDPR compliant. However, you’ll need to take additional steps to verify that your security is strong enough.

Steps to become ISO 27001 certified

There are many steps to becoming ISO 27001 certified, and many factors that can affect the length of your ISO 27001 certification journey.

You'll need to create an information security management system (ISMS). This is the backbone of your certification.
From here, you’ll need to ensure your company has the proper controls to be audited.
If your company has a strong security program, you can start the certification process.
Once certified, your organization will have to renew its ISO 27001 certification every few years to remain compliant.

How much does ISO 27001 certification cost?

The exact cost will depend on your organization’s size and what auditor you choose to assess your security program. However, the average cost to become ISO 27001 certified is between £5,000 to £100,000. Depending on the size of the company, the international scope of the company. It is an iterative process so also depends if you are looking at year one or years 1 to 3 and onwards.

Finding the right auditor

If you decide to get an ISO 27001 certification, you’ll need to find an auditor to assess your security program. You’ll want to work with an auditor who can help you with your specific needs. Find out which auditing organizations are conducting ISO 27001 audits. Find out how long each auditor has been in business, how much they charge per audit, how often they conduct audits, and what certifications they have. When selecting an auditor, make sure they have experience with your industry.

Conclusion

Now that you know what ISO 27001 certification is and why it’s important, it’s time to get to work! ISO 27001 certification is a great way to show your customers and partners that you care about information security. It’s also a great way to ensure that your company has a strong security program. The certification process is long and challenging from creating an ISMS to getting audited. However, the benefits make it worth the effort.