ISO 27001 is designed to help companies protect their information assets.
One of the ISO management system standards, ISO 27001 provides benchmarks for information security management in any type of organization. It provides a strong, integrated structure for an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that enables the organization to better manage its information and overall security concerns.
The standard (initially published in 2005 and updated in 2013) focuses on risk assessment and minimization, requiring organizations to conduct a risk assessment of their information security process.
It is important to understand that ISO 27001 extends far beyond computer and IT systems, as does the threat to information security. The standard covers 11 key areas including security policy, information security, asset management, human resource security, physical and environmental security, and compliance. It tells organizations how to manage information security using a properly constructed ISMS.
ISO 27001 also provides information on how to respond to security breaches, how to recover business processes and systems, and how to build security into applications, all of which are critical for an organization operating in today’s business world.
As more and more security breaches and cyberattacks make the news, it is vital that a business can fully protect itself. And don’t think that only the largest companies are under attack; More and more small and medium-sized businesses are reporting security breaches, especially related to social networking sites, smartphones, and tablets.
What are the benefits of complying with ISO 27001?
• Increase customer confidence in your organization
• Build employee confidence in your processes
• Open new business opportunities
• Keep your reputation safe
• Greater organizational efficiencies
• Discover and eliminate potential risks
It also seamlessly integrates with all other ISO standards. So if you have an ISO 9001 quality management system, for example, up to 50% of your existing management system can meet the requirements of ISO 27001 certification.
Finally, an ISMS will also allow a company to compete on a more level playing field with larger brands that have their finger on the pulse of security and can provide the peace of mind that third-party certification brings to customers.
Even without adopting ISO 27001, most organizations will naturally have some security controls in place. However, without the formal measures and guidelines of an ISMS, it is unlikely that controls in all aspects of the business will be enforced or monitored. And in some cases, checks will only be an afterthought after a breach has been discovered.
Compliance with ISO 27001 and the addition of an ISMS could provide the strongest foundation for ensuring that your organization’s information security is protected today and in the future.