ISO/IEC 27001 is a set of international standards designed to help organizations manage information security. Its component standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001:2013, are intended to assist enterprises in the implementation, maintenance, and continuous improvement of an information security management system (ISMS). ISO 27001 compliance is not required. In a world where hackers persistently pursue your data and more data, and privacy rules carry harsh fines, adhering to ISO standards will help you decrease risk, comply with legal obligations, lower costs, and gain a competitive advantage. In brief, ISO 27001 accreditation will assist your company in attracting and retaining clients.
An ISO 27001 certification makes it easier to comply with legal requirements, highlights the organization's reliability to partners, and demonstrates dedication to maintaining the highest standards of information security. It undoubtedly increases the value of the brand, resulting in win-win situations.
An ISO 27001 accreditation is only valid for three years, and annual monitoring checks are required throughout that time. As a result, the framework is not a one-time development, but rather a continuing effort that demands constant attention. As the company grows and evolves, so will the way the ISMS is implemented. Consider an enterprise that has transitioned from on-premises to cloud apps over the last decade: the approach to information security will be noticeably different. To maintain ISO 27001 compliance, a corporation may decide to organize a "task force" comprised of various stakeholders from across the organization. This group should meet regularly to discuss any outstanding issues and changes to the ISMS.
Build compliance into day-to-day business operations: Consider the framework as something that must be handled regularly to ensure compliance. Retain senior management involved throughout the entire lifecycle: The top-level stakeholders cannot end as soon as initial certification is accomplished. Monitor and evaluate the framework and the ISMS as part of your overall security posture: A security incident? Examine how the ISMS affected the outcome and keep ISO 27001 documents for all corrective actions. Stay on top of new risks: Remember that the ISO 27001 standard is primarily concerned with risk management. Risks do not remain static and change as new cyber threats arise as the firm matures. As new hazards emerge, the organization should constantly review and analyze them. Perform regular internal audits and gap analyses:Recertification by an auditor is not the timing to find that key control is not actively being used. Involve other parts of the business: Has anyone noted that one of the issues in Annex A deals with human resource security? This means that Human resource management and other departments in the organization, not particularly IT, must be involved in the continuous ISO 27001 maintenance. Documents: Many of the steps your business already performs will apply to the ISMS, but they will not help with future audits except fully documented. Continue to follow through on what's in the documentation: Keep in mind that during a phase two or recertification audit, the auditor will seek evidence that what is written in the documentation is followed through. Employees must attend ISO 27001 awareness training if the company policy requires it. Evaluate the scope on an ongoing basis: Will ISO 27001 compliance need to be extended to the new component of the organization? if the organization starts a new business unit or expands into a new region. It is vital to evaluate the scope frequently. Don't forget the supply chain! If cloud or SaaS services are an important element of the organizational processes, then they must be addressed it in the ISMS as well.