ISO 27001 Compliance: What You Need to Know?

Data is a valuable asset and maintaining information security is one of the central concerns. The three main components of data security that every organization should adhere to are:

• Confidentiality 
• Integrity
• Availability

Modern organizations collect and store data to study their behaviour and meet their needs and requirements. Data security is equally important for customers as well as organizations as it increases the organization’s revenue and boosts customer’s confidence.

What is ISO/IEC 27001:2015 Certification?

ISO/IEC 27001:2015 Certification is a vendor-neutral standard and provides a framework for an organization to establish an effective Information Security Management System. ISO 27001 Certification specifies the requirement of an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

It requires an organization to implement effective controls and safeguard user’s data. It demonstrates the organization’s commitment to continual improvement and protects information assets.

ISO 27001 Certification- Information Security Management System (ISMS)

ISO 27001 standard offers specifications for Information Security Management System. It is a documented management system consisting of set of security controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of security assets from cyber-attacks, such as data theft and data breaches. 

ISO 27001 standards specify the requirements for ISMS, while ISO 27002 standard provides the code of conduct. It provides guidance and recommends best processes and practices to implement an effective Information Security Management System.

ISO 2700 Certification compliance checklist

The ISO 27001 Certification compliance checklist is as follows:

• Assign role
• Gap Analysis
• Development and documenting the parts of your ISMS required for Certification
• Conduct an internal risk management
• Write a statement of Applicability (SoA)
• Implement your controls
• Train the internal team on your ISMS and security controls
• Conduct an internal audit
•  Have an accredited ISO 27001 lead auditor conduct the ISO 27001 Certification audit
• Plan for maintaining Certification

A step-by-step guide to ISO/IEC 27001:2015 Certification

ISO 27001 standards are one of 12 information security standards relevant to today’s world, with technology becoming a necessity. ISO 27001 standard guides to establish effective Information Security Management. These steps are:

1. Assign roles – It needs an organization to decide how it wants to conduct its internal audit. The organization can use its employee’s expertise and opt for an in-bound audit, or it can contact an outside consultant and contractor to conduct the audit.

2. Gap analysis– A gap analysis compares an organization’s existing ISMS with ISO 27001 standards and reviews documentation. It focuses on identifying the risks and implements effective controls to eliminate them.
   
   
3. Development and document the parts of your ISMS required for Certification – 

If an organization is applying for ISO 27001 Certification for the first time, then it requires setting up parts of its ISMS and detecting weak areas. It mandates the organization to explain every detail regarding the use of collected data and includes people, processes, and technology.

4. Conduct an internal risk management – 

It follows a risk-based approach and requires an organization to conduct a risk assessment to detect potential risks and formulate plans and policies to mitigate them. It helps organizations identify high-impact risks and address that accordingly.

5. Write a statement of Applicability (SoA) – After conducting a risk assessment, an organization needs to implement adequate controls and write a statement. In ISO 27001, in Annex A, there are 114 controls divided into 14 categories addressing different aspects of business operations. This document is necessary for the audit process.

6. Implement your controls – An organization must align its ISMS policy with its objectives. The organization needs to implement adequate controls to establish effective ISMS and mention every process to protect the information.
   
   
   
7. Train the internal team on your ISMS and security controls – The top-level management plays a significant role in the successful implementation of an ISMS policy. The organization provides training and guidance to the employees and shows its commitment to cyber security.
   
   
   
8. Conduct an internal audit – An internal audit prepares the organization for the final audit. It reviews and evaluates existing controls and gives time to the organization to implement necessary changes before the final audit.
   
   
   
9. Have an accredited ISO 27001 lead auditor conduct the ISO 27001 Certification audit – An organization requires an accredited ISO 27001 auditor from a recognized accreditation body to conduct a two-step audit. The auditor inspects your documents and controls, and the next step is the conduction of the site audit.
   
   
   
10. Plan for maintaining Certification – After achieving an ISO 27001 Certification, an organization needs to perform a risk assessment and surveillance audit annually. The organization requires updating its policies and systems to manage ISMS.

Benefits of ISO 27001 Certification

The effective implementation of ISO 27001 standards offer the following benefits to an organization. These are:

• Enhances the credibility and reliability of the organization and creates a better reputation among its clients, potential business partners and stakeholders. 

• Leverages your organization and gives a competitive edge. It boosts the confidence of customers in your products and services and helps you win new businesses and clients.

• Helps organizations to avoid penalties due to non-compliance, as it demonstrates an organization’s compliance with all laws, regulations, and international and national standards associated with data security.

• Promotes a culture of security as it protects the company assets, stakeholders and directors. 

Conclusion

ISO 27001 Certification is an Information Security Management System. It follows a risk-based approach to detect the risks and defines plans and policies to address them accordingly. ISO 27001 Certification is an internationally accredited standard that provides a framework for establishing information security management and provides data security. It provides guidance and training to employees to implement adequate controls and tools to establish effective information security.