ISO 27001 Certification – Absolutely Everything You Need to Know

ISO 27001 Certification

Want to know about ISO 27001 certification? You have come to the right place.

According to the latest ISO survey, almost 60,000 organisations around the globe now have a valid ISO 27001 certificate, each issued by certification bodies that have been accredited by members of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

By achieving ISO 27001 certification, you give your customers the signal that you mean business when it comes to information security, and more importantly, their information security.

In this article we’ll explore what ISO 27001 certification is, why you need it, and how to achieve it.

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is the leading international standard for information security. Simply put, it’s a set of guidelines and best practices required to create and maintain an effective information security management system (ISMS).

An ISMS is a framework of policies, procedures and controls designed to monitor and protect your organisation’s sensitive data.

By implementing an ISMS, you can better protect your information and assets from cyber threats, data breaches, and other security risks.

What is ISO 27001 Certification?

ISO 27001 certification is an independent verification that confirms that your organisation’s ISMS aligns with the ISO 27001 standard. 

An accredited certification body conducts an audit of your organisation’s ISMS. Here, they check whether the correct risk assessments, policies and controls are being implemented and developed. If all requirements are met, your ISO 27001 certificate is issued and your organisation is ready to rock.

By achieving ISO 27001 accreditation, existing and potential clients, partners and stakeholders can see that you are committed to continual improvement by implementing an ISMS that adheres to global best practices.

The difference between ISO 27001 certification and compliance

If your organisation is following some or all of the ISO 27001 guidelines, this is known as compliance with the ISO 27001 standard.

If a certification body has audited your ISMS and have deemed it in compliance with the ISO 27001 standard, this is ISO 27001 certification, and this is what leads to bigger and better opportunities for your business.

Why your business needs ISO 27001 certification 

Does your organisation handle personal information, financial data or intellectual property? Then you should implement ISO 27001. If you deal with any kind of confidential information (who doesn’t these days?) getting your ISO 27001 certificate is important.

Big or small, the size of your organisation does not matter when it comes to getting ISO 27001 certified. You could be a one-man-band trying to win a significant client, or a small startup desperate to bid for a lucrative tender, whatever your situation – clients and stakeholders need assurance that their information is safe.

More organisations than ever expect suppliers to be ISO 27001 certified, so, if you’re not, Houston, you may have a problem. ISO 27001 certification is your information security badge of honour. Without it, you’re missing the opportunity to showcase your commitment to protecting your clients’ information, and you could find yourself missing out on business altogether.

Reasons why organisations are more likely to choose ISO 27001 certified suppliers

ISO 27001 certification is used as part of securing the supply chain and addressing supplier risks. Here’s a list of the reasons organisations say they prefer ISO 27001 certified suppliers:

• ISO 27001 is the recognised and respected standard for information security management
• Confident that their sensitive information and data is protected from security threats
• Confirms the supplier’s commitment to following international best practices
• Saves them time and effort authenticating the supplier’s security procedures
• Can help build trust and with customers and stakeholders
• Minimises the risk of data breaches and cyber attacks
• Offers a competitive edge over suppliers who are not ISO 27001 certified
• Can save on costs due to improved security measures and risk management
• Can create a culture of continuous improvement and ongoing risk assessment

How ISO 27001 certification will benefit your business

Getting ISO 27001 certified doesn’t just benefit your customers, it’s a no-brainer decision for your business, too. Here’s why:

• Can help you win bigger, meatier clients – who doesn’t want that?
• Can help you hold onto existing business
• Many of the ISO 27001 conditions also satisfy GDPR and data protection requirements, which will show regulatory bodies you mean business when it comes to risk management 
• ISO 27001 accreditation will help you build and maintain a sound reputation
• Data breeches are expensive – ISO 27001 will keep you on the right side of the law
• Implementing IS0 27001 will help you streamline your processes

How to get ISO 27001 certified

The ISO 27001 certification process is notorious for being complicated, expensive and slow. At High Table, we’ve turned this on its head. Our aim is to make ISO 27001 accessible for everyone, and now there’s light at the end of the tunnel.

3 routes to ISO 27001 Certification

There are 3 routes to ISO certification:

1. By following an ISO 27001 toolkit and doing it yourself (10x faster and 30x cheaper)
2. By subscribing to a faceless online ISMS portal (fees, fees and more fees)
3. By hiring a consultant (who will charge the earth to do the job for you)

As you make your way through this guide, we hope you discover the best ISO 27001 accreditation method for you. We believe in cutting the cr*p, getting to the point, and arming you with the tools to achieve ISO 27001 success.

How to prepare your business for ISO 27001 certification

Every organisation is unique with different needs, which affects the level of preparation required. It depends how big your business is, as well as how compliant you are with the ISO 27001 standard to begin with. You can read more in our previous article, ISO 27001 Certification Process: what to expect and how to prepare

Here’s a summary of how to prepare for ISO 27001 certification:

1. Undertake a gap analysis to uncover where you company is failing to meet the standard.
2. Devise an implementation plan that demonstrates how you will address these gaps.
3. Educate your team on the requirements and how you plan to align with the standard.
4. Make sure all ISMS documents are up to date, including policies and procedures.
5. Perform internal audits to give you peace of mind that your ISMS is functioning as it should, and that your staff are up to speed on what is required.
6. Book your certification audit with a certification body

The ISO 27001 certification process explained

To achieve ISO 27001 certification, there’s a strict process to follow. You’ll need to demonstrate to the auditors that your ISMS is in great shape and fully complies with the standard. You can read more in our previous article, ISO 27001 Certification Process: what to expect and how to prepare

It is summarised here:

1. Identify the information assets that need protection and the processes that need to be included in the Information Security Management System (ISMS).
2. Identify the risks to the information assets and evaluate their impact. This helps to prioritise which risks to address first and what controls to implement.
3. Once the controls have been identified, the organisation needs to implement them. 
4. Conduct internal audits to make sure that the ISMS is operating properly and meets the ISO 27001 standard.
5. Conduct a management review of the ISMS to make sure it’s meeting the organisation’s goals and objectives.
6. An external certification body will perform an audit to determine whether the ISMS meets the ISO 27001 standard. If it does, ISO 27001 certificate granted. Done and dusted.

What requirements are mandatory for ISO 27001 certification?

Before an external ISO 27001 certification audit can happen, here are the requirements that must be in place:

How much does ISO 27001 certification cost?

The cost of getting ISO 27001 certified completely depends on the path you take.

You’ll need to cover two sets of ISO 27001 Certification Cost in the certification process:

1. The cost to implement and run the ISO 27001 ISMS 
2. The cost to book the certification audit 

What you end up paying depends on these factors:

• The size of your business
• How risky you are seen to be
• The UKAS accredited certification body you decide to go with

The question is, do you want to do it yourself, or instruct someone to do it for you? 

You can read the Ultimate Guide to ISO 27001 Certification Cost for a complete breakdown and pricing.

How long does it take to get ISO 27001 certified?

The ISO 27001 certification process is different for every business and takes as long as it takes. As a rough guide, factor in around 3 months: 30 days to implement the information security management system and ISO 27001 itself, plus a further 60 days to implement and evidence the required controls.

Here are some stumbling blocks that can impact the process:

• Your ability to book a certification audit based on their availability
• Your ability to implement and evidence the required ISO 27001 controls

Does ISO 27001 expire?

Once you’ve been accredited, your certification will last three years, but your auditor will expect your ISMS to be continually monitored, maintained and improved. Annual surveillance audits will ensure that your ISMS continues to meet the ISO 27001 standard throughout that time, and, when the three years are up, it’s time for recertification. This process will reassess your ISMS, including Clauses 4-10 and each applicable Annex A control.

How to fast-track your ISO 27001 certification

You’ve reached the exciting bit.

First, ask yourself these questions: 

1. Would you feel comfortable waiting around for months whilst the ISO 27001 consultant you’ve hired to get you certified drags the process out far longer than required?
2. Would you be happy knowing you’re paying way over the odds for the privilege?
3. Would you enjoy wasting months of their time and effort writing soul-destroying documents and policies?

We’re guessing your answers were along the lines of (f*ck) no.

Then this one’s for you.

DO IT YOURSELF ISO 27001

Finally! Implement ISO 27001 yourself without spending a penny on consultants or software.

The Ultimate ISO 27001 Toolkit

10 ISO 27001 Certification Myths – Busted!

1. It is Only for Large Enterprises

While large enterprises often benefit significantly from ISO 27001, it’s equally applicable to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs). The standard provides a framework that can be tailored to fit organisations of all sizes. We have helped organisations with only 1 employee to get certified.

Regardless of size, all organisations face information security risks. ISO 27001 offers a structured approach to identify, assess, and mitigate these risks, helping businesses protect their valuable assets.

2. ISO 27001 Certification Guarantees Complete Security

ISO 27001 is a risk based management system. It establishes a framework for continuous improvement and risk management, but it doesn’t guarantee absolute security. The only thing that it can guarantee is that you know what your information security risks are and that you are managing them, even if that means just accepting them.

3. ISO 27001 is Primarily a Technical Standard

While ISO 27001 does address technical controls, its focus is on the overall management of information security. It requires a holistic approach, encompassing people, processes, and technology. Technology makes up only a third of the annex a controls and less than a fifth of the standard over all.

4. ISO 27001 is Too Expensive

To be fair, it is. At least it can be. The cost of ISO 27001 certification can vary but if you shop around the cost can be reasonable. Doing it yourself with an ISO 27001 toolkit can vastly reduce your costs.

5. ISO 27001 is Only Relevant to Cybersecurity

While cybersecurity is a significant component of ISO 27001, it is not it’s focus as the standard also addresses a broader range of information security risks, including human resources, supplier management, physical security, data privacy, and business continuity.

6. ISO 27001 Certification is a One-Time Requirement

ISO 27001 is an ongoing processes of annual certification and audit based on a core principle of continual improvement. It is far from a one and done approach as organisation’s must continuously monitor their information security landscape and adapt their ISMS accordingly.

7. ISO 27001 Certification is a Quick Process

The process of implementing ISO 27001 can be quick and straightforward. It is a management system that has a standard approach. There are two areas where the standard can take time:

1. Implementing controls to mitigate risks: the annex a controls that mitigate information security risks can take some time to implement if your business maturity is low. This will completely depend on how mature your business operations and technical security implementations are.
2. Getting the certification body to issue the certificate: the process of getting a certification body to issue the ISO 27001 certificate is based on two audits that are 30 days apart and a further 30 days for them to issue the paper. The minimum timeline is therefore going to be 60 days but getting the audits booked in is based on their availability and can take many months. You can expect the process to take around 9 months in time elapsed.

8. ISO 27001 Certification is Only for Organisations with Sensitive Data

While organisations handling highly sensitive data benefit greatly from ISO 27001, it’s also valuable for businesses of all types. Any organisation that wants to protect its information assets can benefit from the standard.

In a competitive market, demonstrating a strong commitment to information security can give businesses a distinct advantage. ISO 27001 certification can signal to customers, partners, and investors that an organisation takes data protection seriously.

9 .ISO 27001 Certification is a Guarantee of Compliance

While ISO 27001 can help organisations comply with various regulations and industry standards, it’s not a direct substitute for specific compliance requirements. Organisations must still assess their individual compliance needs and tailor their ISMS accordingly.

10. It’s essentially a marketing gimmick

Without a doubt, it will give your sales and marketing team a significant edge in winning business and help you stand out from the competition. It is also the case that many people will not do business with you if you do not have it but that said, there operational benefits to having ISO 27001 certification that will ensure you are secure and protecting your customer and employee data.