Executive Briefing: ISO 27001 Certification Costs (2026 Guide)
If you are looking into ISO 27001, the first question is almost always, “What is the damage?” This briefing cuts through the noise to give you a clear, honest analysis of the financial outlay required to achieve and maintain certification. We’ve crunched expert commentary and the latest industry data to bring you up to speed.
The short answer: There isn’t a single price tag. However, for most organisations, the total journey, from preparation to that final certificate, ranges between £5,000 and £50,000. The process typically takes about six months.
Table of contents
Key Takeaways at a Glance
- Primary Cost Drivers: It’s a numbers game. Your cost is directly dictated by your employee headcount (which determines audit days), your certification scope, the number of physical offices, and which certification body you choose.
- The 4 Cost Phases: You need to budget for Preparation, Implementation (the most variable part), Certification Audits, and Ongoing Maintenance.
- 2026 Market Update: Brace for a hike. Costs are projected to rise by roughly 20% compared to 2025. This is due to auditor shortages and rising day rates, now averaging around £1,250 per day.
- Money Saving Tip: The biggest waste of money is failing to shop around. You can also slash costs by narrowing your scope and using a DIY toolkit rather than expensive consultants.
1. Understanding the Beast: What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is the international gold standard for information security. It’s a framework for setting up an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Essentially, it proves to your clients and regulators that you aren’t just guessing with their data; you have a robust system in place to manage risk.
The Audit Process
Getting certified isn’t a one-and-done meeting. It’s a two-stage process:
- Stage 1 (Documentation Review): An auditor checks if your paperwork is in order and if the system is designed correctly.
- Stage 2 (The Real Test): Occurring about 30 days later, this is a deep dive. Auditors watch your processes in action to prove they actually work.
2. Detailed Breakdown of ISO 27001 Costs
Let’s break the piggy bank. The total cost splits into four categories.
2.1 Preparation Costs (£300 – £10,000)
Before you even start, you need the rules of the game.
- The Standards: You need to buy ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27002:2022. Expect to pay around £300.
- Gap Analysis (Optional): You can hire a pro to see how far off you are from the standard. This ranges from £3,500 to £10,000, though you can do this internally to save cash.
2.2 Implementation Costs (£500 – £100,000+)
This is where the massive variance happens. Do you build it yourself, or hire a builder?
| Implementation Option | Estimated Cost | Key Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| DIY with Toolkit | £500 | Lowest cost. Uses templates. Requires your internal time (30-90 days). |
| Coached Implementation | Varies | A middle ground. 10-step structured guidance without the full consultant price tag. |
| ISO 27001 Consultant | £10,000 – £40,000+ | Traditional “done for you” service. Day rates range from £400 to £1,500. |
| Online Platform | £10,000 – £100,000/yr | SaaS solution. Automates tasks but creates an ongoing subscription liability. |
Don’t forget the hidden cost: Internal Resources. Your staff will spend time on this instead of their day jobs.
DO IT YOURSELF
STOP SPANKING £10,000s on CONSULTANTS and ISMS ONLINE PLATFORMS
2.3 Certification Audit Costs
These fees go to the Certification Body. They are calculated based on “Audit Days” mandated by ISO 27006. With the 2026 average day rate of £1,250, here is what you can expect:
| Number of Employees | Recommended Audit Days | Estimated Cost (£1,250/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 10 | 5 | £6,250 |
| 11 – 15 | 6 | £7,500 |
| 16 – 25 | 7 | £8,750 |
| 26 – 45 | 8.5 | £11,250 |
| 46 – 65 | 10 | £12,500 |
| 86 – 125 | 12 | £15,000 |
2.4 Ongoing Costs (The 3-Year Cycle)
Buying the car is one thing; servicing it is another. ISO 27001 runs on a 3-year cycle:
- Year 1: Initial Certification Audit.
- Year 2 & 3 (Surveillance): Smaller “check-up” audits. These usually cost one-third of the initial fee (e.g., £2,000/year).
- Recertification: At the end of Year 3, you do a full audit again to renew. The cost is similar to Year 1.
3. Real World Examples: What Will You Pay?
To help you benchmark, here are three common scenarios over a full 3-year cycle.
The Tech Startup (30-50 Staff)
A standard tech firm looking to close enterprise deals.
- Using a Platform: £55,000 – £89,600
- Using a DIY Toolkit: £31,800 – £54,400
- Potential Saving: You could save over £23,000 by ditching the subscription platform for a toolkit.
The AI Company (40 Staff)
Higher complexity due to data models and rigorous testing scopes.
- Using a Platform: £55,300 – £89,500
- Using a DIY Toolkit: £31,300 – £55,500
- Potential Saving: At least £24,000 saved over three years.
The Micro-Business (Under 5 Staff)
Low complexity, small team.
- Using a Platform: £20,500 – £39,000
- Using a DIY Toolkit: £11,500 – £21,000
- Potential Saving: The DIY route is the clear winner here, saving up to £18,000.
4. How to Reduce Your ISO 27001 Costs
You don’t need to burn cash to be secure. Here is how to keep the budget under control:
- Narrow the Scope: Don’t try to certify the whole world. If your clients only care about one product line, certify that product line. This reduces audit days.
- Shop Around: “An accredited certification is an accredited certification.” The logo on the certificate matters less than the accreditation mark. Get three quotes; prices vary wildly.
- Go DIY with a Toolkit: If you have someone with a tech or process background, the standard isn’t rocket science. A £500 toolkit can replace a £15,000 consultant.
- Beware the “SaaS Trap”: Compliance platforms are great, but remember you are renting your compliance. If you stop paying, you often lose access to your ISMS documents.
5. The 2026 Outlook
Why are prices going up? It’s a mix of inflation and demand. As cyber threats grow, more companies must have ISO 27001 to compete. This has created a shortage of qualified auditors, pushing day rates to that £1,250 mark. If you are budgeting for next year, add a 20% buffer to 2025 quotes.
About the author
Stuart Barker is a veteran practitioner with over 30 years of experience in systems security and risk management.
Holding an MSc in Software and Systems Security, Stuart combines academic rigor with extensive operational experience. His background includes over a decade leading Data Governance for General Electric (GE) across Europe, as well as founding and exiting a successful cyber security consultancy.
As a qualified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer, Stuart possesses distinct insight into the specific evidence standards required by certification bodies. He has successfully guided hundreds of organizations – from high-growth technology startups to enterprise financial institutions – through the audit lifecycle.
His toolkits represents the distillation of that field experience into a standardised framework. They move beyond theoretical compliance, providing a pragmatic, auditor-verified methodology designed to satisfy ISO/IEC 27001:2022 while minimising operational friction.
