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Insights
If you're reading this article, you're looking to understand and comply with something called ISO 27001. ISO is a framework made up of various policies and processes that organisations can follow. ISO 27001 revolves explicitly around helping entities protect their data systematically and affordably by using an ISMS, short for Information Security Management System. It was created by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) in partnership with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission), two entities that develop international standards and are part of the ISO/IEC 27000 series.
That being said, if you are interested to learn more about ISO 27001, keep on reading:
Why Is the Standard Vital?
There are generally two reasons ISO 27001 is vital to any business. First, ISO 27001 is a framework that helps companies protect their data through ISMS. This itself is a great reason to implement ISO 27001 for the sole purpose of keeping one's data safe from the wrong hands. Second, ISO 27001 is a standard that's recognised around the world. This means that if your company has an ISO 27001 certificate, your customers, clients, and partners will trust you even more.
In other words, the ISO 27001 standard protects your data and gives you access to more opportunities, which is a win-win scenario.
How Does the Standard Work?
The main focus of ISO 27001 is to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your information within the organisation. This is done through risk assessment and then defining what is to be done to tackle identified risks, such as risk treatment or mitigation. Put simply, ISO 27001 tells you to find out what risks exist to put effort into reducing those risks through an ISMS.
What Is an ISMS?
As mentioned earlier, ISMS stands for Information Security Management System. It is a set of rules that your company must establish to carry out the primary goal of ISO 27001, which is to protect your information.
What are the rules, you ask? This includes identifying stakeholders and their expectations from your company concerning information security, analysing the risks that exist with your information, defining the controls to tackle the risks, setting objectives with what information security needs to achieve, implementing all the controls that you've planned, measuring the control's performance, and continuously improve control to make ISMS better.
Do You Need an ISMS?
There are a couple of reasons ISMS is vital to your business.
First, it helps you comply with legal requirements. Violation of these requirements not only puts you at risk of a penalty but also leaves your data at risk of a compromise. Second, it can help to lower costs. ISO 27001 is all about protecting your data, and as you know, losing data can be costly both to your finances and your brand. Finally, ISMS can give you the competitive advantage you need to attract customers. When you have certification for ISO 27001, and your competitors do not, more people will want to work with you!
Conclusion
Complying with ISO 27001 and setting up an ISMS to do so is one of the best things you can ever do for your business. Not only are you protecting your company data from any sort of risks, but you are also promising to your clients, customers, and other stakeholders that their information is safe and sound with you. In the long run, this translates to more opportunities being presented to your front doors as people come to you knowing that their information will be safe. In addition, you will have the ability to continue maintaining an environment where information is kept securely, allowing you to do business without too much worry.
Scaramanga is a Swiss-based consulting firm with expertise in data protection, information security, and compliance consulting to meet business security needs. If you are looking for data protection consultancy services to gain ISO 27001 certification and more, work with us today!