In our digitally connected era, information security is paramount for organisations. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO 27001:2022 is an international standard that details the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). In this series of articles we’ll explore its benefits, limitations, and the latest updates.

By Richard Nealon

About ISO 27001

I’ve always been a fan of 27001, even before it was born. Back in the early 1990s there were only two publicly available computer security standards – BS7799 (which had been born out of an initiative from BT, Midland Bank, Unilever, Shell BP and a bunch of other UK corporates), and the BSI IT Baseline Protection Manual (published by the German government standards office). I gravitated towards the former and watched it become adopted into ISO as 17799 in 2000, and subsequently into 27001 in the mid 2000’s.

Back then, the focus for many organisations was “self-compliance” or “alignment” because there was really no business case for most companies in being “certified”. These two standards were the only benchmarks for companies to aspire to, and assess themselves against. We followed good practice in writing our internal security standards to be closely aligned with the BS/ISO standard so that we could convince management, auditors, and regulators/supervisors that we understood security, took it seriously, and we were broadly aligned with our peers.

That all changed in the last ten years. All companies in the supply chain from banks down to manufacturers of widgets are being actively pressurised by their regulators, supervisors, suppliers, partners, clients, to be independently certified to ISO27001.

After Quality Assurance, Environmental Management, and Health & Safety, Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) (1) is the ISO next most popular standard. The number of globally certified entities has risen from about 23k in 2014 to nearly 59k in 2021, mainly driven by external pressure from clients and regulators.

For regulated organisations, service suppliers, or those in the public eye, I’d highly recommend that you think about the business opportunities that ISO 27001 certification can open up to you at minimal cost and effort. Trust is the new gold, and ISO 27001 builds trust.

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• If your organisation hasn’t certified yet, please continue reading to discover the benefits of ISO 27001.
• If your organisation has already achieved certification, it’s time to learn about the new ISO 27001:2022 version and understand why immediate action is necessary for continued compliance.

Why Should Your Organization Pursue ISO 27001:2022 Certification?  

1. Competitive Advantage: Certification demonstrates a commitment to data security, leading to customer retention and potentially attracting new customers.
2. Streamlined Efficiency: ISO 27001:2022 helps to align security safeguards with business objectives, optimising performance and facilitating the capture of growth.
3. Enhanced Data Security: ISO 27001:2022 ensures a systematic approach to identifying and mitigating risks, providing robust protection against cyber threats and unauthorised access.
4. Regulatory Compliance: ISO 27001:2022 aligns with many regulations (2), simplifying compliance efforts.
5. Improved Resilience: Risk management and preventive measures enhance resilience. This fortifies the capability to safeguard crucial information and recover from incidents. Moreover, it offers a structure for continuous adaptation in response to emerging threats.

Important Considerations 

• ISO 27001:2022 certification provides a baseline indicating that a company has actively considered risk management and implemented appropriate controls. It does not guarantee a high degree of security in scenarios involving critical national infrastructure or life-threatening situations (3).
• There are minimal costs associated with the external auditing required to achieve and maintain certification.

Unlock Your Path to ISO 27001:2022 Certification with Cycubix  

Is your organisation looking to achieve ISO 27001 certification and unlock its numerous benefits? 

From gap assessment, to implementation and ongoing ISMS management , we guide organisations through the certification process, ensuring a smooth and successful journey towards information security excellence. Our experienced & certified consultants possess in-depth knowledge of ISO 27001 standards and information security management systems. We offer comprehensive assistance tailored to your unique organisational needs. By going beyond documentation we help you to integrate information security practices into your processes and workflows, fostering a culture of security.

Contact us  today to embark on your ISO 27001 certification journey and fortify your data security.

Conclusion  

ISO 27001:2022 certification helps to improve data security and trust. Its benefits encompass enhanced security, regulatory compliance, improved resilience, competitive advantage, and streamlined efficiency. With our professional assistance, organisations can effectively navigate the certification path, achieving information security excellence.

(1) – ISO27001
(2) – Where other Standards are used by Regulatory or supervisory bodies (e.g. NIST, HIPPA, GDPR, PCI DSS) ISO27001 provides one of the best baselines, and Cycubix can assist you in the mapping exercise to meet your business need
(3) – Separate ISO “uplifts” to 27001 exist to provide further guidance (e.g. 27019 for (non-nuclear) energy utility sector, 27011 for telecommunications sector, 27562 for fintech, 27799 for health informatics). Cycubix can offer advice if your business operates in the critical infrastructure space.