Why Your Business Needs ISO 27001 Certification
In a business environment where electronic information is transferred so rapidly and extensively, keeping that information secure is becoming a more difficult task. Information security standards such as BS7799-2 and ISO 27001 have been developed specifically to help organizations meet the task with confidence. If your business deals with even a small amount of secure information, you need ISO 27001 certification.
About ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is an information security management system (ISMS) standard, created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). These two organizations are well known around the world for developing operational standards across an extensive array of industrial and business practices. ISO 27001 is the next-gen implementation of the former BS7799-2 standard.
Standards Bring Order
According to the published ISO 27001 material, the standard provides a “model for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining, and improving an Information Security Management System". Without an ISMS, companies tend to be haphazard about securing sensitive information. Different departments may utilize different practices; security guidelines may differ between vendor and customer; any number of scenarios could exist that would compromise information security. ISO 27001 certification brings your company up to an orderly standard which keeps all the individual parts of your business on the same security page.
Constant Evaluation
One of the often unnoticed benefits of ISO 27001 certification is the fact that it requires a periodic assessment of a company ISMS, and how the implementation of said ISMS is succeeding or failing in its objectives. This continual assessment forces company officials to modify their practices to meet the ever evolving business environment. Without a standard, there is no benchmark with which to measure the success or failure of information security practices, and therefore, no effective way of knowing if modifications are necessary.
Industry Compliance
Various governments impose information security regulations on businesses in a way that's not necessarily uniform. Without an ISMS in place, companies sometimes have difficulty determining whether or not they are in compliance with regulations. Implementing ISO 27001 standards makes it easier to compare your practices with government regulation.
Customer Confidence
Let's face it, we live in a world where consumers are increasingly more suspect about giving personal information to a vendor. The same can be said about business-to-business relationships as well as private internal information that need to be secured. Potential customers who are made aware of your ISO 2701 certification have the peace of mind that your business has adopted security standards that will protect their information.
Regardless of whether we look at IS27001 from the standpoint of practical security, efficiency, marketing, or regulatory compliance, the fact remains that any modern business needs to implement it and be certified. This is one instance where the benefits most definitely outweigh the costs. It may not be quantifiable in terms of the bottom line, but the value of ISO certification will become abundantly clear after the first security incident you encounter.