ISO 27001

On 22 February 2022, the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) IAF published a joint communiqué to highlight the addition of climate change considerations to a number of existing ISO management system standards (MSS).

Clauses 4.1 and 4.2 of the MSS are affected. This is to ensure that climate change issues are considered by the organization in the context of the effectiveness of the management system in addition to all other aspects.

1. Understand ISO 27001 Requirements

   Preparation is crucial for business success. To fully benefit from ISO 27001 certification, it's essential to understand the standard's requirements. Familiarise yourself with its contents to ensure compliance and enhance your information security management. 

2. Conduct an ISO 27001 Risk Assessment

   Your project team should undertake a comprehensive risk assessment to establish your Information Security Management System (ISMS). Key elements include developing a risk management framework, diagnosing, analysing and assessing risks, and determining potential risk treatments. This process provides an overview of realistic threats to your business, serving as a foundation for targeted solutions.

3. Implement Controls and Annex A

   Following a successful risk assessment, apply appropriate controls to mitigate risks and threats. ISO 27001 mandates identifying relevant controls for your organisation, ensuring effective risk management. 

4. Prepare Documentation
   The ISO 27001 documentation requires two mandatory documents:

   1) Risk Treatment Plan (RTP): Outlines steps to address identified threats during the risk assessment.

   2) Statement of Applicability (SoA): Lists ISO 27001 controls, detailing their application and rationale. 

5. Train your staff

   Human error poses significant information security risks. Regular training is vital to raise employee awareness and minimise security vulnerabilities. Ensure your team is well-informed about information security best practices. 

6. Conduct Internal Audits

   ISO 27001 prescribes regular internal audits to verify compliance with established controls. These audits are crucial for maintaining conformity and ensuring ongoing security management effectiveness.

7. Achieve ISO 27001 Certification

   Select a reputable Certification Body to verify your documentation and controls against ISO 27001 standards. Opt for a UKAS accredited body, like TÜV UK, to ensure stakeholder confidence and demonstrate your commitment to information security excellence.

Information security and privacy legislation are related concepts which go hand in hand. Information security protects all kinds of data not only personal data. In turn, the privacy legislation regulates the management of personal data and information. The most important piece of privacy legislation is General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

As the need for data privacy increases, an Information Security Management System in accordance with the ISO 27001 standard can protect an organisation and minimise reputational risk.

General Data Protection Regulation

The GDPR applies to all-sizes and all types of companies. It ranges from a tiny bakery to a giant global group. The GDPR, which has been mandatory since May 2018, is about reshaping how companies manage and deal with data and information. Non-conforming companies may be faced with expensive penalties.

The main aim of the GDPR is to protect against serious data breaches and to harmonise data privacy laws within the entire EU. The legislation covers the whole workforce. In order to comply with the privacy law it is important to create awareness not only among the business’ management but also among the entire staff.

Tracing the type and purpose of the information that your business processes is of major importance, it must ensure that it does request invariably necessary data/information and it must ensure to store the data/information just as long as needed.

Here you can find the GDPR regulation.
GDPR information and FAQs that apply particular to the UK can be found here.

The cost of ISO 27001 certification varies based on the size and complexity of your organisation. Fees are typically calculated based on the number of audit days required, which is influenced by factors such as the number of employees and the scope of your ISMS. Contact us for a tailored quote.

To achieve ISO 27001 certification, you need to understand the standard's requirements, conduct a risk assessment, implement necessary controls, prepare documentation, train staff and undergo external audits by a certification body, such as TÜV UK. Contact us to today to begin your journey to certification!

ISO 27001 requires organisations to establish an ISMS, conduct risk assessments, implement controls, maintain documentation, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements. It includes clauses on leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and improvement.

Preparation involves understanding the standard, conducting a gap analysis, performing risk assessments, documenting your ISMS, training staff and ensuring management commitment. This groundwork is crucial for a successful certification process. Check out our checklist.

Organisations must transition to the updated ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard by 31st October 2025. This revision includes enhanced controls and streamlined requirements to address modern security challenges.

Start by purchasing the standard, conducting a risk assessment, identifying applicable controls and developing an ISMS framework. Engage stakeholders, perform a gap analysis and prepare for audits to ensure compliance.

ISO 27001 certification is valid for three years, subject to successful annual surveillance audits. After three years, a recertification audit is required to renew the certification.

ISO 27001 is suitable for organisations of all sizes, from small businesses to large corporations. Its flexible framework allows any organisation to implement effective information security management practices.

ISO 27001 audits involve a two-stage process: Stage 1 reviews your ISMS documentation, while Stage 2 evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of your controls. Successful audits lead to certification, followed by annual surveillance audits.

ISO 27002:2022 updates the list of controls in ISO 27001, reflecting current threats and best practices. Organisations must review their risk assessments and implement new risk treatments to stay compliant with the latest standards.