Information security breaches and cyber attacks are increasing – identified by 72% of large UK organisations reporting a rise in breaches by 68% in 2018 when compared with the previous year. The importance of corporate information and that of customers and interested parties, i.e. suppliers, employees, etc. has never been more apparent. With such a scale of reported data breaches, public and top management awareness of this issue is increasing the importance they place on information security.

The international response to such threats is resulting in new laws such as the recently enacted General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018. Aimed at protecting the public, such regulations require companies to identify and implemented adequate security measures to safeguard the information of people and intellectual property.

One of the most popular methods of addressing information security concerns is by developing and implementing an information security management system (ISMS) based on the requirements of ISO 27001:2013. An ISMS will put in place processes that will help preserve the confidentiality, integrity and availability of corporate information and data.

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is a specification for the management of information security. It is applicable to all sectors of industry and not confined to just information held on computers. Information may be printed or written on paper, stored electronically, transmitted by post or email, shown on films, or spoken in conversation.

What does information security cover?
• Confidentiality, ensuring that access to information is appropriately authorised
• Integrity, safeguarding the accuracy and completeness of information and processing methods
• Availability, ensuring that authorized users have access to information when they need it

Why apply for ISO 27001 certification?

The objective of ISO 27001 certification is to ensure that there are adequate confidentiality, integrity and availability controls in place to safeguard the information of interested parties. These include clients, employees, trading partners and consumers.

Unprotected systems are vulnerable to an array of threats, including computer-assisted fraud, sabotage and viruses. Such threats can be internal or external, accidental or malicious. Breaches in information security can allow vital information to be accessed, stolen, corrupted or lost.

Information is now globally accepted as being a vital asset for most organisations. Therefore, the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate and customer information may be essential to maintain competitive edge, cash-flow, profitability, legal compliance and commercial image.

What are the benefits to your company of ISO 27001 certification?

The ISO 27001 standard is intended to assist with these risks. It is easy to imagine the consequences and damage to a brand or organisation if its information was lost, destroyed, corrupted, burnt, flooded, sabotaged or misused.

An information security management system compliant to ISO 27001 can help you demonstrate to clients and suppliers that you take information security seriously. You will gain a competitive advantage; an ever-growing number of companies require certification to ISO 27001 as a prerequisite for doing business.

You will be able to make a public statement of capability without revealing your security processes. And by ensuring controls are in place, you reduce the risk of security threats and prevent systems from being exploited.

Whatever the media the information takes, or means by which it is shared or stored, the ISO 27001 standard assists in providing a systematic approach so that an organisation can ensure it is always appropriately protected.

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