ISO 27001 is the most widely used international standard for managing information security. Compliance is maintained through an information security management system (ISMS). For more information, read our essential guide to ISO 27001 compliance.

ISMS stands for information security management system. It’s a documented management system that helps to protect the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of your company’s assets. By designing, implementing, and maintaining an ISMS, your business can protect data and information from being compromised. In addition, you can get your ISMS certified by an external body. One of the most common certifications is ISO 27001. Certification is essentially a means to guarantee that your ISMS meets a high standard.

There is no set time frame, but to properly set up an ISMS you need at least a few months. If you are seriously considering building a certified ISMS, we warn against providers who promise rapid certification via the use of cheap templates. External auditors can spot these quick fixes easily and, in these cases, it's more than likely you will fail your audit (and you will still be charged the audit fee in most cases). A sustainable yet efficient approach will ensure that you get ISO 27001 certified on time.

The cost of certification depends on the size of your organisation, existing technology in place, and the confidentiality of the information concerned. These factors affect the time taken to conduct an initial audit. To get a clearer picture of the costs involved, speak with one of our consultants and get a tailored quote.

C(ISO) stands for (Chief) Information Security Officer. They are responsible for planning and implementing policies to protect a company's information from loss, damage or theft. A (C)ISO can be hired internally or outsourced. This highly strategic role has seen skyrocketing demand in recent years thanks to increased digitisation. Their core focus is on areas like security operations, data loss and fraud prevention, identity and access management, and security architecture - making this role a critical piece of the puzzle for companies who want to scale.

All ISO 27001 audits must be performed by auditors who are both competent and objective. They must possess expertise in at least one branch of information security, a knowledge of the auditing procedure, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Training (or other recognized qualification) and an awareness of the organisation’s goals and requirements.

Yes! In today's world, data is the new oil - so showing that you protect your information carefully really helps your business stand out amongst your competition. By proving that you are secure, you can win more deals and RFPs. In addition, a certified ISMS also helps you keep important customers, as many large businesses are now pushing compliance requirements down their entire supply chain.