ISO 27001 Certification In 10 Easy Steps

Security teams must take proactive measures to minimize the chance of a serious breach. This is a great way to reduce such risks.

This article will explain how to get ISO 27001 certification. It also discusses the certification process.

1) Prepare

The standard is a great reference for ISO 27001 and its requirements. You can learn more about ISO 27001 by completing several courses.

Elect An ISO 27001 Champion

It is helpful to gain an understanding of ISO 27001 to familiarize yourself with the certification process. To complete the certification process, however, you will need to be an expert.

You can either have them manage it yourself or hire a third party.

They should be able to successfully implement an ISMS (information security management systems) within their organization.

Senior Management Support

Without the support and buy-in of the leadership, no project will succeed.

An extensive gap analysis should include a plan of recommended actions, as well as additional guidance on scoping your ISMS.

To help you make a strong business case to implement ISO 27001, the results of the gap analysis are available.

2) Establish Context, Scope, Objectives

It is important to establish the project and ISMS objectives at the beginning, including costs and timeframe.

It is important to decide whether you will use external support from a consultant or if you have the necessary in-house expertise.

The scope of the ISMS will need to be defined. It may apply to all departments or a particular department.

3) Establish A Management Framework

This management framework outlines the steps an organization must follow to achieve its ISO27001 implementation goals.

These include establishing accountability for the ISMS, a schedule, and regular auditing in support of a cycle that supports continuous improvement.

4) Conduct A Risk Assessment

Although ISO 27001 doesn’t prescribe any specific method for risk assessment, it does require that the process be formal.

This means that the process should be planned and data, analysis, and results recorded.

Before you can conduct a risk assessment, it is important to establish your baseline security criteria.

This is the organization’s legal, business, and regulatory requirements as well as its contractual obligations about information security.

5) Implement Controls To Mitigate Risks

After identifying the relevant risks, the organization will need to decide whether to accept, terminate, terminate or transfer them.

It is important to record all risk responses as the auditor may want to examine them during the certification (registration) audit.

Two mandatory reports must be submitted as evidence of risk assessment: RTP (risk treatment program) and the Statement of Applicability.

6) Conduct Training

The Standard requires that all employees be trained in information security awareness to increase awareness throughout the organization.

It will be necessary to establish policies to encourage good habits among employees.

This could include a policy of a clean desk and the requirement that employees lock their computers when they are away from their workstations.

7) Review And Update Required Documentation

• Documentation is necessary to support the ISMS policies, processes, and procedures.

• Compiling policies and procedures can be a tedious and difficult task.

• These templates are fully customizable and formatted to meet the requirements of ISO 27001.

• The Standard requires at a minimum the following documentation:

• The ISMS’s scope

• Policy on information security

• Process for assessing information security risks

• The Statement of Applicability

• Information security goals

• Demonstrating competence

• Documented information that the organization considers necessary to the ISMS’s effectiveness

• Operational planning & control

• Results from the information security risk assessment

• Results from the information security risk treatment

• The evidence of monitoring and measuring results

• An internal audit process that is documented

• The audit programs and audit results are evidence of their existence

• The results of management reviews are evident

• Documentation indicating the nature of non-conformities.

• Any evidence of corrective actions taken

8) Measure, Monitor, And Review

ISO 27001 encourages continuous improvement. This means that ISMS performance must be continuously analyzed for compliance and effectiveness, and improvements made to existing controls and processes.

9) Conduct An Internal Audit

Managers responsible for ISO 27001 compliance must also have a working knowledge of the audit process.

To achieve accreditation, registration audits can only be performed by an independent registrar who is accredited by the relevant accreditation authority of your country.

10) Registration/Certification Audits

The Stage One audit will determine if your documentation meets ISO 27001. The auditor will also identify areas that need improvement and points of non-conformity.