Beyond Compliance: Harnessing ISO 27001 for Business Success

ISO27001 is an international standard that sets out the requirements for the effective implementation of an Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). This enables organisations to provide a framework to identify, assess, and manage their information and cyber security risks. 

There are many benefits to implementing an ISMS and achieving ISO27001 certification:

• Increased customer confidence: ISO27001 certification demonstrates to customers that your organisation takes information security seriously. This can lead to increased sales and market share – many contracts require security certifications such as ISO27001.
• Reduced risk of data breaches: An ISMS based on ISO27001 helps you to identify and mitigate your information security risks. This can help you to avoid costly data breaches.
• Improved compliance: ISO27001 certification helps you to comply with a wide range of security regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). ISO27001 is also the foundation of many security requirements, allowing you to reuse certification to demonstrate compliance.
• Enhanced employee awareness: An ISMS based on ISO27001 helps to raise employee awareness of information security. This can help to prevent accidental data breaches.
• Increased trust: Most certification bodies are independently verified by government appointed accreditation bodies to determine if an organisations ISMS has been implemented effectively. This gives you confidence that you’re doing the right thing.

ISO27001 enables you to manage security risk through the implementation of controls covering the governance of your organisation, your people, your physical locations and technology. 

1. Gap Analysis: Evaluate your current information security practices against ISO27001 requirements to identify gaps and areas for improvement.
2. Risk Assessment: Identify potential threats and vulnerabilities, assess their potential impact, and determine the level of risk your organization is willing to accept.
3. Implement Controls: Develop and implement a range of security controls to mitigate identified risks. These controls cover everything from access control and cryptography to incident management and communication security.
4. Training and Awareness: Educate your workforce about the importance of information security, their roles in maintaining it, and how to respond to security incidents effectively.
5. Monitoring and Review: Regularly assess the effectiveness of your security measures, conduct internal audits, and keep up with emerging threats to ensure your ISMS remains robust.
6. Certification: Engage an accredited certification body to audit your ISMS and award you ISO27001 certification upon successful compliance.

ISO27001 isn't just a framework; it's a commitment to securing your organization's most valuable asset—information.

By embracing this standard, you demonstrate your dedication to data security, customer trust, and operational excellence. In a world where cyber threats are ever-present, ISO27001 is your compass, guiding you towards a safer digital future. 

In October 2022, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) published a new version of ISO/IEC 27001:2022.  Our slip-sheet, linked below, outlines the changes and additions to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 in comparison to the outgoing 2013 standard, highlights the importance for organisations to transition to the 2022 standard before the October 2025 deadline, and shows how KPMG can help facilitate this transition.

The 2022 version is a moderate update from the previous version of the standard: ISO/IEC 27001:2013. The bulk of changes are related to the Annex controls and align to ISO/IEC 27002:2022 updates, which were published earlier in 2022. The Annex controls have been grouped differently, new Annex controls have been added, and others have been merged or renamed.

For more information and to ensure your organisation's readiness for ISO/IEC 27001:2022, please read our ISO27001 slip-sheet.