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ISO 27001 Compliance information security Management

ISO/IEC 27001 is an international set of standards designed to support information security. Component standards such as ISO/IEC 27001:2013 are designed to help organizations implement, maintain and continuously improve information security management systems (ISMS).

ISO 27001 compliance is optional. But in a world where hackers ruthlessly target your data and more and face huge fines for your data privacy needs, adhering to ISO standards can help you mitigate risk, comply with legal requirements, lower costs and gain a competitive edge. Can be simply put, ISO 27001 certification will help your business attract and retain customers.

What is ISO 27001?
ISO/IEC 27001 is a set of information technology standards designed to help organizations of any size in any industry implement an effective information security management system. The standard uses a top down, risk based approach and is technology neutral.

Risk management is the central idea of ISO 27001:
You must identify sensitive or valuable information that requires protection, determine the various ways that data could be at risk, and implement controls to mitigate each risk. Risk includes any threat to data confidentiality, integrity or availability. The standard provides a framework for choosing appropriate controls and processes.

In particular, ISO 27001 requires you to:
  • Identify stakeholders and their expectations of the ISMS
  • Define the scope of your ISMS
  • Define a security policy Conduct a risk assessment to identify existing and potential data risks
  • Define controls and processes to manage those risks
  • Establish clear objectives for each information security initiative Implement controls and other risk treatment methods
  • Measure and continuously improve the performance of the ISMS
Requirements and Security Controls:

ISO 27001 Requirements:
The standard contains two main parts. The first section lays out definitions and requirements in the following numbered clauses: 
  • Introduction — Describes the process for systematically managing information risks.
  • Scope — Specifies generic ISMS requirements suitable for organizations of any type, size or nature.
  • Normative References — Lists other standards that contain additional information relevant to determining ISO 27001 compliance (only one, ISO/IEC 27000, is listed).
  • Terms and Definitions — Explains the more complex terms used in the standard.
  • Organizational Context — Explains why and how to define the internal and external issues that can affect an enterprise`s ability to build an ISMS, and requires the organization to establish, implement, maintain and continually improve the ISMS.
  • Leadership — requires senior management to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the ISMS, mandate policy, and assign information security roles and responsibilities.
  • Planning — Outlines processes to identify, analyze and plan to treat information risks and clarify the objective of information security initiatives.
  • Support: Requires organizations to assign adequate resources, raise awareness, and prepare all necessary documentation.
  • Operation— Details how to assess and treat information risks, manage changes, and ensure proper documentation.
  • Performance Evaluation — requires organizations to monitor measure and analyze their information security management controls and processes.
  • Improvement — requires organizations to refine their ISMS continually, including addressing the findings of audits and reviews.
Reference Control Objectives and Controls:
The second part, Annex A, details a set of controls that can help you comply with the requirements in the first section. Organizations should choose the controls that best fit their specific needs and supplement them with other controls as needed.

Controls are grouped into the following domains:

Information Security Policy - Ensures that policies are written and reviewed in accordance with the organization's security practices and general guidelines.
Information Security Organization - Sharing of Responsibilities for Specific Tasks Human Resource Security - Ensure that employees and contractors understand their responsibilities.
Asset Management - Enables organizations to identify information assets and define appropriate security responsibilities.
Access Control - Ensure that employees only see information relevant to their job.
Encryption - Encrypts data to ensure confidentiality and integrity. Physical and Environmental Security - Prevents loss, damage or theft of software, hardware and physical files by protecting against unauthorized physical access, damage or tampering of premises or data, and maintenance of equipment.
Operational security - ensuring the security of information processing facilities Communication Security - Secure your information network.
System Acquisition, Development, and Maintenance - Secure both internal systems and systems that provide services on public networks. Supplier Relationships - Properly manage contractual agreements with third parties.
Information Security Incident Management - Ensures effective management and reporting of security incidents.
Information Security Aspects of Business Continuity Management - Minimizing Business Disruption.
Compliance - To comply with applicable laws and regulations and to reduce the risk of violations.

ISO 27001 compliant and certified:

Advantages:
By voluntarily complying with ISO 27001 requirements, organizations can proactively mitigate information security risks and improve their ability to comply with data protection requirements. Taking it one step further, achieving ISO 27001 certification allows you to demonstrate to your customers, partners, suppliers and others your commitment to protecting your information assets. This trust can enhance a company's reputation and give it a competitive advantage.

Required Documents:
There are Several documents are required to demonstrate compliance with ISO 27001, including:
  • ISMS Scope (Section 4.3)
  • Information Security Policy (Section 5.2)
  • Information Security Purposes (Section 6.2)
  • Evidence of the competence of people working in the field of information security (Section 7.2) 
  • Information Risk Assessment Results (Section 8.2)
  • ISMS Internal Audit Program and Results of Audits Performed (Section 9.2)
  • Evidence of management review of ISMS (Section 9.3)
  • Evidence of identified nonconformities and new corrective actions (Section 10.1)
Determining the scope of the ISMS One of the key requirements for the implementation of ISO 27001 is to define the scope of the ISMS.

To do this, you need to follow these steps:
  • Lists all information stored either physically or digitally, on-premises or in the cloud.
  • Identifies the different ways people access information.
  • Determine what data is within the scope of the ISMS and what is outside the scope of the ISMS. For example, information beyond the control of the organization is outside the scope of the ISMS. 
ISO 270001 Certification process:
The ISO 27001 certification process includes the following steps:
  • ISMS development, including policies, procedures, people and skills.
  • Conduct internal audits to identify nonconformities and corrective actions.
  • Invite auditors to conduct a basic ISMS review.
  • Fix any issues the auditor finds.
  • Have an accredited certification body perform an in-depth audit of ISO 27001 components to ensure you are in compliance with policies and procedures.
Certification can take 3 to 12 months. To improve the cost-effectiveness of the certification process, many organizations perform a preliminary gap analysis on standards to understand the effort required to implement the necessary changes.

Cost Certification:
Certification Fee Each organization has a different budget as the cost of certification depends on many variables. Key costs relate to training and literature, external support, skills that need to be updated or implemented, staff time and effort, and the certification audit itself. 

Also Read- Types of ISO certification in India

Duration of Certification:
Certification Period Once certified, regular internal audits are required. The certification body conducts re-audits at least once a year and verifies that:
  • Remove all nonconformities since last visit.
  • ISMS work.
  • Documentation update.
  • Risk Management Review
  • Corrective Action
  • Monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of ISMS 
Tips for Achieving and Maintaining ISO 27001 Compliance:

Stakeholder support is critical to a successful certification. Identifying necessary changes, prioritizing and implementing corrective actions, and ensuring that the ISMS is regularly reviewed and improved require the commitment, leadership and resources of all stakeholders.

Determine the impact of ISO 27001 on your organization. We consider the needs and requirements of all stakeholders, including regulators and employees. Take a look at the internal and external factors that affect the security of your information.

Write a description of applicability. This statement details which ISO 27001 controls apply to your organization.

Perform risk assessment and remediation on a regular basis. For each assessment, create a risk treatment plan detailing whether each risk will be eliminated, accepted, terminated, or transferred.

Assess the effectiveness of ISMS. Track and measure ISMS and controls.

Implement training and awareness programs. Train all employees and contractors on security processes and procedures and increase data security awareness throughout the organization.

Conduct internal audits. External auditors identify and fix issues before they find them.

Conclusion:

As data security is now more critical than ever for your success, ISO certification provides a valuable competitive advantage. Leverage the requirements and controls of standards to create and continuously improve your information security management system, demonstrating your commitment to data security to both partners and customers.


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