ISO 27001 Certification

ISO 27001 is the globally recognized standard for information security. For organizations serving international clients or seeking to demonstrate world-class security practices, ISO 27001 certification provides credibility and competitive advantage. Unlike regional standards, ISO 27001 is understood and respected worldwide.

What is ISO 27001?

ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), it provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information.

Key Characteristics:

• Risk-based approach to security
• Continuous improvement methodology (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
• Comprehensive control framework (Annex A: 114 controls)
• Independent third-party certification
• Three-year certification cycle with annual surveillance audits

ISO 27001 Structure

Clauses 4-10: ISMS Requirements (Mandatory)

Clause 4: Context of the Organization

• Understand internal and external issues
• Define scope of ISMS
• Establish ISMS

Clause 5: Leadership

• Management commitment
• Information security policy
• Roles and responsibilities

Clause 6: Planning

• Risk assessment and treatment
• Information security objectives

Clause 7: Support

• Resources, competence, awareness
• Communication and documentation

Clause 8: Operation

• Operational planning and control
• Risk assessment and treatment implementation

Clause 9: Performance Evaluation

• Monitoring, measurement, analysis
• Internal audit
• Management review

Clause 10: Improvement

• Nonconformity and corrective action
• Continual improvement

Annex A: 114 Security Controls (Select as Needed)

Controls organized into 14 domains:

1. Information Security Policies
2. Organization of Information Security
3. Human Resource Security
4. Asset Management
5. Access Control
6. Cryptography
7. Physical and Environmental Security
8. Operations Security
9. Communications Security
10. System Acquisition, Development and Maintenance
11. Supplier Relationships
12. Information Security Incident Management
13. Information Security Aspects of Business Continuity
14. Compliance

You don’t implement all 114 controls—only those relevant to your risk assessment.

Our ISO 27001 Services

Gap Analysis

Assess current security posture against ISO 27001 requirements and identify gaps.

ISMS Implementation

Full implementation support:

• Scope definition
• Risk assessment methodology
• Statement of Applicability (SoA) development
• Policy and procedure documentation
• Control implementation
• Employee awareness and training

Internal Audit

Pre-certification internal audits to validate ISMS effectiveness and identify any non-conformities.

Certification Support

• Certification body selection
• Stage 1 (documentation review) preparation
• Stage 2 (implementation audit) support
• Non-conformity remediation

Ongoing Maintenance

• Annual surveillance audit support
• Continuous improvement initiatives
• Risk assessment updates
• Management review facilitation
• Recertification (every 3 years)

ISO 27001 Implementation Timeline

Months 1-2: Foundation

• Gap analysis
• Scope definition
• Risk assessment methodology
• Management commitment

Months 3-6: ISMS Build

• Risk assessment execution
• Statement of Applicability
• Policy development
• Procedure documentation
• Control implementation begins

Months 7-9: Control Implementation

• Technical control deployment
• Organizational controls rollout
• Employee training
• Documentation completion

Months 10-11: Testing & Refinement

• Internal audit
• Management review
• Address findings
• Final preparation

Month 12: Certification Audit

• Stage 1 audit (documentation review)
• Address any findings
• Stage 2 audit (implementation)
• Certification decision

ISO 27001 vs. SOC 2

Both demonstrate security commitment but differ significantly:

ISO 27001:

• International standard
• Certification (pass/fail)
• Risk-based control selection
• ISMS methodology emphasis
• Three-year cycle
• Better for international business

SOC 2:

• US-focused framework
• Attestation report (not certification)
• Custom control selection
• Trust Services Criteria
• Annual reports
• Better for SaaS/cloud services

Many organizations pursue both for comprehensive market coverage.

Benefits of ISO 27001

Market Access

• Required by many international clients
• Procurement advantage in RFPs
• Demonstrates due diligence

Risk Management

• Systematic approach to identifying risks
• Prioritized security investments
• Reduced likelihood and impact of breaches

Regulatory Alignment

• Supports GDPR compliance
• Aligns with many industry regulations
• Demonstrates security maturity

Continuous Improvement

• Built-in improvement methodology
• Regular reviews and updates
• Adapts to evolving threats

ISO 27001 for Different Organizations

Technology Companies

Use ISO 27001 to win enterprise clients and international business.

Professional Services

Demonstrate commitment to client data protection.

Manufacturing

Protect intellectual property and supply chain security.

Healthcare

Complement HIPAA with international standard.

Common Implementation Challenges

Challenge: Excessive documentation Solution: Focus on required documentation; keep it practical and usable.

Challenge: Resource constraints Solution: Phased approach starting with most critical controls.

Challenge: Employee buy-in Solution: Clear communication of benefits and practical training.

Challenge: Maintaining momentum Solution: Regular management reviews and quick wins to show progress.

Get ISO 27001 Certified

Related Services:

• Cybersecurity Services
• SOC 2 Compliance
• All Compliance Frameworks