Things You Should Know About ISO27001
ISO is one among the various range of potential security frameworks and certifications. However, ISO is the most widely accepted and popular choice among the ever-growing list of industry-specific certifications and compliances. Primarily due to the acceptability of ISO27001 compliance in Australia and worldwide. It is widely appreciated in all business sectors too. There are over 10,000 certified organizations in Australia.
What is ISO27001?
ISO27001 is a standard primarily known for the implementation and management of information management and security system. It is also named ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information Security Management and is a product of the international standards organization and electrotechnical commission.
It is the most well-known among more than a dozen standards in Australia. It is also the only standard through which an organization can be certified. It serves as a benchmark or reference guide for organizations across various sectors. Australian ISO27001 certifications rose by a whopping 200 per cent in 2020.
Instead of other frameworks and standards, it is relatively easy to obtain and does not require adherence to strict format or guidelines. ISO27001 compliance in Australia does not require any specific technical control.
The framework instead focuses on a proactive and holistic approach toward risk management and security protocols across organizations. Every organization has the freedom to implement these controls according to applicable subsets based on the unique risk that their business operation possesses.
It is essential to note the certificate is for information security rather than cyber security. It protects and implies various documents and information on different digital platforms. It covers policies, terms, procedures, templates, documentation, etc., that maintain the firm’s integrity. It also covers all the confidential documents owned by the firm.
Is ISO27001 Mandatory Certification?
While some may see ISO27001 Compliance in Australia as a legal document, it is not a mandatory certification. However, it is widely accepted and adds value and trust to the organisation.
Various vendor procurement and contracts also require this certification, moreover, in industries that have sensitive public information, such as industries in the healthcare and finance sectors.
Some sectors generally accept these certifications as it makes the terms more reliable. You can learn more about ISO certifications for data centres with Macquarie Data Centres.
ISO27001 Certification Process
The process often takes over a year, so you need to have loads of patience and religious follow-ups. A third party carries out the entire process. It has a well-experienced team of assessors and auditors that implement all the relevant practices as per the ISO standards.
The primary emphasis of the entire process is risk management. There is a particular checklist that can help you obtain the certifications. Every organization has its way of implementing the security framework. Thus the auditors have to evaluate each case according to its protocols.
The Process For Certification Is Divided Into Three Parts
- Phase 1: The external body performs a high-level review of the organisation. It mainly serves the purpose of establishing documentation and management flow. Any poorly identified metrics could lead to inactive status and hence cause a delay in certifications.
- Phase 2: This phase involves a much more detailed procedure wherein an organisation has to undergo annual audits. It is a more controlled process where auditors look for evidence that the organisation is following everything mentioned in the documentation or the relevancy of terms.
- Phase 3: Post, the annual surveillance auditors, are not as rigorous as in the first two stages. Once all the audits are cleared, an expiration date is set, and the certification is granted to the organization.
Conclusion
The certification cost for an organization usually depends on the number of employees. An average enterprise with an employee strength of 500 professionals in Australia could cost around $13,000. If your organization considers embarking on the journey of ISO27001 compliance in Australia, the above pointers can nudge you in the right direction.
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