ISO 27001 Information Security Management System

ISO 27001 (ISO/IEC 27001) helps organizations treat data security seriously and confidently.  It is implemented through documented systems and processes that are designed to guard against the risk of security breaches or misuse of data while ensuring compliance to legal requirements.  The ISO 27001 2013 (Information and Data Security) standard is used as a basis for an ISMS (Information Security Management Systems).

Understanding the Cyber Threat Environment

A 2020 study released by IBM and based on research from Ponemon Institute found that 51% of organizations surveyed had experienced a significant business disruption in the last two years.  This annual report, titled the Cyber Resilient Organization Report also found, that organizations that incorporated an enterprise wide Cybersecurity Incident Response Plan (CSIRP) had half the number of incidents.

Clearly having a plan is important.  For that plan to be effective it must be based on a reasonable assessment of an organization’s specific information security risks.  Furthermore, as the IBM report noted, that plan must undergo regular review to both the threat profile, and the policies, processes, and procedures to counter the changes in threat.

Continuing assessment is particularly important in the cybersecurity arena because new threats are constantly emerging.  Additionally as new information technologies are introduced, for example cloud based enterprise systems, they create new vulnerabilities.

The ISO 27001 Information Security Management Solution

The basis of ISO 27001 requires ongoing risk assessment and asset management.  It requires information security incident management to anticipate and respond to information security breaches.  It requires a regular and systematic internal audit to review that management.  ISO 27001 also requires the implementation of training and awareness throughout the organization to create a code of practice.

An ISO Information Security Management System (ISMS) is a comprehensive approach to keep confidential corporate information secure.  It encompasses people, processes and IT systems and helps your business coordinate your security efforts consistently and cost effectively.  ISO 27001 (ISO/IEC 27001) is the standard that will help a company not only develop this ever-important Information Security Management System, but it will help ensure the ISMS is integrated, comprehensive and incorporates internationally recognized best practices.

ISO 27001 Certification Demonstrates Commitment to Information Security

Data is one of the most valuable assets any business has today and companies are more vulnerable to security threats than ever before. Data breaches directly effect not only the business involved.  They also compromise the data of their customers, partners, and suppliers.  With cyber threats being generated by hostile nation states, more and more individuals and organizations are preferring to conduct businesses with responsible entities.

The Benefits of Adopting an ISO 27001 ISMS

• Protection of critical and sensitive information
• Provision of a comprehensive, risk-based approach to secure information and data
• Demonstration of credibility, trust, satisfaction and confidence with stakeholders, partners and customers
• Maintenance of internationally accepted information security protocols and criteria
• Market differentiation
• Globally accepted certification

To learn more about what ISO 27001 certification will do for your company, contact CVG Strategy today.

Manage Risk, Safeguard Information and Protect Your Company’s Reputation.

No doubt your company has worked tirelessly and spent a lot of money to establish and protect its brand.  Yet loss, fraud, misuse or abuse of information leaves a black mark against a business that may take a long time to recover, if ever.  It’s important to remember that any business holding data on individuals or companies is a target for fraud, theft, misuse or abuse and not restricted to large companies or those in the financial industry. 

Most companies have a number of information security controls, but without an ISMS, controls can be disorganized and disjointed.  (ISO/IEC 27001) specifies a management system intended to bring security under explicit management control.  Achieving ISO 27001 (ISO/IEC 27001) certification demonstrates that an organization is committed to delivering quality systems through an internationally recognized process.  It mandates specific requirements that include:

1. Management-directed security policy
2. Organization of information security
3. Information assets management
4. Human resources security for employees joining, moving and leaving an organization
5. Physical and environmental security to protect computer facilities
6. Management of technical security controls in systems and networks
7. Control access to restrict rights to networks, systems, applications, functions, and data
8. Building security into information systems acquisition, development, and maintenance
9. Information security incident management to anticipate and respond to information security breaches
10. Protect, maintain and recover business-critical processes and systems
11. Compliance to information security policies, standards, laws, and regulations
12. ISO 27001 applies the process model “Plan-DO-Check-Act (PDCA).

CVG Strategy Cybersecurity Solutions

Businesses worldwide are under attack from players that are well funded and very focused on compromising proprietary data.  IT solutions alone are not sufficient to combat these forces.  Viable solutions include all stakeholders in an enterprise.  They include people, policies, procedures, risk analysis, incident responses, and an internal auditing process that yields constant improvement.