WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF AN ISO/IEC 27001 INFORMATION SECURITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM?

• Regulatory compliance. The UK Data Protection Act is just one of many regulations currently pertaining to information security in the UK. ISO/IEC 27001 implementation helps to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. This reduces the likelihood of fines and other penalties due to non-compliance or the occurrence of a data breach.
• Data breaches. One data breach can do irreparable damage to your company’s reputation. An ISO/IEC 27001 audit helps you limit the possibility of a breach by identifying the areas in which you are most vulnerable. It also provides a sound information management security risk framework. As mentioned, adhering to ISO/IEC 27001 standards reduces the likelihood of incurring fines or facing criminal prosecution due to non-compliance with any applicable laws and regulations.
• Low risk management confidence. How confident are you in your organization’s ability to effectively manage data/information security risks? ISO/IEC 27001 registrations provide companies with an effective framework for identifying risks and threats, as well as for establishing the appropriate internal controls for minimising or even eliminating them. This will give you and your stakeholders greater assurance that you are doing everything possible to safeguard your organization’s vital information.
• Access to information. A critical element of any data security effort is effectively controlling who has access to information at any given time. ISO/IEC 27001 certification provides a framework for ensuring that all authorized users can get the information they need when they need it, while also preventing unauthorized users from accessing private or confidential data. This also helps to establish stakeholder trust and credibility, while enhancing your company’s recovery operations in the event of a breach or other catastrophic event.
• Meeting high customer expectations. Understandably, your customers are likely to have high expectations in terms of protecting their private or sensitive information. ISO/IEC 27001 standards act as a blueprint for establishing customer-friendly policies and procedures that reduce your company’s risk of a breach, helping to put your customers’ minds at ease. This can be advantageous in terms of improving customer retention and generating new business. It can also reduce the level of third-party scrutiny regarding your information security practices.
• Creating a security mindset. Information security must be a point of focus for every member of your organization. The action of ISO/IEC 27001 implementation sends a clear message throughout your organization that security is a top priority. By increasing awareness, you’ll be helping to establish a security mindset that will spread to every level of your company, which can also reduce the likelihood of staff-related security breaches.