ISO 27001 for Businesses: Everything you need to know

As a small business owner, adopting best practice cyber security may not be at the top of your to-do list, but it should be. How much is data protection worth to you?

As an international standard for data security in the workplace, ISO 27001 is suitable for any and all businesses. To answer your questions about the process, procedure and the benefits including the all-important first stages of your audit, here are some FAQs surrounding ISO 27001:

What is ISO 27001?
Who needs ISO 27001 certification?
Do small businesses need to think about data security?
What are your cyber security responsibilities as an employer?
What are the benefits of ISO 27001?
How much does ISO 27001 training cost?
What is the statement of applicability for ISO 27001?
What’s the difference between ISO 27001 and ISO 27002?
Does ISO 27001 cover the risks when employees bring their own devices to work?

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is an international standard for data security and cyber protection. It details best practice information security in a way that’s actionable for your organisation. Through the process of ISO 27001 certification, you’ll implement important procedures into your business processes that will protect you against security breaches and dangerous online activity.

Want a more in depth definition? Read our blog.

Who needs ISO 27001 certification?

Because businesses around the world are becoming increasingly reliant on technology, data is valuable for everyone and, therefore, data protection should be a priority for all organisations, no matter your size, Not only will it safeguard your data and make your business watertight, it will also boost your own credibility and improve the service you deliver to customers and clients.

Here are some more reasons why your company should adopt ISO 27001.

Do small businesses need to think about data security?

Just because a business is small, doesn’t mean it’s not immune to digital threats. In fact, small businesses often have to be even more mindful than larger ones because they may not have the money or resources to rectify the damage caused by cyber attacks. So the answer is yes: all businesses need to make data protection a priority – no matter your size.

Should you be a small business owner worried about the state of your cyber security, we’ve put together six best practices for data security for small businesses.

What are your cyber security responsibilities as an employer?

As an employer, it’s your responsibility to prevent data interception and theft as it can severely damage your company’s reputation. You must set out rules and regulations for controlling this risk – and here are six ways to do so.

Not convinced? Why not read up on the five worst data breaches you didn’t even know existed.

What are the benefits of ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 has many measurable benefits for your business. We’ve identified what we believe the five key benefits of the certification to be:

1. Improved security
2. Implemented controls
3. It aligned with current management systems
4. It creates a culture of continual improvement
5. Awards you with a mark of quality

How much does ISO 27001 training cost?

We recommend a training course if you want to know how to plan and prepare for your ISO 27001 certification. The cost of this will depend on the levels of training you require. You can expect this to cost between £1000 and £2500.

Click here for a full breakdown of costs.

What is the statement of applicability for ISO 27001?

The statement of applicability (SoA) is a key component of ISO 27002. It’s a framework of policies surrounding the legality, physicality and technicality of your data protection procedures. Completion of the SoA is a requirement for your certification.

For a more detailed explanation of the SoA as well as what it entails and why it’s important, read our blog.

What’s the difference between ISO 27001 and ISO 27002?

Where ISO 27001 is a management standard, ISO 27002 is more like a code of practice for security controls, outlining best practices for your data protection procedures. Businesses who are in the process of implementing ISO 27001 are required to use ISO 27002.

Let’s delve into how they work together.

Does ISO 27001 cover the risks when employees bring their own devices to work?

You can align your bring your own device (BYOD) security policies with controls outlined in your ISO 27001 documentation. ISO 27001 can help you prepare for employees bringing their own device and lets you put in plans that will help mitigate breaches.

What risks do BYOD policies bring? Our blog outlines them.