ISO 27001 is not something that a startup should be thinking about for a number of years. Then an email arrives from a prospective enterprise customer: “Please provide your ISO 27001 certificate as part of our security review for vendors.”
The issue of certification is no longer a subject that will be discussed this year. The company wants to finish an agreement.
ISO 27001 is a good start for many small-scale companies. It’s difficult to figure out what must be done without turning an easily managed project into a compliance program for enterprises.
Week One is supposed to be about Scope, not Shopping
It’s natural to evaluate compliance platforms and consultants. It is preferable to identify the requirements that ISMS (Information Security Management System) must provide.
The scope of the document is important because trying to add unnecessary locations, systems, or processes can create additional documentation and evidence requirements.
For instance, a small SaaS company might have an environment that is heavily concentrated on cloud infrastructure including employee devices, customer information. It might be also controlled by a few key vendors. Understanding the surroundings will help you determine which certification is required.
Make a list of security you Already Have
Some companies looking into ISO 27001 as a startup suppose that they have to establish an entirely new security program.
This could not be the instance.
A modern-day startup may require multi-factor authentication. It could also restrict the access of employees, keep system logs, manage backups, document onboarding and offboarding, and utilize the most well-known cloud providers. Practices in place must be evaluated against ISO 27001 requirements, but by starting with what’s in place can help avoid unnecessary duplicates.
The remaining work includes documenting guidelines, conducting the risk assessment, determining the appropriate Annex A controls, completing the Statement of Applicability and obtaining proof.
You can now identify which invoices you pay for and what
The ISO 27001 cost becomes much easier to understand when expenses aren’t lumped into a single number.
If you take into account the costs of an independent certification audit, compliance tools, and staff time The first year of a small-sized business’s expenses could range from $10,000 and $30,000. Consulting can be a cost in addition, but it is optional instead of an automatic necessity.
It is important to distinguish between the ISO 27001 certification costs charged by a certified certification organization and software fees. The compliance platform functions as a device which can manage work, however it cannot issue the certificate. The certification process is an independent audit procedure.
Next, the evidence
It’s not enough just to make the policy that states that employees cannot access information when they leave. Auditors need proof that the process is actually effective.
The difference between proving and saying is the main point of ISO 27001.
CertAssist is designed to facilitate the work of CertAssist without directly connecting to live systems in a company. It offers all 93 ISO 27001 Annex A controls within one single board. It also offers editable templates for policy and evidence as well as a Declaration of Applicability.
For small teams, templates could also help to remove the tedious task of writing every policy on a blank sheet.
The Finish Line isn’t Certification Day
An organization that is just starting at the beginning may require between three to six months getting prepared to be certified. This will depend on their security policies and procedures, as well as the resources they have available. The certification body will then conduct Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
Once you’ve passed the audits you should not just put aside your ISMS. Controls and evidence must be maintained, and surveillance audits follow after certification.
This is a crucial aspect to consider when designing the program. It’s not enough for small businesses to just have an ISMS which it can afford. It requires an ISMS that ensures its team can function realistically after the initial project has ended.
It’s not often that even the biggest organization has the top ISO 27001 program. It is one that meets ISO 27001 standards and reflects real security practices, withstands independent inspection and is manageable after everyone has returned to their regular jobs.