ISO 27001 is not something that startups need to be thinking about for a number of years. An email from an enterprise client requests your ISO 27001 certification as part our vendor security review.
Then, it’s not something to look at next year. The company wants to finish the contract.
ISO 27001 can be a great starting point, especially for businesses that are growing. The challenge is to understand what’s required, without turning a scalable compliance program into an enterprise-sized security program.
This Week, Focus on Scope, not Shopping
It may be instinctive to evaluate compliance platforms and consultants. It is better to determine what ISMS (Information Security Management System) should cover.
It is important to know the scope because trying include ineffective systems, locations or processes could result in additional documentation and requirements for evidence.
Small SaaS businesses, for example they may have an environment which is centered around cloud infrastructures including employee devices, client data, and only few key vendors. Knowing the specifics of your environment will aid in determining what your certification plan should be addressing.
Make a list of security you Already Have
Companies researching ISO 27001 for startups sometimes assume they need to build an entirely new security operation.
This may not be the case.
Modern startups are likely to use cloud services, and require multi-factor authentication and restrict access for employees. They may also keep system logs and manage backups. It’s not enough to test current practices against ISO 27001, but if you start with what works now, it can save unnecessary duplication.
Writing policies, conducting a risk assessment, determining the appropriate Annex A Controls, completing the Statement for Applicability and gathering evidence are all the remaining tasks.
Which invoice pays for what?
When expenses are not bundled in one figure, it is simpler to comprehend the ISO 27001 cost.
If you take into account the costs of an audit by an independent certifier, tools for compliance and the time of staff members The first year of a small-sized business’s expenses could range from $10,000 to $30,000. Consulting can add another expense however, it’s optional instead of an automatic requirement.
It is essential to distinguish between the ISO 27001 certification costs charged by a certified certification body and software fees. The compliance platform is a device that allows for the organization of work but cannot issue the certification. The independent auditing process is the process that validates the certification.
Then comes the evidence
The mere fact of a policy that says access to employees is restricted after the departure of an employee isn’t enough. The auditor needs evidence that the procedure is operating.
ISO 27001 is based on the distinction between showing and saying.
CertAssist was created to assist organize this process without connecting to the live systems of the business. It lists all ISO 27001:2022 Annex A controls on a single board It also provides editable policy and evidence templates and supports the Statement of Applicability and also allows auditor access that is read-only.
A template for a small team will help you eliminate the inefficient documenting of each policy on the blank page.
Certification Day isn’t the Final Line
A new company can spend anywhere from three to six months getting certified dependent on its current security practices and available resources. The certification body then conducts the Stage 1 and Stage 2 audits.
The ISMS will not be forgotten simply because you pass the audits. Controls and evidence need to be maintained, and surveillance audits follow after certification.
It’s a key consideration when making the program. Small businesses don’t only need to have an ISMS they can afford. It needs an ISMS that the team can use after the project has ended.
It is rare that the largest organization has the best ISO 27001 program. It’s the one that satisfies the requirements, is based on real security practices, stands up to independent scrutiny, and is manageable when everyone returns to their regular jobs.