In today's digital age, protecting sensitive information is crucial, and the need for robust Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) has become urgent due to the prevalence of data breaches and cyber threats.
ISO 27001 is a leading international standard that regulates data security and privacy through a code of security practices for information security management. An organization that is ISO 27001 compliant is recognized for adhering to this security framework, demonstrating a world-class level of operations security across a sufficient number of identified domains and controls. Frameworks often help organizations maintain compliance with regulations, like HIPAA in the healthcare industry and the GDPR across the European Union.
Becoming ISO 27001 compliant is a multi-step process, and certification can only be provided by an accredited certification body. If your organization is seeking to become ISO 27001 compliant, a variety of software solutions can help. In this blog post, we’ll cover what ISO 27001 compliance entails and the top three features to look for in compliance products.
Check out how UpGuard’s Breach Risk can help your organization achieve ISO 27001 compliance >
What is ISO 27001 Compliance?
ISO 27001 is a widely accepted cybersecurity standard for managing and securing information and its associated assets, such as intellectual property, financial data, employee details, and third-party proprietary information. It was created by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and is formally known as ISO/IEC 27001:2013.
Organizations that are ISO 27001 compliant have implemented a security program that aligns with a sufficient number of ISO 27001’s list of domains and controls, typically listed in its statement of applicability. If an organization wants to be ISO 27001 certified, its Information Security Management System must align with the standard through an accredited certification body.
Key Components
The ISO 27001 information security standard plays a crucial role in protecting sensitive information by following a comprehensive risk management process that effectively identifies, evaluates, and addresses security threats. Key components include:
- Risk Management: Ensuring effective risk management by identifying, assessing, and prioritizing potential risks
- Information Security Management System (ISMS): A comprehensive approach to information security management, encompassing policies, processes, and procedures for managing information risk
- Security Controls: Annex A of ISO 27001 includes 114 controls intended to address all information security aspects and provide a complete security management approach
You can ensure continuous vendor compliance with ISO 27001 with this free ISO 27001 risk assessment template.
ISO 27001 Certification Process
When an organization achieves certification for ISO 27001, it shows that its ISMS meets all the requirements outlined in the standard. Maintaining this certification demands a constant dedication to improving the ISMS so that it always effectively protects the organization's information assets and communications security. Organizations with this certification enjoy a competitive advantage over those without, as it showcases their dedication to cybersecurity and data privacy.
The ISO 27001 certification process includes:
- Developing an ISMS: Establish a well-organized ISMS that consists of policies and processes to handle the risks associated with information management
- Risk Assessment: Perform a thorough evaluation of potential risks to information by identifying, analyzing, and assessing them comprehensively
- Implementing Controls: Adopt appropriate controls to mitigate risks deemed unacceptable
- Continuous Monitoring and Improvement: Regularly conduct internal audits of the ISMS and security controls for effectiveness and implement continual improvements
- External Audits: Undergo external audits by an accredited certification body to validate the effectiveness of the ISMS and ensure it meets the ISO 27001 requirements.
Other ISO Standards
- ISO 27000: Information Technology Security Techniques
- ISO 27002: Information Security Practices
- ISO 37301: Compliance Management System (CMS) Standards
- ISO 9001: Quality Management System (QMS) Standards
- ISO 31010: Effective Risk Assessment Techniques
Benefits of ISO 27001 Compliance
Organizations that are ISO 27001 not only enjoy the protection and reassurance of a robust information security system but also other wide-ranging benefits. These include:
- Enhanced Security: Improved protection of sensitive information and asset management through access control, etc.
- Client Trust: Demonstrating to stakeholders and clients that information security is paramount
- Business Growth: Gaining a competitive edge by ensuring safe business operations and alignment with client expectations or requirements
- Legal & Regulatory Compliance: Adhering to regulatory requirements related to information security and data protection
- Risk Management: Effective management of information security risks
- Operational Efficiency: Streamlining processes through adopting an organized approach to information management
Top 3 Features of the Best ISO 27001 Compliance Products
When selecting an ISO 27001 compliance product, consider your organization’s most significant needs and challenging pain points. Various software solutions are available, and each will have different aspects that may be more suited to your company.
Below are the three most significant features to identify in a product, each providing crucial help in reaching compliance or certification with ISO 27001.
1. Comprehensive Risk Management
Monitoring and addressing information security risks require various risk management tools, especially if an organization wants to achieve ISO 27001 compliance. Effective risk management is a strategic effort to strengthen an organization against cyber threats.
A strong ISO 27001 compliance product should seamlessly integrate risk identification, assessment, and prioritization within your organization’s core operations, helping prevent risks from turning into cyber incidents. By providing a structured approach to identifying and managing risks, the ISMS will be well-prepared to adapt and respond to a constantly changing risk environment.
An ISO 27001 compliance product’s risk management should include:
- Risk Assessment Capabilities: Facilitate the identification, assessment, and prioritization of information security risks, providing a structured approach toward risk management aligned with ISO 27001 requirements.
- Mitigation and Management: Assist in developing and managing risk treatment plans and providing options for risk mitigation, transfer, acceptance, or avoidance.
- Audit and Management Reviews: Provide regular audits and reviews of the risk assessment and treatment processes, keeping the ISMS dynamic and responsive to changes.
How UpGuard Can Help
UpGuard Breach Risk is our all-in-one external attack surface management software, which helps your organization understand any risks impacting your external security posture through continuous monitoring, remediation workflows, and more.
Breach Risk's risk management features include data leak detection, attack surface reduction, and insight reporting—making it an excellent piece of software to help your organization start its ISO 27001 compliance journey.
Click here to learn more about how Breach Risk can enhance your organization’s risk management >
2. Incident Management Capability
Incident management is a crucial aspect of ISO 27001. It pertains to the organization's systematic approach to identifying, managing, and mitigating security incidents to protect organizational information and systems, ensuring business continuity management. A robust ISO 27001 compliance product should embody comprehensive incident management capabilities to bolster the organization’s incident response and management efforts.
An ISO 27001 compliance product’s incident management capability should include the following:
- Detection, Identification, and Classification: Automatically detect and report any incident to ensure timely response and management, classifying it appropriately and implementing initial response actions
- Investigation and Analysis: Facilitate further investigation to understand an incident’s origin and impact while analyzing any other evidence around an incident.
- Response and Mitigation: Enable the organization to enact any incident response plans aligned with ISO 27001 and coordinate any communication to manage the incident appropriately, including activating data recovery processes
- Documentation and Reporting: Provide an audit trail that records actions taken throughout the incident management process and facilitate any regulatory and compliance reporting required to meet ISO 27001
How UpGuard Can Help
UpGuard Breach Risk provides various incident management tools to help your organization identify and address any cyber incidents, aligning with the ISO 27001 standards.
Breach Risk's continuous monitoring provides real-time information about risks across your external attack surface, includingvulnerabilities that may be exploitable. In the event of an incident, ourworkflows and waivers accelerate how youremediate issues, tracking progress along the way.
These incident management tools help your organization achieve ISO 27001 compliance and prepare for cyber incidents across digital assets.
Explore more incident management tools with Breach Risk here >
3. Automated Compliance Reporting and Management
Working towards ISO 27001 compliance, certification, or recertification can be time-consuming. Automation is a powerful tool that helps alleviate the burden of reviewing information security policies and adjusting them to the ISO 27001 standard, implementing changes, and tracking whether they were correctly done.
Automated compliance reporting and management provides organizations with a real-time overview of their compliance status and identifies any non-conformities that must be addressed to adhere to the ISO 27001 standard. Utilizing a digital solution removes the possibility of human error, as the product documents every action and modification—providing a transparent trail for future audits and evaluations.
An ISO 27001 compliance product’s automated compliance reporting and management should include the following:
- Automated Data Collection: Automation in gathering data relevant to ISO 27001 compliance.
- Compliance Dashboards: A visual representation of the compliance status, highlighting areas of concern and showcasing progress toward corrective actions
- Regulatory Updates: Ensures the product can adapt to changes in the ISO 27001 standard and regulatory environment, providing a future-proof solution that evolves with the compliance landscape
- Audit Trail: Demonstrates compliance during external audits, certification audits, and assessments
How UpGuard Can Help
Streamline your ISO 27001 compliance with our risk-mapped ISO 27001 questionnaire built into our security questionnaire automation software.
Our questionnaire library includes other industry-leading security questionnaires and templates for your organization or vendors. Automate your process with real-time monitoring and alerts, and identify any compliance gaps that need addressing.
Learn more about UpGuard’s questionnaire library here >
Achieve ISO 27001 Compliance with UpGuard
UpGuard is an intelligence attack surface monitoring solution that supports ISO/IEC 27001 compliance by managing security risks internally and throughout the vendor network. The analytics from these efforts can then create a risk treatment plan to keep stakeholders and interested parties continuously informed about your organization's security posture.
Our products, Breach Risk and Vendor Risk can help your organization achieve ISO 27001 compliance by prioritizing your internal and external information security. Check out their features below!
UpGuard Breach Risk: Attack Surface Management
- Data leak detection: Protect your brand, intellectual property, and customer data with timely detection of data leaks and avoid sensitive data breaches
- Continuous monitoring: Get real-time information and manage exposures, including domains, IPs, and employee credentials
- Attack surface reduction: Reduce your attack surface by discovering exploitable vulnerabilities and domains at risk of typosquatting
- Shared security profile: Eliminate having to answer security questionnaires by creating an UpGuard Trust Page
- Workflows and waivers: Simplify and accelerate how you remediate issues, waive risks, and respond to security queries
- Reporting and insights: Access tailor-made reports for different stakeholders and view information about your external attack surface
UpGuard Vendor Risk: Third-Party Risk Management
- Security questionnaires: Automate security questionnaires with workflows to get deeper insights into your vendors’ security and supplier relationships
- Security ratings: Instantly understand your vendors' security posture with our data-driven, objective, and dynamic security ratings
- Risk assessments: Let us guide you each step of the way, from gathering evidence, assessing risks, and requesting remediation
- Monitor vendor risk: Monitor your vendors daily and view the details to understand what risks impact their security posture throughout their lifecycle.
- Reporting and insights: UpGuard’s Reports Library makes it easier and faster for you to access tailor-made reports for different stakeholders
- Managed third-party risks: Let our expert analysts manage your third-party risk management program and allocate your security resources
