ISO 27001,most recently updated in 2022, is the international standard for information security management.
It defines the requirements of a best-practice ISMS (information security management system).
This takes a risk-based approach to information security, accounting for people, processes and technology.
You can also achieve accredited certification against ISO 27001 by undergoing an external audit.
This blog discusses five reasons you should consider ISO 27001 certification, and not just ISMS implementation.
1. Demonstrate a clear commitment to data security to customers
ISO 27001 certification offers valuable and clear proof of your commitment to protecting your data.
This is good for business.
Customers prefer to do business with organisations that take data security seriously. They also tend to avoid organisations with a history of data breaches.
ISO 27001 certification clearly shows which camp you fall into.
2. Appeal to partners and suppliers
The same is true for partners and suppliers. If there’s a breach, it doesn’t matter whether it originated internally or from a third party.
Either way, your name ends up in the headlines.
In February 2024, 47% of publicly disclosed incidents in Europe originated from the supply chain. January 2024 fared slightly better at 26%.
Nevertheless, for both months, the numbers are significant: they show that the third-party threat is a real risk.
ISO 27001 certification offers strong evidence that your organisation isn’t likely to contribute to those statistics.
3. Qualify for more lucrative contracts
Achieving ISO 27001 certification isn’t simply marketing: it can open business opportunities worldwide.
This is because it’s an increasingly common contractual requirement, particularly for government and other lucrative contracts.
This comes back to the earlier points. Large institutions understand:
- The risks of sharing data with third parties;
- How significant the consequences of a breach can be; and
- That ISO 27001 is a good and efficient way of selecting a supplier.
Think about it: would you prefer to individually audit suppliers? Or just check whether they have ISO 27001 certification – meaning that a reliable third party has already done the audit for you?
4. Stand out from the competition
67,326 organisations worldwide have ISO 27001 certification as of 31 December 2022. This continues the trend of a year-on-year increase.
That means that a lot of organisations have an edge over you if you lack certification to the Standard.
Equally, plenty of organisations are yet to achieve ISO 27001 certification. More than 1 million organisations hold ISO 9001 certification, for instance.
The number and scale of security incidents are only growing, so security is increasingly on people’s minds.
ISO 27001 certification gives you a chance to stand out from the crowd.
5. Among security certifications, ISO 27001 is a solid choice
If you’re aiming for any security certification, it should be ISO 27001.
This is the international standard for information security management for a reason. It reflects best practices that have stood the test of time:
- ISO 27001 has been around since 1995 (as BS 7799 – the precursor to ISO 27001).
- ISO has revised the Standard multiple times since, showing that it’s keeping up with the evolving landscape.
Furthermore, because it’s an international standard, 170 countries recognise accredited ISO 27001 certification. So, you can achieve certification at home, then have it recognised in the rest of Europe and beyond.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, implementing an ISO 27001-compliant ISMS provides significant benefits.
However, the distinct market value of the Standard comes from achieving accredited certification.
Clients and customers won’t simply accept your word that your ISMS is effective, or that you take security seriously.
You must prove it. ISO 27001 certification is an effective way of achieving just that.
Want to learn more about ISO 27001?
We’ve been at the forefront of ISO 27001 from the start:
- We were the first to implement an ISMS aligned with the Standard.
- We introduced ISO 27001 training qualifications.
- We developed the most effective way of implementing an ISO 27001 ISMS: ournine-step approach.
Need practical advice on your certification project?
Or require a more in-depth discussion and extra support?
We’re here to help.
We first published a version of this blog on 17 September 2018.
