ISO 27001 is a globally recognized security framework that assesses how an organization protects its customer’s data and documents its information security management system (ISMS). A completed ISO 27001 certification can help you demonstrate your organization’s strong security posture to customers and stakeholders. 

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In this article, we’ll cover the benefits that come with getting an ISO 27001 certification and how you can get started. 

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What are the benefits of ISO 27001 certification?

The benefits that each organization realizes from getting an ISO 27001 certification will vary depending on several factors, such as the size and maturity of your organization, what industries you’re in, and who your customers are. With that in mind, these are the most common benefits that come with ISO 27001 compliance:

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1. Opening new revenue opportunities

ISO 27001 can positively impact your bottom line by opening up new opportunities for business. Many large organizations can only work with SaaS vendors or data service providers that are ISO 27001 certified to ensure their data remains secure. ISO 27001 is a way for your customers to verify that you’ve implemented data security best practices and assure them that you’ve taken steps to prevent a security breach. 

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Additionally, it’s a standard that’s used by many countries around the world. If you’re looking to expand your business to new markets that traditionally use ISO 27001 (as opposed to SOC 2 that’s used most often in North America) getting certified can help you sell to customers in these regions. 

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2. Reducing the risk of a data breach

To get ISO 27001 certified, you need to implement practices and controls that strengthen your information security. The standard is made up of 114 controls divided into 14 categories that represent possible security measures an organization can consider based on its needs. While you don’t need to implement all of these controls, the controls that you do choose to implement will make your information security stronger and help prevent unauthorized access to your data. 

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By implementing these data security best practices, you lower your risk of a data breach and the impact that a breach could have. According to IBM, the global average cost of a data breach in 2023 is $4.45 million. Between losing customers, impacts to your reputation, lawsuits and/or compensating users whose data was compromised, among other costs, a data breach is an expensive problem.

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3. Making information security more manageable

Setting up a strong information security program can be a complex process. ISO 27001 provides clear requirements for setting up a strong information security management system, or ISMS, using strategies such as risk assessment, access control, and incident reporting protocols. 

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The ISO 27001 requirements can serve as a guide as you develop a cohesive system for your security. By the time you earn your certification, you will have created a strong ISMS that is easy to manage and maintain.

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4. Gut-checking your ISMS

There’s a lot involved in making a secure system. For new or inexperienced teams that are building a security program, it can be difficult to know whether you’ve covered all of your bases to prevent unauthorized access.  

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Getting ISO 27001 certified solves this issue. Not only does it guide these teams through the controls and policies to implement, it also ensures that they’ve set them up correctly. To be ISO 27001 certified, you must go through a full audit every three years, and undergo a spot audit every year in between, to maintain your certification. These checks ensure that you're maintaining a strong security posture and reducing your risk of a breach. 

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5. Enhancing organizational security awareness

Information security isn’t solely the responsibility of your security team — it requires your entire organization to have an awareness and understanding of security best practices. It’s important that employees protect their credentials and devices to prevent access of your organization's systems from unauthorized users. 

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One of the requirements when getting ISO 27001 compliant is training your staff on data security. With this requirement, you’ll be able to reduce your risk of a data breach by promoting security awareness across every department in your organization.

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‍How to get started with ISO 27001 certification

With Vanta’s trust management platform, you can streamline your ISO 27001 certification process. Here’s what an automated ISO 27001 can look like: 

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• Connect your infrastructure to the Vanta platform with our 300+ built-in integrations.
• Assess your risk holistically from one unified view.
• Identify areas of non-compliance with in-platform notifications.
• Get a checklist of actions to help you make the needed changes. 
• Automate evidence collection and centralize all your documents in one place.
• Find a Vanta-vetted auditor within the platform. 
• Complete your ISO 27001 certification in half the time. 

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By using Vanta, you can save your business valuable time and money during your ISO 27001 audit process. Learn how you can get your ISO 27001 certification faster by requesting a demo. 

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