It is possible for startups to go for years without seriously considering ISO 27001. A potential enterprise client will send an email saying “Please supply ISO 27001 as part of our review of our vendor.”

The certification issue is no longer a subject that will be debated next year. The company is looking to complete a particular contract.

ISO 27001 can be a excellent starting point, particularly for companies that are growing. The trick is figuring out the actual requirements without turning a manageable security project into a large-scale compliance program.

Week One should be all about Scope, not shopping

The first thought is to start comparing compliance platforms and consultants. The ideal place to begin is by defining what ISMS or Information Security Management System needs to include.

It is important to know the scope because trying include unneeded systems, locations, or processes can create additional documentation and evidence requirements.

For instance, a small SaaS company may have an environment heavily focused on cloud infrastructure including employee devices, the information of customers. It might also be dominated by couple of key vendors. Understanding the environment will aid in determining what certification is required.

List the security that you have already

Companies that are researching ISO 27001 for startups sometimes believe they must build an entirely new security program.

It may not be the instance.

Modern startups may already be using established cloud providers, and may require multi-factor authentication, a restricted set of employee permissions and system logs for managing, documentation for onboarding and offboarding. Current practices need to be assessed against ISO 27001 requirements, but starting with what is already effective can avoid unnecessary duplicates.

The remainder of the task involves the preparation of policies, completing risk assessments in finding Annex A controls applicable, complete Statements of Applicability (SOA) and gathering evidence.

Know Which Invoice Pays for What

The ISO 27001 cost becomes much easier to understand when expenses aren’t lumped into a single number.

When you consider the cost of an independent certification audit, compliance tools, and time spent by staff The first year of a small-sized business’s expenses could range from $10,000 and $30,000. Consulting may be an additional expense, but it is optional rather than an automatic necessity.

The ISO 27001 certification cost charged by an accredited certification body is crucial to distinguish from the software costs. While a compliance platform may aid in the organization of work, it cannot issue an official certificate. The certification is awarded through an independent audit process.

After the evidence is the accusation

A policy that states that access to employees is restricted after leaving isn’t enough. The auditor must be able to verify that the system is implemented.

ISO 27001 is concerned with the difference between stating something and actually demonstrating it.

CertAssist manages this task without having to connect directly to a live system. It includes all 93 ISO 27001 Annex A controls within one single board. It also provides editable templates for policy and proof, and a statement of Applicability.

Templates can be employed by small groups of people to reduce the time-consuming process of creating each policy from scratch.

Certification Day Isn’t a Finish Line

A company that is starting from the ground up may require between three to six months getting prepared to be certified. It all depends on their security policies and procedures, and also the resources available. The certification body conducts audits at both Stage 1 and 2.

After passing the audits you shouldn’t simply go away from your ISMS. After certification, controls and evidence have to be maintained. Surveillance audits are to follow.

That’s an important consideration when creating the program. It’s not enough for a small business to just have an ISMS which it can afford. It should have an ISMS its staff can use after the project is over.

It’s rare to find that an organization with the most employees has the most effective ISO 27001 program. It’s one that is in line with the standard, reflects the true security standards, is able to withstand independent scrutiny, and is in control when people return back to their work.