ISO/IEC 27001 Certification: What It Is And Why It Matters

Unless you work in information technology (IT), “ISO/IEC 27001 certification” is an arcane term that you probably haven’t heard of.Your organization, however, might pursue ISO/IEC 27001 certification given the rise in cybercrimes, security breaches, and data breaches. In this blog post, we’ll explain what the certification is all about, why it’s important, and how an organization becomes certified.

What Is ISO/IEC 27001?

ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It provides a systematic approach for managing and protecting information assets within an organization.The standard outlines requirements for establishing an effective information security management system (ISMS) that encompasses policies, procedures, controls, and risk management processes to safeguard sensitive information and mitigate security risks.The ISO/IEC 27001 standard applies to all companies, regardless of industry or company size. Conformity with ISO/IEC 27001 helps organizations establish a system to manage risks related to the data they own or handle. Organizations use this system to adhere to the best practices and principles established by the standard.

Why Is ISO/IEC 27001 Certification Important?

The rise in cybercrime and the ongoing threat from zero day attacks make ISO/IEC 27001 certification important. It provides a holistic approach to information security, covering people, policies and technology. An ISMS that adheres to ISO/IEC 27001 standards helps coordinate risk management and cyber-resilience for companies.ISO/IEC 27001 certification demonstrates an organization’s commitment to information security, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data. It can help businesses differentiate themselves from competitors and provide assurance to customers and partners about their information security practices.Under ISO/IEC 27001, companies must identify, assess, and manage information security risks, reducing the likelihood of data breaches and related damages. It instills confidence in customers, assuring them that their sensitive information is safe and secure.Companies stand to benefit from achieving ISO/IEC 27001 certification:

• Decreased vulnerability to cyber-attacks
• More effective response to evolving security risks
• Ensures that data and assets remain undamaged, confidential, and available as needed
• Provides a centrally managed framework that secures all information in one place

What’s Involved In Becoming ISO/IEC 27001 Certified?

ISO/IEC 27001 requires that companies document their information security risks, including threats, vulnerabilities, and impacts. In addition, companies need to design and implement information security controls to address the documented security risks. They must adopt a management process to ensure that security controls meet the company’s information security needs on a continual basis.To gain compliance, a company’s ISMS is reviewed and audited by an accredited registrar. Accreditation follows a three-stage process. Stage 1 is a preliminary review of the company’s ISMS, reviewing documentation such as the information security policy, Statement of Applicability (SoA) and Risk Treatment Plan (RTP).Stage 2 of the process is more involved and audits the company’s ISMS against specific requirements set forth in the ISO/IEC 27001 standard. The auditors certify whether the ISMS is properly designed and implemented, and that it’s in active operation. Upon successful completion of Stage 2, a company is said to be ISO/IEC 27001 certified.The third stage is an ongoing process to confirm that the company remains in compliance. It requires periodic re-assessment audits that are typically scheduled on an annual basis. For scenarios in which the ISMS is still developing, it may be necessary to schedule a re-assessment audit mode frequently than every year.

Are There Risks of Using a CDP That’s Not ISO/IEC 27001 Compliant?

Short answer: YES.A CDP that is not ISO/IEC 27001 compliant may have inadequate security measures, making it more susceptible to security breaches and data breaches. As a user of an insecure CDP, your company may suffer financial and reputational damage.Without the necessary security controls, non-compliant CDPs have a higher risk of unauthorized access and unwanted exposure of customer data. Your organization may face legal and regulatory consequences and fines if your customers’ data is mishandled.

Is Treasure Data ISO/IEC 27001 Compliant?

Treasure Data and the Treasure Data CDP are ISO/IEC 27001 compliant.Here is a link to our ISO/IEC 27001 compliance certification. We undergo an annual ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification audit over the ISMS that governs the Treasure Data CDP.In addition to ISO/IEC 27001, Treasure Data has several additional security certifications:

• SOC 2 Type 2
• SOC 3
• HIPAA Type 2
• CSA STAR Level 1
• Privacy Mark
• FISC

Our approach to platform security helps keep customer data secure by providing customer data encryption, customer data protections, API security, penetration testing and security monitoring and response.

How Can I Tell Whether a Company Is ISO/IEC 27001 Certified?

To determine whether a company has ISO/IEC 27001 certification, visit their website. Look for any sections related to certifications, compliance, or security practices. Look for a dedicated page on the site that lists their certifications (hint: here is our certifications page).It may be labeled as “Certifications,” “Compliance,” or “Security Standards.” Browse through the listed certifications to see whether ISO/IEC 27001 is mentioned. The company may display the ISO/IEC 27001 certification logo on their site.If you cannot find any information on the company’s website, you can contact them directly. They should be able to provide you with the necessary details or direct you to the appropriate department for further information.ISO/IEC 27001 certifications are awarded by accredited certification bodies. As a last resort, you can contact certification bodies to inquire whether the company in question has been certified.

Treasure Data Trust & Security Center

Trust and Security are at the forefront of everything we do. Visit our Trust & Security Center to learn about our security posture and request access to our security assurance documentation. You’ll also find a list of our security compliance certifications, as well as documents, reports and network diagrams.To discover how you can use Treasure Data’s customer data platform to apply data privacy principles, download our white paper today.

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