If you are familiar with IT or you’ve been searching for the best ways to keep your data safe you may have stumbled across the term “ISO 27001 certified.” But what does this certification really mean? How does it improve information security? And why is it so critical for data centers and cloud providers?
What exactly is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is an information security management system (ISMS) that outlines a set of standards for effective data protection. Since first published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO 27001 has become increasingly important as more and more companies seek certification every year.
To become certified, companies must complete a compliance audit. This includes a review of key information security documents and a thorough analysis of how the ISO 27001 requirements are being implemented throughout the organization.
Why is it important for your data center and cloud providers to be ISO 27001 certified, now more than ever?
In recent years, data centers and cloud providers have developed numerous new data protection offerings such as cloud backup and managed firewalls. These advancements come at a time when we are also experiencing a significant increase in digital data breaches. According to research reports by the Ponemon Institute and IT Governance, data breaches have continued to increase sharply every year since 2015. This is due primarily to rapidly evolving intelligence in ransomware and cyber attacks. In addition, human errors continue to put critical information at risk when individuals are not trained in safety practices.
Such incidents can seriously inhibit the performance of your company as it struggles to remedy the damage and cope with the legal fees and costs of recovery. For both physical and virtual data centers, the setback can be even more severe since they handle a large volume of both internal and third-party data. ISO 27001, however, greatly improves a company’s ability to anticipate attacks by specifying strong defense strategies that continually adapt and respond to new changes in attack mechanisms.
How does ISO 27001 ensure that your data stays protected at all times?
ISO 27001 helps protect certified companies by providing them with a set of globally recognized standards tailored to fit the unique structure and function of the company. These standards delegate data protection responsibilities across the organization and outline solid risk management strategies. They create precise security goals so that the organization can consistently track and improve their data safety over the long term.
In addition, ISO 270001 implements periodical risk analysis tests which ensure that any changes taking place within the company’s systems will remain effective with regards to information safety.
How does a company achieve ISO 27001 certification?
ISO 27001 safety assessments are completed by experienced security experts. This expertise is relied upon to accurately evaluate how successful the company’s security practices are and whether additional protection measures need to be applied. Any information security firm can conduct an ISO 27001 certification audit, but not all audits are equal.
It is strongly recommended that audits be performed by an accredited certification body (CB). The ANSI-ASQ National Accreditation Board (ANAB) assesses and accredits CBs, across many standards and industries, but specifically, for ISO 27001. By selecting an accredited CB, organizations are guaranteed that the audit will be performed in an exceptional manner and will be compliant with official ISO standards.
Recognized worldwide, accredited certificates are the standard by which clients and potential clients verify the conformity of their vendors with ISO 27001.
What are the benefits of an ISO 27001 certified company?
Being ISO 27001 certified means building a pathway to greater success. It helps foster connections with other business partners who are looking to work with companies that they can trust to be dependable. It helps build a greater international reach for companies looking to expand overseas. It also creates the possibility to connect with organizations in regulated sectors.
While being certified helps companies grow, it also allows them to offer greater personalized attention to each client. With an efficient information management system, a company is able to reallocate extra time, energy and resources to design solutions according to the requirements and preferences of each customer.
Finally, obtaining certification requires the involvement of every single company member, as each employee needs to comply with the safety standards that are applicable to their work. In this way, ISO 27001 creates an acute focus on risk management in every individual and fosters a culture of security across the organization. This awareness, then, ensures that the issue of strong security is at the forefront of all decisions being made.
What about Markley?
We are proud to say that Markley is an ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certified provider whose ISMS has received third-party accreditation from the ISO. Our certification and periodic audits are performed by the ANAB-accredited certification body, A-lign, confirming that Markley has implemented security measures and countermeasures that protect it from compromise and our team is found to be conscientious and knowledgeable in security best practices.
Information security has always been an integral part of the Markley mission, from the redundant, non-stop design of our physical data centers to our highly secure facilities, the security features and design of our cloud solutions, and our own internal data handling procedures. Protecting the critical assets you entrust to us, limiting cyber risk, and safeguarding critical data are all part of the security domain that we consistently strive for.
