Effective security management with the ISO 27000 series

New technical solutions are being developed at a rapid pace in the field of digitalisation. It's essential to keep up while always taking IT security and information security into account, so as not to risk making your own organisation vulnerable. It is a major challenge for companies and organisations to constantly ensure that creative digital solutions live up to the security requirements that customers, legislators, supervisory authorities, employees and external parties expect or, in many cases, require. And this has to happen day after day, month after month, year after year, in an ongoing process.

The ISO 27000 series contains well-established standards that help companies and organisations implement a systematic approach to information security.

Working systematically with information security means introducing tailored security measures based on risk management within the organisation itself. The purpose is to protect assets such as financial information, intellectual property, and information belonging to employees, customers and suppliers.

Another important part is involving management in information security work. ISO 27001 is about how an Information Security Management System (ISMS) is implemented in a company or organisation. It also means that security work is followed up and improved as part of the overall governance of the organisation.

ISO 27002 provides guidance on how the security measures decided on in ISO 27001 should be implemented within an organisation.

Implementing an information security management system (ISMS)

Implementing an information security management system in accordance with ISO 27001 means the company or organisation can better guarantee the availability, integrity and confidentiality of its information. If the protection of the organisation's information fails, it can lead to both financial and reputational damage.
In addition, a management system provides the following benefits:

• Stronger control over information security costs.
• Greater confidence in how risks are identified and managed.
• Enhanced readiness to meet the growing threat landscape in information security.

ISO 27001 is flexible and can be used regardless of a company's or organisation's field of activity, size, organizational processes, legal requirements, security maturity, and so on. What they all have in common is that there is information that needs to be:

• Available when needed (availability).
• Protected from unauthorised alteration (integrity).
• Protected from unauthorised access (confidentiality).

In short, implementing an information security management system involves the activities below:

• Identify which requirements and expectations exist.
• Identify risks and establish a risk management process.
• Implement security measures based on identified risks. ISO 27001 Annex A documents around 100 security controls. ISO 27002 provides guidance on how these controls should be implemented.
• Follow up on nonconformities and incidents through measurement and internal audits. Management regularly reviews the findings and decides on improvements as needed.

ISO 27001 certification

For many companies and organisations, information is an important, and sometimes the most important, asset. Securing your own information while it needs to be shared with other parties requires both control and trust. Through ISO 27001 certification, the exchange of information, whether physical and/or digital, between certified parties can take place securely and with predictable requirements. This creates mutual trust in the collaboration, where the needs of both parties are respected.

ISO 27001 has become the third-largest ISO standard in the world in terms of certifications. For a company or organisation to obtain an ISO 27001 certificate, the following is required:

• A management system is in place that meets the requirements of the standard being applied.
• The management system forms a natural part of day-to-day operations.
• The management system is documented.
• The management system and its documentation are continuously maintained.
• A Statement of Applicability is drawn up, specifying the security controls included in the certification.
• The organisation is audited against the requirements of ISO 27001 by an accredited certification body.

An ISO 27001 certification builds trust when parties collaborate and share information.