It is possible for a startup to go for years without seriously considering ISO 27001. When an email arrives from a potential enterprise client: “Please provide your ISO 27001 certificate as a part of our security review for vendors.”
Then, it’s not something to look at the next time. It’s related to an agreement the business is trying to end.
For many growing companies, that’s the practical starting point for ISO 27001 for small business. The trick is figuring out what needs to be done without becoming a manageable security initiative into a large-scale compliance program.
This week, focus on Scope, not Shopping
The initial reaction is to compare compliance platforms and consultants. It is better to determine the requirements that ISMS (Information Security Management System) will need to protect.
It is essential to take into consideration the scope, because the addition of systems, locations and procedures that aren’t essential can result in the need for the need for additional documentation or evidence.
For example, a small SaaS company might be operating in an environment mostly concentrated on cloud infrastructure, employee devices and the information of customers. It might be also dominated by a few key vendors. Understanding the environment can help determine the specific issues that the certification process will need to focus on.
List the security that you have already
Some companies looking into ISO 27001 as a startup think that they will need to build an entirely new security program.
It could be that it is not the instance.
Modern startups are likely to use cloud services, and require multi-factor authentication and limit employee access. They may also keep the system logs and backups. It’s still important to test current practices against ISO 27001, but if you start with the practices that work now, it can save unnecessary duplication.
Writing policies, conducting a risk assessment, determining the appropriate Annex A Controls, completing the Statement for Applicability and collecting evidence are the remaining tasks.
Be aware of which invoices pay for What?
When expenses are not bundled into one number and are not bundled into one number, it’s easier to see the ISO 27001 cost.
The initial costs for a small business may be between $10,000 and $30,000 based on the amount of time spent by employees, using software to make sure compliance is maintained, and independent audits of certification. The consulting fee could be added, however it isn’t considered a necessary expense.
It is essential to distinguish between the ISO 27001 certification costs charged by a certified certification body and software fees. While compliance platforms can aid in the organization of work, it cannot issue an official certificate. The certification process is an independent audit process.
Then, the proof
An employee policy that states that the employee’s access to company resources is revoked after their departure is not sufficient. Auditors need evidence to prove that the procedure actually works.
ISO 27001 is concerned with the difference between saying that something, and proving it.
CertAssist was designed to help facilitate this process, without connecting to the live systems of a company. It displays all 93 ISO 27001-2022 Annex A control templates on one board. Editable policy and templates for evidence are also available.
A small team can benefit from templates. template templates can reduce the time-consuming process of writing every policy on a blank document.
Certification Day isn’t the Finish Line
Depending on the company’s existing security practices and resources, it may take a new company between 3 and 6 months to get certified. The certification body will complete Stage 1 and Stage 2 auditories.
After you have passed the audits, it isn’t enough to ignore your ISMS. The controls and evidence should be maintained and surveillance audits are conducted following the certification.
It’s essential to think about this while designing the program. It’s not enough for small businesses to have an ISMS that they can afford. It must have an ISMS its staff can use after the project has ended.
It’s rare to find that an organization with the most employees has the most effective ISO 27001 program. It’s the one that meets the requirements, is based on the true security standards, is able to withstand independent scrutiny and is in control when people return to their regular jobs.