15 Key Steps How To Implement ISO 27001 For Data Security

ISO 27001 Certification states that an organization is working towards protecting the organization's data and provides expert analysis on whether the organization's data is fully protected or not. It also states that the organization has invested in the processes, people, technology, tools, and system to protect its data. 

The certification is usually accredited by an international organization that provides evidence about data security to the investors, consumers, and other parties related to the business. The ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications are becoming increasingly important as several regulatory bodies require assurance from organizations that they are capable enough to protect consumers' data.

Steps For Successful Implementation Of ISO 27001 For Data Security

• Obtain management support - Before thinking about ISO certifications like ISO 27001 or ISO 9001 Certification, the organization must obtain management support.

• Define the scope - Always advisable to define the scope of the certification. Like in the case of a large organization, the certification is usually applied for a certain section, but for a small organization, the certification is applied to the whole organization.

• Write the policy for data security - It is an important document for data security and must be written in detail by defining the basic requirements of an organization for information security.

• Define a methodology for risk assessment - Assessing the risk is the most complex task while applying for ISO 27001 certification. The main purpose of defining a methodology is to identify the risks and impacts and determine the acceptable risk level. 

• Perform risk assessment - The main aim of the risk assessment process is to minimize the risks. This can be done by planning to use the controls from Annex A. During this step, a Risk Assessment Report has to be written, documenting all the steps taken during the risk assessment and treatment process. Also, approval of the remaining risks must be obtained.

• Write applicability statement - This document aims to list all controls and define which are applicable, the reasons for such a decision, and a description of how they are implemented in the organization. The Statement of Applicability is also the most suitable document to obtain management authorization for implementing the ISMS.

• Write a plan for risk treatment - A risk treatment plan is a document that is an implementation plan which focuses on the organization’s controls, without which coordination to further steps is not possible.

• Define measures of effectiveness control - Always define the effectiveness of the control and define how the fulfillment of objectives set for ISMS and security processes and controls will be measured.

• Implement security control - Implementing new security controls is the most difficult task as it involves enforcing new behavior in an organization. And often, new procedures and policies are resisted by people.

• Implement awareness and training program - To implement new policies and procedures, proper training and awareness must be given to the employees.

• Operate information security management system - This is where the ISO 27001 certification gets implemented in the organization. The external auditor team checks the records and logs to check if the activity was actually done.

• Monitor information security management system - Monitor everything to check whether you are achieving the results set for your objective. 

• Internal Audit - Conduct an internal audit to check the performance of employees towards the new policies and procedures and check whether the requirements of the ISO 27001 certification and ISO 9001 certification are met.

• Management review - Further, the management must do the review to check if everything is in place as decided.

• Corrective and preventive actions - If anything goes wrong in between the above processes, corrective and preventive measures must be taken to ensure the problems do not happen again.

It is very important for an organization to get certified with ISO 27001 certification as it shows that the data of users is fully safe in the organization.