To establish a solid brand and win the undivided trust and loyalty of your customers, you must show that you have a proactive approach to fending off security threats. One way to do so is by getting your hands on ISO 27001 certification. This allows you to protect your business as well as keep your customers around. You can fully benefit from it, especially right now during a pandemic when the internet is flooded with money-making ventures, providing cybercriminals with plenty of opportunities to spring into action.
Unfortunately, getting ISO 27001 certified cannot be done in a snap. It is a long and usually complicated process, which can take anywhere from six months to one year to accomplish. In some instances, it can take more than a year to complete, depending on factors such as the size and complexity of the business’ management system.
The goal is to have your business certified in as little time as possible. Luckily, it is possible to obtain certification faster than usual, such as by getting in touch with third-party consultants armed with the expertise and firepower to go through the entire process quickly.
Other than this, it is also a must that you carry out a few simple steps that can facilitate getting certified, which can prove to be vital especially if the risks associated with the absence of an ISO 27001 certification are immense. By taking the right path, you can get rid of as many complications as possible, thereby shortening the commonly long waiting game.
Ready Your Budget
Most business owners who applied to get ISO 27001 certified were happy to learn that they spent less money than initially estimated. However, it doesn’t mean that it is a cheap undertaking. There are many expenses involved with obtaining a certification, ranging from training, technology to third-party assistance. Never make the mistake of cutting corners as this can cause getting certified to take longer than needed.
Get Top Management on Board
ISO 27001 implementation commonly fails because only mid-level management is aware of the goings-on, not the one at the top. This can cause the project to appear insignificant, therefore robbing it of the attention it deserves. Before springing into action, it is a good idea to get everyone on board to avoid problems that could get in the way of being certified and implementing the necessary changes, too.
Consider It as a Project
Just like other important business-related projects, the different implementation tasks must be assigned to people right for the job. Getting ISO 27001 certified entails selecting a project manager and other role players qualified for the challenges ahead. It is a terrible idea to delegate the chores to those with very little to no knowledge and experience with the certification. There should also be a time frame within which everyone involved must meet goals.
Pick the Right Certification Body
It’s true that all certification bodies, which are also known as registrars, provide the same ISO 27001 certificates. However, not all of them are the same, especially when it comes to the industry that they are specialising in. For this reason, it is a must that you go for a certification body that can provide what you need exactly. While the cost is a consideration, you should also take into account other factors such as reputation and the power to certify other standards.
[Image via: Google Images]
