June 20, 2024
Benefits of ISO 27001 for the IT Sector
What is ISO 27001 Information Security?
ISO 27001 is the internationally recognised ISO standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). ISO 27001 supports organisations with establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving their ISMS, helping to mitigate risks. Contrary to popular belief, the standard protects more than just your electronic information and extends to your physical assets like your office and equipment.  Â
How popular is ISO 27001 in the IT sector?
According to the latest ISO Survey, the IT sector has the most ISO 27001 certificates.  This is seen within our client base, where 94% of our IT sector clients have implemented ISO 27001, accounting for 45% of all our ISO 27001 certificates. Â
Why is ISO 27001 such a popular choice?
Well, given that the IT sector operates critical infrastructure and stores large amounts of sensitive data, it’s not surprising that many adopt it to provide proof of their high information security practices. In some cases, it may even be a contractual requirement. But the standard brings lots of other benefits. Here are just five ways ISO 27001 will help your IT company:
1. It will protect your sensitive information
Protecting sensitive information is at the core of ISO 27001 and encompasses controls and processes designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of your information.  This is achieved through methods such as:
- Taking a proactive approach to identifying, assessing, and managing risks so you can put appropriate measures in place.
- Creating information security policies so everyone is aware of their responsibilities.Â
- Implementing access controls to ensure only authorised personnel can access sensitive information.
- Considering your physical environment, such as access control to your building.Â
- Incident reporting, ensuring incidents are identified, reported, and responded to quickly.
As well as reducing the risk of security threats, this will also enhance your operational efficiency. Â
2. It will reduce the impact of incidents
As part of the standard, you will put business continuity plans and disaster recovery procedures in place to minimise the impact of security incidents.  This helps ensure that the critical functions of your business are maintained or recovered quickly so that normal operations can resume.  This ultimately reduces the costs and downtime associated with these incidents and allows you to continue your service delivery quickly, protecting your reputation.
"We have fully embraced the ISO 27001 standard making it our compass around which we have developed the management practices across the business. The confidence this brings us in meeting the high standards we set ourselves has truly empowered our people and benefited our world class customers. ISO QSL have also been there for us every step of the way, with continual support and depth of experience, they are also lovely people to do business with".
3. It will help you win more business
Implementing ISO 27001 will help you stand out against your competitors, especially if they’re not compliant with the standard.  This is particularly true when tendering, as ISO 27001 is often a requirement. Having ISO 27001 will automatically make you more favourable in these instances, helping you to win more business. Â
4. It supports legal and regulatory compliance
As part of ISO 27001, you will identify all the legal and regulatory requirements you must comply with and review these regularly. Not only will this help you keep up with any changes, but you will also avoid hefty fines, legal action and damage to your reputation should you fail to comply. Â
5. It builds trust
ISO 27001 doesn’t just reduce your risks. It also enhances your reputation and credibility, helping to build trust amongst your clients, partners and stakeholders. Having ISO 27001 demonstrates that you are committed to high information security standards, and your annual audits will give reassurance that you continually maintain these standards. In addition, around 40% of businesses are seeking cyber security guidance externally. With IT consultants and service providers at the top of that list, your customers will know they can trust you for support and guidance, showing your expertise. Â
Want to learn more?
If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of ISO 27001 for the IT sector, we recommend booking a discovery call with a member of our team. Alternatively, you can contact us directly on 0330 058 551 or by completing our online contact form.Â
