ISO 27001 is not something that startup companies should be thinking about for a number of years. An email from an enterprise client asks for your ISO 27001 certification as part our security review of vendors.

Certification is no longer something to think about in the coming year. It’s tied into a contract the company wants to close.

ISO 27001 is a good starting point for many small companies. The trick is figuring out what actually needs to happen without making a small security project into a massive compliance program.

The first week of the week should be focused on Scope, Not Shopping

The first reaction could be to start comparing compliance platforms and consultants. The most effective place to start is by defining the requirements that an ISMS or Information Security Management System needs to include.

The project’s scope is essential since adding unneeded processes, systems, or locations to the documentation can create additional evidence and documents requirements.

A small SaaS business, for instance, may have a relatively specific environment that is built around cloud infrastructure employees’ devices, customer information, and a handful of essential vendors. Understanding the environment can help determine the issues that the certification program must address.

Check out the Security You Already Have

Companies researching ISO 27001 for startups sometimes assume they need to build an entirely new security operation.

This may not be the case.

Modern startups might already be using cloud providers, and may require multi-factor authentication and restrict access to employees. They could also manage systems logs and handle backups. The current procedures must be compared against ISO 27001 requirements. However starting with things which are working already will avoid duplicate work.

Documenting policies, performing a risk analysis, determining which Annex A Controls, completing the Statement for Applicability and gathering evidence are all the remaining tasks.

Be aware of which invoices are paid for What

The ISO 27001 cost becomes much simpler to understand if expenses aren’t lumped into a single number.

The first year costs for a small business may be anywhere between $10,000 and $30,000 based on the time spent by staff, the software used to guarantee compliance, and independent certification audit. Consulting is a different expense however it’s an option rather than a mandatory requirement.

It is important to differentiate between the ISO 27001 certification costs charged by a certified body for certification and the fees for software. The compliance platform functions as a tool which can manage work, but is unable to issue a certification. Certification is awarded by an audit conducted by an independent company.

Then, the proof

It’s not enough just to make an policy that states employees are not allowed access after they have left. Auditors need proof that the process actually effective.

ISO 27001 is based on the distinction between saying and showing.

CertAssist is designed to manage this process without connecting directly to live systems in a company. It shows all the 93 ISO 27001-2022 Annex A control templates on one board. The ability to edit the policy and evidence templates are also offered.

A small team can benefit from templates. template templates can reduce the time-consuming process of drafting every policy from a blank document.

Certification Day isn’t the End Line

An organization that is just starting from scratch may need to spend between three and six months to get ready for certification. This will depend on their existing security practices, as well as the resources they have available. The body that certifies conducts audits at both Stage 1 and Stage 2.

The fact that these audits are passed isn’t a reason to completely forget about the ISMS. After certification, the controls and proof must be maintained. Surveillance audits will follow.

That’s an important consideration when making the program. Small companies don’t just need to possess an ISMS they can afford. It needs one its team is able to operate once the initial project is completed.

It’s rare to find that the biggest company has the best ISO 27001 program. It must meet ISO 27001 standards, shows true security practices, endures independent audits and is manageable after everyone has returned to their regular jobs.