Achieving ISO 27001 Certification: Advancing Information Security Excellence

Posted on March 7, 2025 by Peter Tooke

As you would have seen in our previous blog, we have recently achieved ISO 27001 and this milestone not only reflects our dedication to upholding stringent information security standards but also reaffirms our role as a trusted leader in safeguarding sensitive data.

In this blog, we’ll delve into the motivations behind our certification journey, the challenges we encountered, the approach that drove our success, and how we can assist you in achieving your own information security milestones.

We did we chose to go for ISO27001?

Our decision to achieve ISO 27001 certification was driven by both internal and external factors. Internally, many of the practices outlined in the standard were already part of our operational processes and therefore, gaining the certification would formalise these practices, establish measurable objectives, and build a culture of continuous improvement. And of course, by embedding the ISO 27001 principles into our organisational framework, this enhanced our ability to monitor and refine our information security practices.

Externally, we need to make sure that our information security measures are robust enough to deal with the ever-growing cyber threats and regulatory requirements. Additionally, clients and partners are increasingly also seeking assurance that their data is protected by a trusted organisation with proven capabilities, and ISO 27001 certification serves as a tangible demonstration of our commitment to these principles.

What challenges did we face along the way?

The path to ISO 27001 certification was not without obstacles. One of the most significant challenges was balancing the demands of the certification process with “business as usual” operations. Spending time integrating ISO 27001 into our daily activities required careful planning, prioritisation, and resource allocation.

Another key challenge was ensuring that all employees, from entry-level staff to senior management, understood the importance of ISO 27001 and their roles in maintaining compliance. Creating a shared sense of responsibility required regular communication and clear messaging to staff. Additionally, while we already had a security framework in place, aligning it with the specific requirements of ISO 27001 required adjustments to address gaps and optimise workflows, which spanned the whole company.

A critical factor in our success was the decision to train a member of our team in the standard. Their expertise was then instrumental in helping us navigate complex requirements and align our existing practices with the standard. They provided clarity on areas where improvement was needed and offered practical solutions to streamline the process, which allowed us to focus our efforts on key priorities.

What was our approach?

Achieving ISO 27001 certification required a methodical and phased approach. Here’s how we tackled the process:

1. We began by conducting a comprehensive gap analysis to evaluate our current practices against ISO 27001 requirements, which helped us identify areas needing improvement and where we should prioritise our efforts.
2. Rather than starting from scratch, we refined and enhanced existing policies and procedures, such as our IT security policy and company handbook, to meet the standard’s criteria to reduce redundant documentation and ensure consistency across the board.
3. We presented to the whole company on the importance of information security and the role of ISO 27001 in achieving our objectives and we also engaged with key individuals who were responsible for their respective areas.
4. To ensure staff understanding, we implemented a phased policy rollout, which included weekly dissemination of new policies and a corresponding video explaining the policy. This allowed staff sufficient time to understand the changes and offered different options to digest the content.
5. Recognising the challenges of managing extensive documentation manually, we adopted an automated system for centralised policy storage and management. This tool improved how people accessed documents, kept us on track with which actions were needed and the system also automatically assigned and chased people for the policies they were responsible for.
6. We implemented continual monitoring and testing procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of our ISMS. This iterative process ensures that we could identify and address vulnerabilities promptly, maintaining compliance with the standard.

What did we learn from our journey?

Our certification journey provided valuable insights that can benefit other organisations considering ISO 27001:

Preparation is key: Conducting a thorough gap analysis and having someone on our team trained in the standard were essential to our success. Early preparation allowed us to allocate resources effectively and keep on having someone trained kept us on track.

Engagement drives success: Active involvement from all organisational levels was critical. By creating a culture of security awareness, we ensured the successful adoption of new practices, and Leadership buy-in played a pivotal role in driving organisation-wide engagement.

Technology as an enabler: Implementing an automated system for document management streamlined our processes and enhanced the consistency of our ISMS. The ability to centralise information and track compliance metrics proved invaluable.

Continuous improvement is paramount: ISO 27001 is not a one-time achievement. The standard emphasises ongoing adaptation to emerging risks and technological advancements, reinforcing the need for a proactive approach so, we meet monthly and quarterly assess how our ISMS is performing.

How can we help you on your information security journey?

With our firsthand experience, we are well-equipped to assist organisations seeking ISO 27001 certification. Whether you are pursuing certification for the first time, transitioning to the 2022 standard, or renewing an existing certification, we offer tailored support to help you on your journey by:

• Conducting in-depth gap analyses to identify areas for improvement
• Customising policies and procedures to align with ISO 27001 requirements
• Providing ongoing support to maintain compliance and adapt to evolving risks
• Offering post-certification reviews to help organisations continuously improve their ISMS

ISO 27001 certification represents more than a regulatory milestone; it is a strategic investment in building resilience, enhancing credibility, and fostering trust.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch to learn how we can support your ISO 27001 journey, and together, we can advance the standards of information security and create a secure, resilient future for your organisation and its stakeholders.

How can we help you?

We’d love to talk to you about your specific IT needs, and we’d be happy to offer a no obligation assessment of your current IT set up. Whether you are at a point of organisational change, unsure about security, or just want to sanity check your current IT arrangements, we’re here to help.

Get in touch