Data security is a priority for businesses and organizations. In the last two years business online have significantly increased but so has the internet crime. Business owners need to assure customers that their websites and e-commerce are secure. ISO 27001 is the International Standard for Information Security Management System. Here is why a business needs to know their customer and take data protection seriously.
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Why Organizations Need to Protect their Data Security
When clients use a business website to make a purchase, subscribe to a mailing list, or accept cookies they are revealing personal data which needs to be stored securely. Businesses have a responsibility to ensure their websites and IT systems are as secure as possible and data protection is prioritized. Cybercrime has increased significantly and companies need to stay ahead of the game. Customers are increasingly savvy about cyber-crime and want to deal with reliable security-conscious businesses. As a business owner, KYC is vital for staying ahead in a competitive world.
What ISO 27001 Does for Your Business
The ISO 27001 Standard is recognized across the world as an industry-best security practice for IT security. Thousands of businesses have signed up to it and completed the governance requirements needed for certification. The global online economy increases the reach of a business dramatically. Wherever you are in the world, a customer can instantly see that your business meets the internationally recognized standard, giving them the confidence to deal with your company. Having the ISO 27001 certification places you in a powerful position to win contracts and trade internationally as well as from the domestic market.
Why ISO 27001 Gives Business the Edge
ISO 27001 is a legal requirement in many countries. If you plan to expand your business in India or Japan, for example, you cannot do anything until you have an ISO 27001 certificate. ISO 27001 is vital for many commercial contracts such as for the National Health Service in Britain. Certification is needed because many organizations will only deal with companies where IT security standards are met to an internationally recognized level.
Most international organizations will not risk the loss of data or client information. Insurance companies also increasingly require evidence to ensure that a company meets the IT security standards. So, in order to win business, getting the ISO 27001 standard signed off is a vital step in any strategy. When your business meets the requirements and has that valued certification, doors and opportunities will open, placing you steps ahead of less progressive companies.
ISO 27001 Mitigates Risk
The ISO 27001 standard gives assurance to customers that your business not only takes IT security seriously and your systems meet internationally recognized requirements, but that you care about personal information. A client can instantly see that your IT system meets the standard required and there is less risk from a data security perspective of using your company.
Data breaches cost businesses significant amounts of money in fines and compensation if they occur. IBM recently estimated a data breach that cost the company approximately $4.5 million. In some countries, the penalties can be high, placing a financial risk on the company. So, having the ISO 27001 Standard helps mitigate that risk because data breaches and system compromise is a huge risk to a company. Further, insurance companies too require the ISO 27001 Standard to be met before agreeing to insure a business. If you do not have the ISO 27001 Standard and especially if you are trading internationally, you may not be able to secure insurance for your business.
ISO 27001 Meets Regulatory Requirements
The ISO 27001 is the only auditable standard for IT security. Having the business certified ISO 27001 Standard helps them meet a wide range of legal and regulatory requirements both in the domestic market and internationally.
You will also realize that once you meet the ISO 27001 Standard, you also meet other legal standards in business which will help you achieve your business goals, and contracting becomes a lot faster, something that may even appeal to customers. When it comes to working with the European Union or other nations, you will find a lot of bureaucratic processes are simplified once you have this certification in place.
Conclusion
An advantage of having ISO 27001 Certification is that it provides a framework for good business processes, especially around meeting standards and governance. By putting your business through the process, you will find that other processes become more efficient and effective as a result of which your company will be positioned to offer excellent data protection.
Cybersecurity and data protection must be top of your list of priorities in today’s fast-moving commercial world. Getting the ISO 27001 Certification is essential and some specialists can help you achieve that goal so you can expand your customer base internationally as well as within the domestic market.
