ISO 27001 is a widely recognized international standard for information security. Earning it can help your company stand out and win new clients. But as Anh Pham, Director of Pentesting and Security for Trava notes, “ISO 27001 [is] a structured framework…incorporating a risk-based approach into all security initiatives.”
This means ISO 27001 is more than just a checklist. It’s a broad strategic framework that takes time and effort to adopt. The first stage of that process is passing your ISO 27001 audit.
Steps To Prepare for an ISO 27001 Audit
The audit is a key step in the ISO 27001 certification process. It determines whether your business has all the required controls it needs to meet ISO 27001 standards. Here are five steps to get you ready.
1. Understand the Requirements
Start by reviewing the ISO 27001 requirements to learn the key policies and controls required to earn certification. There are dozens to explore, but don’t worry. Your business doesn’t need to be perfect to pass an audit — it just needs a structured plan. Anh, puts it this way: “The framework is not meant to force you to put in something that’s 10 out of 10 at the very beginning. It’s about having a process in place.”
2. Conduct a Risk Assessment
Next, you’ll conduct a risk assessment. This process compares your current security practices to the ISO 27001 standards. It will help you find and understand gaps so you can prioritize controls based on risk levels. As Anh shares, “ISO heavily focuses on using a risk-based approach. By aligning with ISO, you automatically incorporate risk-based decision-making into all security initiatives.”
3. Develop and Implement Security Controls
A risk assessment will tell you where your organization is below ISO 27001 standards. Once you have that information, the next step is developing and implementing security controls to fill the gaps.
Documentation and follow-through are critical here, as Anh notes: “If you say you’re going to do quality access reviews, just make sure you do it. It doesn’t have to be formal or perfect as long as you follow the process and document everything.”
4. Train Your Employees
ISO 27001 compliance is a company-wide initiative. It will take buy-in from all team members to reach and maintain the certification’s rigorous security standards. That means you’ll need to train employees on your new policies before they can be effective. Cybersecurity is a team project — it takes the entire organization to be part of it.
5. Conduct an Internal Audit & Readiness Assessment
The final step in the ISO 27001 audit checklist is conducting a readiness assessment. This means reviewing the security controls you’ve implemented and looking for any remaining gaps. After your ISO 27001 readiness assessment, you should be ready for an official audit.
If this all sounds like a lot of work, don’t worry, it gets easier. As Marie Joseph, Trava’s Manager of Compliance Advisory, notes, “The hardest part is the beginning. Once that’s set, ongoing maintenance is much easier.”
Common Challenges and How To Overcome Them
Now that you know the key ISO 27001 compliance steps, let’s explore some common problems and how to beat them. There are three you should know about.
Challenge 1: Lack of Time & Resources
First, some organizations fail because they don’t allocate the time or resources that ISO 27001 certification requires. You can avoid this by assigning a dedicated team or consultant to manage the certification process.
“Make sure you have enough time and bandwidth built in. The hardest part is the first year — after that, it’s much easier.”
— Marie Joseph
Challenge 2: Overcomplicating the Process
ISO 27001 certification isn’t about reaching perfection from day one. Anh says, “Don’t stress yourself out at the beginning. Focus on the process, not the perfect outcome.” So, try not to get overwhelmed with the work initially. Start small, focus on getting better, and you’ll improve over time.
Challenge 3: Employee Engagement & Adoption
Finally, you’ll need buy-in from employees to stay ISO 27001 compliant. That’ll be easier to get with regular training sessions and clear communication around the importance of worker participation.
“We need to ensure that all stakeholders understand the controls in place, how they affect their work, and how they protect data.” — Anh Pham
What Happens After You Pass the ISO 27001 Audit?
Passing the ISO 27001 audit is a great achievement, but it’s not the end of the work. To maintain the certification, you’ll need to complete annual internal audits and ongoing monitoring. According to Anh, “There’s an expiration date on that certificate. You’re never really ‘done.’ You have to keep your controls well-designed and monitored.”
Final Tips for a Successful ISO 27001 Audit
If you’d like expert support with the ISO 27001 certification, Trava can help. tra how we can guide you through audits, gap assessments, and more. So, with that being said, here are a few final tips to get you started:
- Start early and make sure you allocate enough time to the process
- Conduct a readiness assessment before your official audit
- Ensure company-wide buy-in and training
- Focus on the process, not perfection
- Stay compliant with ongoing monitoring and internal audits
Ultimately, ISO 27001 is an investment that can help you win new clients and strengthen your brand. It takes some work to get up and running, but once you have, your company can benefit from the certification for years to come.