What is ISO 27001 certification?

ISO 27001 is an international standard that defines the requirements for information security. It helps organizations (VSEs, SMEs, etc.) to guarantee data confidentiality, integrity and availability.

Faced with the rise in cyber-attacks and data breaches, ISO 27001 helps organizations (VSEs, SMEs, ETIs, large corporations) to better manage the risks associated with their information systems and protect their sensitive information. This certification process is part of acontinuous improvement and organizational performance approach.

The standard applies to all organizations, large or small, public or private, whatever their sector of activity. It is suitable for all those wishing to secure their data, meet legal and regulatory requirements, and reassure their stakeholders (customers, partners, investors, regulators).

ISO 27001 has the reputation of being a complex certification to obtain. That's why at Feel Agile, we've developed agile methods and tools to deploy your information security management system (ISMS) in less than 6 months, optimizing every stage of the certification process

ISO 27001 helps organizations comply with the requirements and best practices of information security, a concept that goes far beyond mere IT security.  

Indeed, information security encompasses all forms of data: digital or physical. ISO 27001 is therefore not limited to technical measures, but also includes organizational, human and physical controls.

This management standard sets out organizational and quality system requirements. It ensures that information security is well controlled through :

• Information security governance and strategy.
• The processes required to control information security.
• Different methods for analyzing and reporting risks.
• Processes for measuring, monitoring and improving safety.
• Clearly defined responsibilities, including a quality manager or safety manager.
• Traceability of actions and decisions.

ISO 27001 is a company-wide standard , not just for information systems.

Risk analysis is a fundamental step in the ISO 27001process approach. It enables the organization toidentify vulnerabilities and threats to its information, and to develop associated risk scenarios.

By assessing each risk according to its severity (low, medium or critical), the organization can prioritize the actions to be taken and define appropriate corrective actions. This assessment helps to understand thepotential impact of risks, and to make informed decisions to ensure customer satisfaction and business continuity.

The ISO 27001 certification audit consists of two main phases, carried out by a certification body accredited by COFRAC (Comité français d'accréditation) or an equivalent internationally recognized body.

‍Thefirst phase is a documentary audit, during which the auditor examines the documentation of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) implemented by the organization. The aim is to verify that policies, procedures and controls comply with the requirements of ISO 27001.

The second phase is an on-site audit, where the auditor verifies the effective application of security measures within the organization. He assesses whether controls are correctly implemented, whether security practices are respected on a daily basis, and whether staff are aware of them.

If the audit is conclusive and the organization meets the standard's criteria, it is awarded ISO 27001 certification. This certification is valid for three years, with annual follow-up audits to ensure continued compliance.

Today, there are solutions to automate your certification and your information security management system.

In this video series, we explain how to implement ISO 27001 in 10 episodes with the Oversecur solution (SaaS compliance and certification), designed to speed up your certification process and guarantee the quality of your ISMS.

ISO 27001 strengthens information security by structuring risk management and improving the effectiveness of data protection practices. It involves management and employees in effective governance and informed decision-making.

In commercial terms, it strengthens the confidence of customers and partners, while facilitating access to new markets where data security is a key criterion. By limiting the risk of data breaches, it reduces the cost of incidents and protects the company's reputation. Finally, by integrating cybersecurity into core processes, it creates a sustainable competitive advantage and promotes secure growth.