The Beginning: Identifying the Necessity
We recognized long ago that to stay competitive and build trust with our clients, we needed to show a strong dedication to information security. However, it was only when the load on our team to fill in security forms and complete audit requests became an administrative burden that we realized we needed to find a better way to demonstrate our capabilities and adherence to global standards. This is how our journey to achieve ISO27001 certification began.
Exploring the Intricacies: Difficulties and Possibilities
Obtaining ISO27001 certification presented difficulties, ranging from understanding complex infrastructure needs to complying with regulations. However, every challenge we faced was an opportunity to develop new ideas. During the process, we began to understand that obtaining certification involved more than simply meeting security requirements. It also required us to rethink our HR processes, data retention policies, and more. In fact, by the end, we had written or amended 24 policies and 12 procedures, implemented three new staff training programs, and assessed the security and risks of 27 vendors.
Partners in the Voyage: Collaborative Alliances and Technological Innovations
Like any other journey, ours would not have been successful without the help of others. We strengthened our collaborations with our technology partner, Studio Graphene. Their direction and assistance enabled us to confidently and clearly navigate obstacles, reducing the time it took us to get certified. We also fully integrated our tech stack and infrastructure with the Sprinto platform to help us rapidly deploy pre-approved auditor-grade processes and automatic compliance monitoring.
Outcome: Attaining ISO27001:2022
In April 2024, we achieved our goal of becoming ISO27001 certified. It had taken us 2-3 weeks to integrate our systems with Sprinto and a further three weeks to refine our processes and documentation. Then, with the help of the Sprinto team, we started the audit process in March, and a month later, we had our final certificate.
What It Means to Us and Our Clients
- Data Protection – we ensure data is safe, always available, and kept confidential.
- Risk Management – we’re skilled at spotting and reducing security risks to prevent disruptions or data compromise.
- Legal and Regulatory Compliance – we follow strict data security laws, ensuring our practices align with legal requirements and regulatory standards.
- Business Continuity – we’re ready for unexpected events, like natural disasters or cyberattacks, to keep services running smoothly.
- Building Trust – we prove our commitment to keeping information secure.
- Transparency and Communication – we’re open about how we secure data.
- Advanced Tools – we use best-in-class tools to ensure our code is secure and data is safe when transferred between systems.
- Employee Training – we invest in our employees’ training to keep data secure and maintain trust.
Final Thoughts: What Recommendations Do We Have?
If your team lacks the necessary expertise, look for a reliable partner. Without Studio Graphene, we’d still be grappling with load balance, error monitoring, and tracking RDS database CPU utilization! Use technology. The Sprinto platform allowed us to automate many tasks, including monitoring and compliance. It also allowed us to create pre-approved auditor-proof processes and procedures that we could adopt and execute promptly, saving us both time and money.
At the start of our journey, we were given estimates ranging from 30 days to 8 months to obtain certification, so achieving it in less than three months was impressive. However, this achievement was only made possible by choosing the appropriate technology and partners. I recommend you do the same.
