A Quick-Start Guide To ISO 27001 Compliance Automation

Getting compliance certified is the need of the hour. Customers today don’t just demand a high level of security and privacy but they look for companies that meet industry benchmarks. And at the pinnacle of these standards lies ISO 27001. 

With security becoming an increasingly important talking point, companies stand to lose millions of dollars in potential deals if they are found non-compliant. But it’s one thing wanting to get compliance certified fast and a whole other thing getting it done. 

A compliance standard like ISO 27001 can be cumbersome to achieve; even more so when companies have to do everything themselves without a reference framework. 

Cue automation. 

What is ISO 27001 automation?

ISO 27001 automation is the process of streamlining certification by automating the assessment of gaps within an Information Security Management System (ISMS), providing corrective measures, and enabling the continuous monitoring of controls. 

Why should I use an ISO 27001 automation solution?

Traditionally, gaining compliance involves manually amending policies (or in some cases, creating new ones) to align with certification standards. Employees will have to be trained on policies. The process will also involve multiple rounds of testing and internal audits. At a granular level, this is a lot of work. And it still does not guarantee a certification when the audit rolls around the corner. 

ISO 27001 standards are comprehensive in the way they define an effective ISMS. But understanding and translating these specifications to tactical action at an entity level is what contributes to the biggest delays. 

Scalability is also a pressing issue. The complexities of becoming ISO 27001 certified may seem somewhat manageable for smaller organizations. But ramping up policies with the growing needs of an organization can become challenging even with dedicated security teams.

An ISO 27001 automation solution like Sprinto helps you kickstart the process of getting your organization certification-ready from anywhere along this process. Not only does it eliminate all of the complexities that come with manual certification but it speeds up the certification process by automating evidence collection, providing comprehensive expertise, and facilitating continuous monitoring. This means smarter workflows, streamlined policy implementation, and quicker certification at a fraction of the cost. With Sprinto, what typically takes months to complete is done in a matter of days.

Steps to Implementing ISO 27001 Automation Process

The ISO 27001 certification process can take anywhere between one to three months. This is a long time considering the disruption it causes during the period. Implementing a certification process with complexities like ISO 27001 can prove to be exceptionally complex without an automation framework to work with. 

With the right automation solution, technology does the heavy lifting. But what does implementation look like? Here is the 9 steps ISO automation process:

Setting a baseline  

An automation expert assesses the organization’s current level of compliance and determines their individual case requirements.

System calibration

The automation tool establishes an ISMS framework and integrates all cloud infrastructure and systems within it. 

Gap assessment

The tool identifies gaps, creates a mitigation plan, and provides technical and non-technical policy templates that ensure controls are in place to minimize risk.  

Entity-level tactics

The tool translates insights from the mitigation plan into a tactical roadmap which is executed at an entity level across the organization.

Training

Policy training is a mandatory part of the ISO 27001 certification process. The compliance tool helps create training modules as well as track completion.     

Monitoring

The monitoring process involves reviewing the effectiveness of policies and controls against ISO 27001 guidelines. This stage is much quicker with an automation tool. 

Also, find out more about ISO 27001 software

Internal audit

An internal audit establishes how certification-ready the organization is. Once the organization is confident and meets the required threshold, it applies for certification.

Certification

With an automation solution, organizations can connect with accredited auditors, automate evidence collection, and enable a contactless ISO 27001 certification.

Surveillance monitoring

In order for the organization to stay compliant, previously identified gaps will have to be fixed and processes and policies will have to be continuously monitored. 

Also check out: ISO 27001 for startups guide

Benefits Of ISO 27001 Automation 

Automation in any capacity brings a host of benefits to the table. With respect to rolling out a framework, an automation solution can go a long way in simplifying the certification process as a whole.

Here are a few ways employing an ISO 27001 compliance automation solution comes in handy.

Reduced manual effort

Perhaps the biggest advantage of employing an ISO 27001 automation solution is the sheer amount of manual effort it eliminates. This is done by automating multiple parts of the process including evidence collection, harnessing smarter workflows, and driving expertise that enables easier certification.

Controlled costs

Gaining an ISO 27001 certification is not a cheap endeavour, especially while taking the manual route. It involves a lot of direct costs such as consultant fees, legal costs, and training expenses as well as indirect costs relating to reduced productivity and architectural scaling. An ISO 27001 compliance automation solution significantly reduces the associated costs by creating a single source of truth that handles the implementation process from end to end with a fixed, predictable cost.    

Improved scalability

The complexities of any process compound with scalability. Implementing compliance standards as complex as ISO 27001 at scale across multiple teams can seem impossible. But with an automation solution, organizations are able to roll out policies with the click of a button and continuously monitor lapses in security at an entity level from a unified hub in real-time. 

Minimized disruption

Non-compliance can have severe consequences. This can range from halting deals to limiting reach which can cause a loss of business during that period. An ISO 27001 automation solution ensures that the certification process is shortened to keep disruption at a minimum. 

Mitigation of risk

Keeping abreast of security and compliance standards like ISO 27001 is a never-ending process. It constantly evolves to keep up with the biggest threats to information security. As a measure to keep up with such change, an ISO 27001 automation solution helps organizations mitigate risk through constant monitoring and reduction of risk-related lapses and associated fines. 

Also, check out: How to perform ISO risk assessment

Finding the right ISO 27001 automation solution

An ISO 27001 compliance certification can be instrumental in unlocking larger markets by creating a sense of credibility and trust. The right automation partner doesn’t just stop with certification but helps the organization drive continuous security improvements. 

Choosing a compliance automation solution like Sprinto can help companies like yours achieve ISO 27001 compliance 10X faster and at a fraction of the price. Do away with the hassles of evidence collection, monitoring, and inefficient workflows by automating all of it as you focus on growing your business. Let’s show you how it’s done. Try Sprinto today.  

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ISO 27001 surveillance audit?

An ISO 27001 surveillance audit is an integral part of the evaluation process. The certification body conducts an audit as a way to ensure that the organization upholds and maintains the standards laid down by ISO 27001. It evaluates the measures put in place to correct non-conformities from the previous audit. Organizations will have to fix the non-conformities highlighted in the surveillance audit to retain certification. 

What are the key capabilities of an ISO 27001 automation solution?

An ISO 27001 automation solution comes with a strong set of capabilities that help organizations do more than just expedite the certification process. Here are some key capabilities that an ISO 27001 automation solution brings to the table:

• Risk assessment
• Granular change management
• Calibration and entity registration
• Evidence automation
• Internal audit management
• Certification enablement
• Surveillance and monitoring