Managing information security is a relentless challenge faced by every industry in the world. However, by virtue of essential frameworks, our company can implement a rigorous regulatory regime that ensures confidence in the processing of digital assets.
The International Organisation for Standardisation provides guidelines to regulate and deliver value to its customers and stakeholders. I'd like to explore two essential ISO standards, and why companies adhering to these standards stand to offer superior quality products and services.
ISO families explained
Of the most prominent standards, ISO9001 is a grouping or ‘family’ of standards that guide companies into developing quality management systems.
This aids the organisation in providing a reliable environment that addresses the needs of clients and any stakeholders involved in the company’s operations. In addition, this system of quality management standards outlines the importance of statutory and regulatory requirements relating to a product or service.
ISO27001, also known as IEC27001, is an international standard whose mandate concerns information security management. This standard had initially been published by the International Organisation for Standardisation and the International Electrotechnical Commission in 2005 and revised in 2013.
Scope and significance
An ISO27001 concerns policies, protocols and procedures which entail people, processes, and technology. By adhering to routine information security assessments, represents a technology-neutral approach that is both efficient and risk-free in safeguarding information assets.
ISO9001 meanwhile provides a streamlined environment through improved internal management and efficiency. This ensures consistent measured and monitored outcomes and lays the groundwork for increased efficiency, productivity, and performance. Ultimately, the standards ensure management reduces wastage and improves customer retention and acquisition.
Industries and beneficiaries
ISO9001-family certifications can deliver consistency and value in a wide range of sectors. These can include but are not limited to organisations within the private or public sector from healthcare to hospitality to manufacturing, technology services, engineering, construction, and energy management.
With each industry, the ISO9001 family of certifications deviates specifically to adhere to every sector’s requirement.
ISO27001, on the other hand, ensures you have outlined and analysed potential risks and implemented control to curtail any potential damage to an organisation. Some of the benefits include security and reliability of information and systems and improved business integrity.
The most significant sectors to benefit from this standard are financial institutions such as banks, insurance providers, and clearinghouses.
Application and implementation of ISO
A trusted partner would work with specific standards and procedures of data security as outlined in the ISO27001 standard. In this case, computers and disks of users become encrypted, while accounts become appropriately secured. In addition, offices and remote network connections also become protected.
Today, many companies rely on cloud infrastructure; so it’s essential to regard access security in addition to data security and integrity. In this case, all resources become monitored, security incidents are logged, and preventative actions are then taken.
Most importantly, when selecting an IT partner, all development services should adhere to the highest security standards. The quality of these services is then monitored according to ISO9001 specifications at each stage of development work.
The stages of development include the compliance of the contract provisions as it applies to requirements. It then concerns detailed testing of every application functionality in addition to user acceptance tests of the finished application.
How common is ISO implementation?
The ISO9001 certification does not enjoy the same popularity in the IT sector as ISO27001. And that occurrence is growing within the IT industry every year.
This is not surprising because by cooperating with an ISO27001 certified company, customers can meet the highest security standards during the software development process and advanced security features of the finished product.
ISO compliance procedure
The integrated management systems implemented within a software company present challenges from an organisational standpoint. The high degree of obstacles in the organisation, consisting of multiple locations and various entities covered by the certification, requires unique solutions.
In this case, companies can utilise the Microsoft SharePoint and Microsoft Power Automate platforms that create and maintain system documentation.
Software companies must be ready to provide evidence of their application of ISO standards. The most common variation of compliance appears as follows:
- Preparation
- Establishment of scope, objectives, and context
- Management framework establishment
- Risk assessment
- Control implementation and risk mitigation
- Conduction of training
- Review and update all relevant documentation
- Evaluation, documentation, and review procedures
Value of selecting an ISO-compliant software partner
A reliable and compliant partner shares equity through experience. Your organisation would utilise expertise and know-how in consulting services implementing an Integrated Management System by selecting such a company.
Companies seeking to bolster their business operations must cooperate with an ISO9001 and ISO27001-certified company. This helps ensure they meet the most rigorous security standards throughout their development process. The result is a more reliable and better-performing organisation ready to face the shifting challenges of the future.
