Unlock new markets and build trust with streamlined ISO 27001 software

 ISO 27001 is the international standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO IEC 27001). It lays the groundwork and specifications for implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

Similar to a SOC 2 report, your business will likely need to achieve compliance with ISO 27001 if it operates outside the US and stores sensitive information. We recommend that businesses pursue an ISO 27001 certification for regulatory reasons primarily. Our customers also come to us when a lack of certification impacts reputation or when pursuing international deals.

The cost of an ISO 27001 certification is variable. Unlike SOC 2, ISO 27001 is highly regulated and customized to the company. Cost can be impacted by various factors such as the number of employees, nature of the sensitive data an organization ingests and number of cloud based systems it’s hosted on. We recommend starting your compliance journey early, so your company can avoid the accrued costs associated with delaying ISO 27001 compliance.

Certification is broken down into different stages; Stage 1 is normally a few days of presenting the policies and procedures to the auditor at a high level. Stage 2 occurs normally a few weeks after Stage 1 is completed when the auditor will dive into the detailed evidence to verify that the policies and procedures are being followed and comply with the ISO 27001 standard.

The two frameworks are fairly similar–and require many of the same types of controls, data governance, and continuous assessment to remain compliant such as gap analysis and risk assessment. A general timeline comparison looks like this:

• Design and implementation:
  • SOC 2: 3 months
  • ISO 27001: 6 months
• Audit:
  • SOC 2: 6-12 weeks, annually
  • ISO 27001: internal, 3-6 weeks annually. External, 6-12 weeks every other year.

Getting ISO 27001 certified is a lengthy and complex process to implement. It’s easy to get lost in the weeds when you’re juggling control design, trying to establish the gaps in your current security posture, and scheduling your internal and external audits. ISO 27001 software, like Thoropass, can help greatly reduce the amount of time and resources required to achieve ISO 27001 compliance.

 ISO 27001 certification specifically requires renewal every three years, involving ongoing compliance reviews, new control developments, and continuous internal and external security audits. Additionally, organizations must ensure regular employee training and management reviews of internal audits to demonstrate continual improvement.

 According to the ANSI National Accreditation Board, ANAB, there are only 21 firms in the United States that can provide businesses with an official certification. ANAB is the largest accreditation body in the western hemisphere that assesses and accredits different auditors against information security standards like ISO 27001. Thoropass is the only ISO 27001 software that provides both internal and external audits within one unified platform.

Using ISO 27001 software like Thoropass offers several benefits:

• Streamlined compliance management from within one centralized location
• Enhanced efficiency including capabilities like unified controls and multi-framework audits
• Improved security posture allowing you to accelerate trust building and business growth
• Simplified compliance and audit process with the OrO Way
• Ability to scale your compliance program efficiently and effectively as you grow
• Continuous maintenance and improvement with automated alerts and consolidated communication