Why Ensure Information Security for Your Organization?

Information security is no more an aspect that businesses’ management can ensure all alone. It requires strict adherence to the information security regulations promoted by international agencies like ISO. This article talks about the need for information security in businesses. 

Many organizations believe that their highly confidential data and intellectual property are safe within their designated IT systems and applications. However, that is not always the case. With cases of cyber hacking and data losses increasing everywhere, businesses need to boost their information security management. They can do so by fulfilling the obligations set by the highest international standard for information security management, ISO 27001. For that, they need to perceive their business’s information security needs well and figure out how to achieve ISO certification with a new and successful strategy. 

To protect your data and information distribution network, the first step is always to understand the information security needs of your business. You should not only consider the security requirements for the sake of becoming compliant with ISO 27001 certification, but also to meet customer and the organization’s interests as well. Here are some key obligations that you should meet to ensure high-end information security at your organization. 

Threats and vulnerabilities to information security must be identified and managed through a well-planned information security management system or ISMS. There should be a prioritization and measurement of the risks in the systems and data storage devices. This is an important step to recognize the risks in your businesses in advance and take essential precautionary measures. Security awareness is also needed in the organization to ensure that every member is doing their part (or role) in preventing the smallest risks or security issues. They should support the use of data protection controls, such as user login with authentic code, encryption system, restricted network access, and so on. 

 

A high-end data protection program like CMMC certification is essential for businesses to help them protect the most critical or confidential information from any unauthorized access. This certification is especially important for organizations that have to handle certain data stored in IT systems that fall under national and public interests. Therefore, along with compliance obligations for ISO certification, the businesses also need to achieve special data protection and cybersecurity mature model certification or CMMC to demonstrate their confidence regarding their strong data security. This will help them operate as a reliable agent in the industry supply-chain who will never let their data get leaked to intruders and disrupt the operational flow of the supply chain. 

This is a necessary customer obligation that you should consider in your ISMS. Know your customers’ requirements in the context of data security. When customers buy any product or service from you, they share certain vital personal information which they expect you to protect and use. When they know that you have a robust ISMS in place to meet the organization’s as well as customer security needs, they will be convinced. Getting ISO 27001 certification is considered so vital because it will help to demonstrate your adherence to information security management. 

Putting an international certification for information security in your organization will be the most important way to show that you put your customers’ privacy first. This will enhance your organizational reputation and grant you more customers that will rely on your service or product.  Secondly, cyber-security and information security practices are needed in organizations for business continuity. Failure to have a strong ISMS may result in operational failures due to abrupt data breach, hacking, or loss of vital data. An organization’s inability to work at any time will be a big reason to affect the sales or bottom-line. If you have still not put enough importance on ISMS and are still operating with your ambiguous information security strategies, it is time to get ISO certified. Consult with information security consultants and seek guidance on how to achieve ISO certification to ensure the absolute security of your essential business data and consumer information. The consultants will guide you through the certification process and help you identify the key security requirements that are needed for your particular business and operational systems.

 

Damon Anderson is an experienced ISO consultant who directs businesses through how to achieve ISO certification and assert their information security. Being a seasoned information security expert, the author also has experience with CMMC certification, ensuring cyber-security or data protection for organizations that deal with public interest services, such as defense.  

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