All organisations need to keep
information safe and secure, some more than others. Comprehensive information security
policies within organisations allow rules and procedures to be developed, safeguarding
information such as corporate information and customer information.
In the wake
of high profile cases of information loss in 2007, there have been calls for
technology to be used to prevent your organisation's risk of information
security breaches, such as encryption and better firewalls. Most IT people
concentrate on the technology, but this alone will not make your system secure.
An effective management system like ISO 27001 could improve information
security.
An Information Security Management System (ISMS) is a
systematic approach to managing sensitive company information, ensuring it
remains both secure and available. It encompasses people, processes and IT
systems. ISO 27001 is
an effective management system, one where you or your management decide on the
objective; in this case your information security policy. The system delivers
it, by and large without too many problems and with continuous improvement
built in. It covers the people and process aspects of information security as
well as the technology. ISO 27001 covers known security issues,
containing many well considered control requirements and steers companies along
a quantifiable path of assessments and improvements.
Compliance shows that information
security is being taken seriously and that effective steps are in place.
ISO 27001 will:
- Make
every user of your system take their part in keeping it secure (it is
impossible to secure a client server system without this). Enforcement is
achieved through the ISO 27001 system.
- Reduce
and even entirely eliminate information security breaches and the threat
of breaches, which can result in internal and more seriously external
embarrassment - see any daily newspaper
- Reduce
the cost of system maintenance and upgrades
- Increase
up time and system speed and increase efficiency without additional investment
- Control
information access
- Protect
your intellectual property
- Protect
your service delivery
- Ensure
legal compliance
- Increase
stakeholder and public confidence
- Protect
your reputation
- Provide
your organisation with the best possible protection against loss of the
system or loss or compromise of vital information on your system.
ISO 27001 also significantly
enhances your corporate governance efforts, with 87% of companies reporting
that certification to ISO 27001 has improved their business continuity and 85%
reporting that it has minimised damage to their business from security
incidents.
Q-Pulse for ISO 27001 integrates
Gael's market-leading compliance management solution and IT Governance's document and process
management toolkit to enable businesses to implement effective systems and
controls. The system is unique as it harnesses the experience of both industry
leaders to create an electronic management system developed from information
security principles that radically simplifies the management of such systems.
Find out more on how you can
obtain and retain certification to ISO 27001 with Q-Pulse, phone us on +44
(0)1355 593400 or email us at infosec@gaelquality.com.
Do you use Q-Pulse to manage your information security or to comply with the
ISO 27001 standard? Tell us about it in the related forum.