Successful transition of an existing ISMS certified to 2013 version to the latest 2022 version at a leading US based provider of the all-in-one strategy application built to drive results.
Industry: Software
Company Background
The company is a leading US Software Development Company which has been an innovator and thought leader in the strategy and execution market based in Lincoln, MA.
It had in existence a mature and Certified information security management system based on ISO/IEC 27001:2013 which we had facilitated in June 2020. As a logical progression in its management system journey the company chose to use the opportunity provided by the Recertification audit due in 2023 to transition its ISMS to the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 the latest version and get certified to the latest version.
Our Clients Challenge:
- Data Security: The company dealt with sensitive strategic and cybersecurity program information from various organizations. Ensuring the security of this data was crucial to maintain confidentiality and prevent unauthorized access.
- Regulatory Compliance: The industry is subject to regulations and compliance requirements related to data protection and cybersecurity standards. Compliance with these regulations was necessary to meet client expectations and avoid legal consequences.
- Risk Management: Identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks associated with data breaches, cyber-attacks, and vulnerabilities was essential to protect the information assets of both the company and its clients.
- Trust and Reliability: Building trust and demonstrating the reliability of their strategy application and cybersecurity program management services was critical to attract and retain clients.
Value additions provided by Seven Step Consulting:
The following steps were taken for transitioning from an ISMS (Information Security Management System) based on the 2013 version to the 2022 version which required careful planning and execution.
Key steps we took to help navigate this transition:
- Familiarized ourselves with studying the new requirements and changes introduced in the 2022 version of the ISMS standard.
- Performed a gap analysis to compare our current ISMS against the requirements of the 2022 version.
- Identified areas where our organization already complied, as well as areas that required attention and improvement to meet the requirements of new standard.
- Updated our existing ISMS policies and procedures to align with the new requirements and ensured that they reflect the changes introduced in the 2022 version. This involved revising and also creating new documentation.
- Communicated with our organization’s stakeholders, including management, employees, and relevant third parties, about the transition to the 2022 version of the ISMS about the importance of the changes, their impact, and any actions required from them.
- Provided training and awareness sessions to employees, to ensure that they understand the changes and their responsibilities in adhering to the new requirements.
- Reviewed and updated our organization’s risk assessment process to reflect the changes in the 2022 version.
- Assessed the new risks that may emerge as a result of the transition and ensured that appropriate controls were in place.
- Implemented necessary new controls or modifications required to meet the updated standard. and ensured that they were effectively integrated into our processes.
- Performed internal audits to verify that the transition to the 2022 version has been successfully implemented and to assess the effectiveness of the new controls, identify any non-conformities, and take corrective actions as necessary.
- External recertification: As our organization was certified to the ISO 27001 standard, we engaged with our certification body to schedule the necessary external audit for recertification against the 2022 version and achieved the same without any non-compliance.
With the transition process being successfully concluded we have chosen to maintain the culture of continuous improvement within our organization’s ISMS and are migrating the controls now to our own software for compliance management. This will help us to regularly review and update our system to address emerging risks, changes in technology, and evolving business requirements in a manner that minimizes disruptions to our organization’s operations while ensuring compliance with the new ISMS standard.
Our Clients Business Benefits:
The successful implementation and transition of the ISMS to the latest version of ISO/IEC 27001:2022 yielded several benefits:
- Enhanced Data Security: The company significantly improved the security of client data and information assets, reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access.
- Regulatory Compliance: The ISMS implementation ensured compliance with relevant data protection and cybersecurity regulations, meeting client expectations and legal requirements.
- Risk Mitigation: Identified risks and vulnerabilities were effectively managed and mitigated, minimizing the likelihood and impact of security incidents. This helped protect the company’s reputation and client trust.
- Trust and Reliability: The strong emphasis on information security and the robust ISMS implementation demonstrated the company’s commitment to protecting client data and provided assurance of the reliability of their strategy application and cybersecurity program management services.
- Competitive Advantage: The company’s focus on data security and compliance gave them a competitive edge in the market, attracting new clients and retaining existing ones who value robust security measures and risk management practices.
- Improved Client Relationships: The successful implementation of the ISMS built trust and confidence with clients, leading to stronger relationships and increased client satisfaction.
- Efficient Operations: The ISMS implementation streamlined internal processes and improved the overall efficiency of managing and securing client data