If you’re a small or medium-sized business, you’ve probably heard of ISO27001, but won’t know too much about it. And that’s ok.

Perhaps a client has asked if you’re certified. Maybe you’ve seen it mentioned in supplier questionnaires, or perhaps a competitor proudly displays the logo on their website.

At that point, most business owners ask the same question:

“What is ISO27001?” and “How does ISO27001 actually help my business?”

Both fair questions, so let’s address them both here (briefly).

What is ISO27001?

First thing to say is that it’s an internationally recognised standard for the management of security within your organisation. The key phrase here is ‘internationally recognised, meaning that no matter who your clients are, they most likely have achieved 27001 or are well aware of it.

ISO 27001 is a standard approach to building (and managing) an Information Security Management System (also known as an ‘ISMS’).  We’ve written about this in our blog, which you can read here..

Secondly it’s a standard that focuses on security of information in all its forms, no matter what format that information comes in.  Information can be digital (on your servers and laptop) and in hard form (such as documents and papers), and both come under the remit of ISO27001.

How can ISO27001 actually help my business?

There are a lot of benefits to achieving ISO 27001 certification, and we covered it extensively in another blog which you can read here.

But running an SME is hard enough without adding another project to your already overflowing to-do list, right?!

Well the good news is that ISO27001 isn’t about creating more work. Done properly, it’s about helping you run your business with greater confidence, clarity and control.

It helps you understand what really matters

Every business has information worth protecting, including;

• Customer details.
• Financial records.
• Employee information.
• Commercially sensitive documents.
• And everything else

The challenge isn’t knowing these things are important. It’s understanding where they are, who has access to them, and what could happen if something went wrong and they were even lost, stolen or damaged.

If you’ve ever worried about this but struggled to know what to do about it, ISO27001 provides a structured framework for identifying risks, and then appropriate controls to manage those risks.

Essentially ensuring you’re no longer relying on guesswork. Because as we often say:

You can’t protect what you don’t understand.

It builds trust with customers

Winning new business has become about more than offering a great product or service, and customers increasingly want reassurance that their information (and money) is safe.

Large organisations, in particular, are asking suppliers more detailed questions about cybersecurity and data protection before awarding contracts. And having ISO27001 demonstrates that you’re taking information security seriously.

It tells potential customers that you have thought about risk, implemented appropriate controls and are committed to protecting the information they’ve entrusted to you.

Trust has always been valuable and today, it’s becoming a competitive advantage.

Can ISO 27001 help win bigger opportunities?

Many SMEs first consider ISO27001 because a customer asks for it. Sometimes it’s mandatory, and expected and other times it’s simply seen as something that a business like yours would have.

Either way, businesses that can demonstrate a mature approach to information security often find themselves competing for opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Instead of scrambling to answer lengthy supplier questionnaires, you already have much of the evidence in place, and that saves time, reduces stress and creates confidence during the sales process.

Businesses that achieve ISO27001 win biiger contracts because they use ISO27001 as a strategic advantage.

It reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes

Being in business is fraught with risk. Am I right?  As a business owner myself I know there are so many things to do, and the chances of something going wrong are always with us.

And although no business can eliminate every risk, every business can become better prepared for the day something goes wrong.

ISO27001 encourages organisations to think ahead and ask the difficult questions;

• What happens if a laptop is stolen?
• How would you respond to a cyber attack?
• What if an employee accidentally sends confidential information to the wrong person?

Rather than reacting when something goes wrong, you’re planning before it happens.

That preparation can significantly reduce both the likelihood and the impact of an incident.

Can ISO 27001 help grow your business? 

Short answer, yes.

Many SMEs first consider ISO27001 because a customer asks for it. Sometimes it’s mandatory, and expected and other times it’s simply seen as something that a business like yours would have.

Either way, businesses that can demonstrate a mature approach to information security often find themselves competing for opportunities that were previously out of reach.

Instead of scrambling to answer lengthy supplier questionnaires, you already have much of the evidence in place, and that saves time, reduces stress and creates confidence during the sales process.

Businesses that achieve ISO27001 win bigger contracts because they use ISO27001 as a strategic advantage.

It reduces the likelihood of costly mistakes

Being in business is fraught with risk. Am I right?  As a business owner myself I know there are so many things to do, and the chances of something going wrong are always with us.

And although no business can eliminate every risk, every business can become better prepared for the day something goes wrong.

ISO27001 encourages organisations to think ahead and ask the difficult questions;

• What happens if a laptop is stolen?
• How would you respond to a cyber attack?
• What if an employee accidentally sends confidential information to the wrong person?

Rather than reacting when something goes wrong, you’re planning before it happens.

That preparation can significantly reduce both the likelihood and the impact of an incident.