Protecting your business’ confidential data can be a difficult task, as there are so many different factors that need to be accounted for, and while some may seem apparent, others will not be so obvious. For example, if your business is implementing an upgraded computer system across all their worksites, you might take business information security factors such as password protection, compatibility with existing software and training staff on how to use the new software into consideration. However, precisely because you are spending so much time focusing on these issues it is easy to overlook other potential information security threats, such as whether the new computers are departmentalised, so only authorised users have access to confidential data.

The wide array of potential information security issues, which can take various forms, including IT, physical workspace, verbal and knowledge-based issues, is precisely what makes the issue of establishing strong business information security such a challenging one to address. It is not enough to just believe you have addressed all the potential threats, you need to be certain, because insecurity in decision making results in insecure business information systems.

The ISO 27001 Standards offer a one-stop solution for Information Security

The foundation of all successful business’ is a stable structure. Running your operations in a systematic, methodical manner not only ensures that your daily business dealings are conducted in an efficient way, it also provides business’ with a clear, logical checklist approach to follow in the event of an incident threatening the stability of the business. An effective business conducts its operations in this manner across all their departments, including information security.

The internationally recognised business information security standards found within ISO 27001:2013 can help your organisation achieve this level of stability, cohesion, and structure across their information security systems within their operations. This is achieved by employing a unifying approach towards business information security, where the specific, contextual information security requirements of the business are analysed through internationally recognised successful security standards, in order to determine:

• Where the potential weak spots of the business lie: Even the most effective business management structure will specialise in certain areas, while potentially not having this focussed knowledge in other areas. For example, an Information Technology company may go above and beyond in addressing the IT information security risks their business may face, but due to not specialising in other areas of security risk management, not apply this same methodical approach to the physical information security risks the business is at risk of. The ISO 27001 Standards looks at all business information security risk factors equally, placing the same emphasis on IT, physical, verbal and knowledge-based risks. This ensures that your business is addressing its information security needs through an overarching framework, where all issues are dealt with on an equal basis. This ensures that the business’ operations remain stable, level, and that all information security risks are dealt with in a thorough, systematic, uniform fashion.
• An effective manner to implement a business information security system at your worksites: When implementing a business information security system various issues need to be addressed, including whether the organisation has an existing information security system, where the weak points of the existing system lie, whether new information security measures could build on existing ones, and so on. Doing this allows your business to develop a set of structured information security controls, which address how particular security issues are dealt with. This works at developing a clear, methodical approach to handling information security threats, which minimises downtime, as staff know exactly what to do, and what their individual responsibilities are, in the event of an issue.
• How to develop an internal auditing system that ensures your information security system stays top-notch: In the business world things change by the minute. Due to societal or technological changes, a system that is applicable and up to date one day could potentially become outdated and irrelevant the next. To ensure that your internal business information system stays ahead of shifting industry, legal and technological trends, there needs to be some kind of system checking procedure in place, which assesses the scope of your system against industry and government rules, regulations and laws. The ISO 27001 Standards offer clear, easy to understand solutions for how to implement this kind of vetting process, to ensure that your company does not simply reach an internationally recognised standard for business information security, it stays there.

ISO 27001 can be tailored to the specific requirements of your business

One of the central strengths, and benefits, of these information security standards is that business’ can get as much out of them as they want, and tailor their guidelines to be applicable to their specific business structure. For example, some business’ structures may feel that they already have a strong business information security system in place, and that little needs to be done to strengthen its security processes. In this situation, the implementation of the ISO 27001 Standards would still be advantageous to them, as they could utilise it as a fault-checking measure to ensure that their security process stay in-line with shifting industry and societal trends. They could also use the standards to ensure that they have not overlooked a potential information security threat that they either did not realise the scope of, or did not even consider.

Further, organisation’s that are unhappy with their existing information security measures and want a thorough overhaul would also be able to benefit from these standards, in several ways. Not only would these standards work at helping them implement a new, internationally recognised information security system, which would strengthen the stability of the business, through a reading of these standards they would be able to identify the ways in which their previous information security system was lacking, and ensure that they do not repeat these issues with their new system. The ISO 27001 Standards impart knowledge about what makes an effective business information security system, what makes an ineffective one, and how to guarantee that the system implemented at your own worksite meets these high standards.

Business information is a commodity, and the very fact that it is a commodity makes it both an internal and external target, from people who seek to exploit it. The ISO 27001 Standards are here to ensure that this does not happen to your operations, and through its implementation you are ensuring that your business remains safe, secure, and upholds its reputation.

What areas of information security do the standards cover?

Business information security is a broad term, because it can cover a multitude of potential risk factors and threats to the organisation. Further, these threats can take multiple forms, including intentional threats like cyber hacking, and unintentional threats, such as an unsafe office environment that has a high risk of fire damage.

The ISO Standards act like an umbrella, covering all these individual aspects of potential information security threats, and more. These include things such as how to safeguard against personal data breaches, protecting your operations from cyber-hackers, intentional and unintentional destruction of property, how to minimise the risk of thefts, what you can do to mitigate the threats of viral attacks, and so on. It also upholds the reputation of your organisation, by working with it to ensure it meets the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), focuses on asset protection, reduction in downtime, the mitigation of threats, and the development of an effective, overarching security policy.

In short, even if you do not believe that your business needs help with all the business information security issues the ISO 27001 Standards cover, it is still a given that your organisation stands to benefit from individual parts of it. Further, with workplace laws and regulations changing frequently due to shifts in the marketplace, your business might find itself in a situation where they now require assistance with an information security concern the standards address. It is better to act pro-actively and implement these standards when your business is in a safe, stable position, than to find yourself faced with dealing with the fall out of an information security threat.

When it comes to business information security prevention is always better than a cure.

When maintaining the business information security of your organisation, it is always preferable to prevent potential security threats before they occur, rather than deal with their aftermath. This forward thinking approach minimises downtime, keeps the business running in an efficient manner, and ensure that staff, clients and customers have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your business treats confidential data with the utmost concern. The ISO 27001 Standards apply this forward-thinking approach to their guidelines, to give organisations’ the highest chance of thriving in a challenging marketplace. Doing so can sometimes require preparation, perseverance and a positive attitude, and the implementation of these standards helps you approach this issue in the most prepared manner.

Business owners will have the opportunity to find out more about implementing and maintaining strong information security within their operations, on the 5^th of November at 11:00am to 12:00pm, in a relaxing, educational environment in which you will be given the opportunity to ask specific questions relevant to your operations, by signing up for a free webinar on The Importance of Information Security in the Workplace, hosted by Anitech Group’s director, Anita Patturajan. To RSVP a place in this webinar, please sign up for free on the SEMMA website.

If you believe that your organisation could benefit from the implementation of these standards, or are uncertain and want to discuss the requirements of your business in order to find out how these standards might benefit it, then please contact Anitech information security consultants today, on 1300 802 163. They will be able to have a quick chat with you over the phone to briefly ascertain your business requirements, and how the ISO 27001 Standards could be implemented to help your business become, or stay, an industry leader. There are so many different factors that separate a successful, thriving business, from one unsuccessful one on the brink of going under. But taking these pro-active steps might just give your business the edge it needs to prosper in a challenging marketplace. Wouldn’t you say taking the insecurity out of business information security sounds like a great proposal?

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