Hands holding a mobile phone. Icons featuring thumbs up and hearts are rising from the phone indicating social media engagement

Welcome to part one of this three-part series on how to promote your ISO certification or re-certification. In this article we’ll focus on how you can share the news of your successful ISO certification within your own business. Part 2 explores how you can get the message out through business as usual activities and Part 3 looks at ideas for telling a wider audience. We hope you find these pointers useful.

Congratulations – you’ve successfully gained ISO certification or recertification! Now the whole world can hear about how credible and dependable your business is. But where do you start? We’ve put together some of the most effective ways for how to promote your ISO certification to both your existing and potential customers.

But before we begin with the marketing, make sure that you keep coming back to what this news means for your audience. What is the value of your business’s ISO certification? Why should it matter to your customers, prospects and suppliers, as well as your current staff and those you recruit in the future? By asking yourself these questions you can avoid your promotion falling a bit flat!

The awareness-raising methods we’re highlighting can be grouped as follows:

Internal communication – Part 1: sharing the news of your successful ISO certification within your business
Business as usual activities – Part 2: using day-to-day business interactions to promote your success
External communication – Part 3: ideas for getting the message out to a wider audience

How to promote your ISO certification using internal communication

Depending on your business strategy, ISO certification may be the starting point or the pinnacle of your journey towards operational excellence. Either way, it’s important to embed a culture of continuous improvement and excellence which crosses every level of your organisation. So communicating your ISO certification enthusiastically and comprehensively is key.

Typically, any success within a business is a great opportunity to build staff engagement and pride among employees. ISO certification success can also lead to an increased sense of ownership and responsibility. Inevitably, to maintain and enhance the standards set by the certification, teams pull together. Often, with a re-energised sense of purpose, leading to improved motivation and productivity.

So how can you inform your staff? Yes, you could simply send an email, but below are some more imaginative ways to let people know.

Hold a staff party to celebrate

Achieving ISO certification is a cause for celebration. A party is a great way to recognise the efforts of those who have been involved. Take a moment to explain how the award will make a difference to your staff in their own work, the whole business and your customers.

Have your CEO speak about the news in a video for staff

Does your business has staff in more than one location? If so, you may find it more practical to send an announcement in video format to your colleagues. Hearing about this positive company news and the impact it will have can be inspiring and energising.

Write a short article for your company’s staff newsletter or intranet

Here’s another opportunity to namecheck any colleagues who were closely involved in the ISO certification process. Ensure that you outline the benefits of certification. And include the logo(s) as provided by your ISO certification body so that your staff become familiar with this badge.

Place posters around the building

Which areas of your workplace do staff use the most? Don’t forget the value of corridors, the back of doors and communal areas such as the kitchen or staff room. You can use these to let people know that you’re proud to be an ISO certified business. Displaying a well-positioned poster in your reception area will also ensure that your visitors take note of your commitment to being a responsible business.

Display copies of your ISO certificate prominently

Take copies of your certificate and place them on key noticeboards around the building. Or frame them and create a showpiece of them. Use your reception desk, meeting rooms or a glass trophy cabinet for colleagues and visitors alike to see your certificate(s).

Run a brief training session

Set aside some time for your staff to learn the essentials of what it means for your company to be an ISO certified business. Whether delivered face to face or online, take your colleagues on the journey. This way, they buy in to the value that ISO certification adds to your operations and customers.

Hopefully, these suggestions will help you to take the first steps to announcing and celebrating your ISO certification. Being inclusive and ensuring that your whole team is in the loop – especially customer-facing staff – and not just your leadership team You already know that your staff are your biggest asset so let them be your biggest advocates too – able to talk with confidence to existing and potential customers about how your business is not only driven by profit, but also by a purpose to improve society.

Finally, be sure to visit our Insights page regularly for our latest tips and advice as well as Parts 2 and 3 of this series for more practical pointers on how to promote your ISO certification success!

Not yet ISO certified?

For more information on ISO-Cert Online’s services or to discuss your requirements please contact us on 0333 014 7720 or email info@isocertonline.net.

by admin

A screen with lots of hexagonal tiles. The title tile is Disaster Recovery. the other tiles show icons such as cogs, security shields and padlocks, computers, wifi and the cloud

Article

Use ISO 22301 to manage your business continuity planning

17/03/2023

Within the global economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role. According to the World Bank, SMEs account for roughly 90% of all businesses worldwide. And they make a substantial contribution both in terms of job creation and economic growth. However, evidence shows that SMEs can be more vulnerable to disruptions than larger organisations. For example, natural disasters, cybercrime, or a pause in production. So, we would recommend that SMEs manage your business continuity planning by having a business continuity plan (BCP) to ensure survival in the face of unexpected events.

A BCP is one proactive approach you can take to protect your business. It ensures that your business can continue to operate during and after a disruptive event. A BCP should cover all aspects of your business, including your people, processes, systems, and facilities. It should also identify your critical functions/departments and resources. That is, those which are necessary for the business to continue to operate normally and successfully.

Why is a business continuity plan important for SMEs?

There are several reasons why a BCP is critical for SMEs. Firstly, SMEs often have limited resources. So if faced with a significant unforeseen incident, they may not be as resilient as their bigger counterparts to get through the financial losses or operational interruption. Secondly, SMEs often have fewer employees. Therefore they won’t have the same level of expertise to hand, as larger organisations, to manage a crisis immediately. Finally, SMEs are often reliant on a small number of key suppliers. Consequently, a disruption to their supply chain could have a damaging impact on their business.

What is ISO certification?

ISO certification is a globally recognised standard which can support SMEs to develop and implement an effective BCP. The ISO 22301 standard provides a step-by-step approach for business continuity management (BCM) and outlines the requirements for a BCP. The standard touches on every element of BCM. Typically, this includes risk assessment, business impact analysis, strategy development, and the implementation and testing of the plan.

ISO certification can benefit your SME in several ways. For example, it provides assurance to your stakeholders, who may include your customers, suppliers, and investors, that you have implemented best practices for BCM. This can enhance your company’s reputation and help you to attract and win new business. Also, ISO certification can help you to identify and resolve performance gaps in your BCM processes. This leads to increased efficiency and cost savings. Additionally, ISO certification can help you to comply with legal and regulatory requirements related to business continuity.

“Events over the last few years have shown that unexpected events can happen quickly, with no warning, and have devastating impacts for businesses of all sizes, and particularly SMEs. We are committed to supporting you to strengthen and protect your business by achieving ISO certification with ease, in the most cost-effective and time-efficient way possible.”
Claire Howard, Director, ISO-Cert Online Limited

For more information on ISO-Cert Online’s services or to discuss your requirements please contact us on 0333 014 7720 or email info@isocertonline.net.

by admin

Two intertwining cogs - one saying Business, the other saying Continuity

Article

Why is business continuity planning important for SMEs?

17/03/2023

Many of our clients ask us “Why is business continuity planning important for SMEs?”. Chiefly, our answer is that business continuity management (BCM) is essential for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Because it helps them prepare for and mitigate the impact of unexpected events that can disrupt their operations. These events could be natural disasters, cyber-attacks, pandemics, supply chain disruptions, or other unforeseen circumstances that could interrupt normal business operations.

What evidence suggests that business continuity planning is important for SMEs?

To highlight the importance of business continuity planning for SMEs, according to the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA):

50% of SMEs fail to reopen after a major disaster such as a fire, flood or cyber-attack.
66% of SMEs don’t have a business continuity plan in place to deal with such disasters.
90% of SMEs in the UK underestimate the potential risks they face.
40% of SMEs would be forced to close within a year if they suffered a major disaster.

What does business continuity planning involve?

Business continuity planning involves first identifying potential risks. Then developing strategies to minimise their impact. And having procedures in place to ensure that critical business functions can continue even during a crisis. As a result, it can be difficult to know where to start.

What is ISO 22301?

The ISO 22301 standard provides a framework for BCM. Moreover, it sets out the requirements for a business continuity plan. Indeed, the standard comprehensively covers they key aspects of BCM. these include risk assessment, business impact analysis, strategy development, and plan implementation and testing.

“We work with SMEs across all sectors to support them with establishing and maintaining effective business continuity management. Experience shows us that by implementing a business continuity plan, based on the ISO 22301 standard, businesses can increase their resilience, continue to satisfy their customers, protect their reputation and, importantly, stay competitive.”
Claire Howard, Director, ISO-Cert Online Ltd

For more information on ISO-Cert Online’s services or to discuss your requirements please contact us on 0333 014 7720 or email info@isocertonline.net.

by admin

A server room filled with computer servers from floor to ceiling

Article

Reasons why your business should be ISO 27001 certified

06/03/2023

Cybersecurity is a growing concern for businesses of all sizes, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are no exception. Often, with constrained resources and limited cybersecurity training, SMEs are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Critically, these can result in data breaches, downtime, and financial losses. So, in this article, we explore the reasons why your business should be ISO 27001 certified.

The statistics provide compelling evidence that cyber-attacks are a significant threat to SMEs. Indeed studies are conducted all the time to monitor changes to these trends.

43% of cyber-attacks target small businesses. (Source: Verizon)
66% of small business owners report that they are not concerned about cyber threats, and 59% do not have a contingency plan for responding to cyber-attacks. (Source: Nationwide)
48% of data security breaches are caused by acts of malicious intent, with the remaining 52% caused by human error or system failure. (Source: IBM)

So that’s where ISO 27001 certification comes in:

Protecting against cyber threats and data breaches

Undoubtedly, cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly popular and sophisticated. Accordingly, SMEs need to identify and address potential security risks and vulnerabilities in your information systems, networks, and applications. Here, ISO 27001 provides a framework for SMEs. Since it supports you in implementing effective security measures, it protects your business against cyber threats and data breaches.

Building trust and credibility

ISO 27001 certification demonstrates your commitment to information security best practices. As a result, it can enhance your reputation with customers, partners, and stakeholders. Primarily, it evidences clearly that you take cybersecurity seriously and are taking appropriate measures to safeguard your business and customers.

Enhancing operational efficiency

Implementing ISO 27001 can help you to streamline your information security management processes. Thus improving operational efficiency. In turn, this can reduce the risk of downtime and data loss. Ultimately resulting in cost savings, improved business performance and more engaged and empowered staff.

Complying with regulatory requirements

Many SMEs operate in sectors and industries that are subject to regulatory requirements for information security. Typically, these include such as healthcare, finance, and government. Hence ISO 27001 can help SMEs meet these requirements and avoid potential fines and legal liabilities.

Increasing business opportunities

ISO 27001 certification can give you a competitive advantage by demonstrating your commitment to information security. Naturally, this opens up new business opportunities with clients in both domestic or international markets. Companies which understand the risk of poor information security are more likely to require their suppliers to have ISO certification.

Conclusion

In summary, ISO 27001 certification is a valuable and sensible investment for all businesses. But especially for SMEs looking to protect your sensitive information, build trust with stakeholders, improve operational efficiency, comply with regulatory requirements, and increase business opportunities.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Invest in ISO 27001 certification today to defend your business against cyber threats and data breaches.

Next steps

For more information on ISO-Cert Online’s services or to discuss your requirements please contact us on 0333 014 7720 or email info@isocertonline.net.

by admin

Digital screen with a large image of a padlock, surrounded by icons showing wifi, online shopping, a cloud, a globe, a laptop and people

Article

Boost your customers’ confidence with ISO 27001 certification

06/03/2023

The growing importance of information security

Take a look around you and there’s a strong chance that you’ll see people using their mobile phones or similar devices. Clearly, the thirst for digital technology has never been so great. Consequently, businesses which haven’t pivoted to online operations have been left behind in the race to give customers want they want. With this, information security is a critical concern for both businesses and their customers. In fact, a study conducted by PwC in 2018 found that 92% of organisations consider cybersecurity to be one of their top three priorities. So, we would recommend that you boost your customers’ confidence with ISO 27001 certification.

Customer concerns about information security

With the rising frequency and severity of cyber-attacks, customers are more vigilant about the safety and privacy of their personal and financial information. Accordingly, in a report published by the ONS in 2019, 78% of adults in the UK were concerned about the security of their personal data online. This was the highest level of concern among all areas of crime covered in the survey. So, it is essential for businesses to adopt industry-standard practices and obtain certifications. As this demonstrates your commitment to information security and will boost your customers’ confidence.

ISO 27001 certification as a solution

One such certification is ISO 27001, an internationally recognised standard for information security management systems. Furthermore, by obtaining this certification, you can reassure your customers. Because you can evidence that you have implemented robust security measures to protect their sensitive data.

Essentially, ISO 27001 provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information and covers a wide range of security controls. These include access control, cryptography, and physical security. Customers can be assured because the certification process involves an independent third-party assessment of the business’s information security management system. So companies which don’t pass the audit won’t be certified with the ISO 27001 standard, putting them at a competitive disadvantage.

Benefits of being ISO 27001 certified:

It can help businesses win new customers and retain existing ones.
Customers are more likely to do business with companies that take information security seriously. ISO 27001certification is a way of proving this.
The certification process itself can help businesses identify and address vulnerabilities in their information security management system (ISMS). This can lead to increased efficiency, improved risk management, and better compliance with regulatory requirements.
By obtaining ISO 27001 certification, businesses can also demonstrate their commitment to continuous improvement in information security. The standard requires businesses to conduct regular internal audits and reviews. This ensures that their security measures remain up-to-date and effective.

“ISO 27001 has, at its heart, a three-pillar approach to information security. It helps you to manage the confidentiality, integrity and availability of your data by considering your people, processes and technology. With tech-savvy customers demanding online services, this standard offers them trust and confidence that your business takes its responsibilities to their data seriously.”
Claire Howard, Director, ISO-Cert Online Limited

We hope that you have found our article on “how to boost your customers’ confidence with ISO 27001 certification” valuable.

For more information on ISO-Cert Online’s services or to discuss your requirements please contact us on 0333 014 7720 or email info@isocertonline.net.

by admin

Article

How to promote your ISO certification – part 1

How to promote your ISO certification using internal communication

Hold a staff party to celebrate

Have your CEO speak about the news in a video for staff

Write a short article for your company’s staff newsletter or intranet

Place posters around the building

Display copies of your ISO certificate prominently

Run a brief training session

Not yet ISO certified?

Use ISO 22301 to manage your business continuity planning

Why is a business continuity plan important for SMEs?

What is ISO certification?

Why is business continuity planning important for SMEs?

What evidence suggests that business continuity planning is important for SMEs?

What does business continuity planning involve?

What is ISO 22301?

Reasons why your business should be ISO 27001 certified

Protecting against cyber threats and data breaches

Building trust and credibility

Enhancing operational efficiency

Complying with regulatory requirements

Increasing business opportunities

Conclusion

Next steps

Boost your customers’ confidence with ISO 27001 certification

The growing importance of information security

Customer concerns about information security

ISO 27001 certification as a solution

Benefits of being ISO 27001 certified:

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Categories

Meta

About Exponent

Recent Posts

Head Office

Wales & West Office

Email Us

Pages

ISO Certification

Legal