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Every day, small and medium size businesses (SMEs) face a range of operational challenges that can hinder growth and success. Often, the fundamental areas of concern include process efficiency, health and safety, information security, environmental responsibilities, and business continuity. So, in this blog, we’ll highlight how ISO standards can provide a solution for getting over these hurdles and enhancing your competitive edge.

ISO standards can be implemented in businesses of any size and across all industries and sectors. They have been developed to make life easier, safer and better. So how exactly can they help you?

ISO 9001: Enhancing quality management

If you’re looking to improve the quality of your products or services, ISO 9001 can help you to develop your process management. It offers guidance-based solutions. And provides insights on documented workflows, specific directions, and standardised operation procedures. Thereby leading to quality delivery while ensuring efficiency with your resources. This standard enables SMEs to identify areas for improvement and achieve consistent quality. In so doing, companies can meet customer expectations, resulting in enhanced credibility and customer loyalty.

ISO 14001: Driving environmental sustainability

Embracing environmental responsibilities is not only the right thing to do for the planet. Also, it brings many benefits to companies. As a result, environmental sustainability is an increasingly important consideration for businesses. ISO 14001 provides SMEs with guidelines for implementing effective environmental management systems. By adopting ISO 14001, SMEs can minimise their environmental impact, reduce waste generation, conserve resources, and comply with environmental regulations. So this not only demonstrates their commitment to sustainability, but also opens doors to eco-conscious customers and business opportunities.

ISO 50001: Optimising energy management

Effective energy management is crucial for SMEs seeking to improve operational efficiency and reduce costs. ISO 50001 offers a systematic approach to optimising energy use. By implementing ISO 50001, SMEs can identify energy-saving opportunities. Also, it helps them to establish effective energy management systems. And it can support them in reducing their carbon footprint. Furthermore, this results in significant cost savings, enhanced environmental performance, and a competitive edge in a sustainability-focused market.

ISO 45001: Ensuring occupational health and safety

Ensuring the health and safety of employees is a top priority for SMEs. So ISO 45001 assists SMEs in establishing robust occupational health and safety management systems. By adopting ISO 45001, SMEs can identify potential hazards, mitigate risks, and create a safe working environment. Indeed, this leads to a reduction in accidents and reduced unforeseen stoppage time. Additionally, it results in improved employee morale and increased productivity, while also ensuring compliance with relevant regulations.

ISO 27001: Safeguarding information security

Information security is essential in today’s rapidly changing digital age. ISO 27001 provides a comprehensive framework for managing information security risks. By implementing ISO 27001, SMEs can identify vulnerabilities, establish information security policies and procedures, and protect sensitive data. This helps build customer trust, prevents data breaches, and ensures compliance with data protection regulations.

ISO 22301: Enabling business continuity

When it comes to continuously meeting customer expectations, the challenge of maintaining business continuity through unpredictable standalone events could be daunting. ISO 22301 provides businesses with actionable strategies to proactively establish comprehensive plans that help minimise downtime, discouraging bottom-line losses while continuity of service remains unaffected by situational disruptions. This promotes the stability of critical functions, safeguards customer relationships, and enables rapid recovery.

“Implementing ISO standards is like putting your business in a suit of armour. It shields you from risks, fortifies your processes, and defends your reputation. With any of these standards, or a selection, your business becomes a formidable force, empowered to conquer challenges and withstand competition.”
Claire Howard, Director of 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

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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

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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

Driving operational excellence: how ISO standards empower SMEs

ISO 9001: Enhancing quality management

ISO 14001: Driving environmental sustainability

ISO 50001: Optimising energy management

ISO 45001: Ensuring occupational health and safety

ISO 27001: Safeguarding information security

ISO 22301: Enabling business continuity

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:

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