Monday 29 May, 2023
By Mark Austin, Chief Information Officer – Galilee Solicitors
When it comes to choosing a provider for your business needs, it’s important to consider all the factors that can impact their products or services, which can in-turn impact you. These factors could include their approach to security, the integrity of their systems and the overall quality of their offerings. One way to do this is by choosing a provider that is ISO certified. The International Organization for Standardisation (ISO) is a global organisation that develops standards for quality management systems across various industries worldwide.
So, what’s the big deal about choosing an ISO Certified provider? As someone who’s achieved ISO 27001 certification across a few companies, I’d like to share my reasons why choosing an ISO certified provider is so important for your business.
Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability
When a provider is ISO certified, they undoubtedly have robust Information Security Management System in place. They’re committed to meeting ISO’s rigorous standards, meaning they have established teams and procedures to ensure their products or services consistently meet the ISO27001 compliance standards and of course our customer expectations. This results in fewer errors, improved efficiency, security conscious culture and better customer satisfaction. ISO certification gives businesses the assurance that their provider is committed to quality, security, and continuous improvement.
Meeting Regulatory Requirements
Choosing an ISO27001 certified provider can help your business meet regulatory requirements. ISO 27001 certification is recognised worldwide and often stipulated by regulatory bodies. That means businesses that operate in regulated industries such as legal and finance can benefit from using a provider with ISO 27001 certification.
My experience
I recently went through the ISO 27001 certification process with Galilee and thelawstore.com.au. As Galilee primarily services the financial industry, and thelawstore.com.au focuses on the financial, conveyancing, legal and real estate industries, obtaining this certification was a high priority for us. It’s no secret these industries are targets for cyber-attacks, so businesses are wary about what providers they choose. Getting this certification has given us a competitive edge, especially in a time where cyber security is so important to our clients. Our clients have the knowledge that we’ve undergone rigorous processes to ensure our operations, systems and solutions meet the expected security standards.
So, now that you know why it’s important to choose an ISO 27001 certified provider, where to next?
- If it’s not clear, ask your provider if they’re ISO certified.
- If they’re not, ask them if they plan on taking steps to achieve the certification.
- Consider making the switch to an ISO 27001 certified provider to ensure security in the world of ever-evolving cyber security threats.