ISO 27001 audits are a key step on the road to certification. Once an internal audit gives a clean bill of health, the external audit follows.
The process includes an initial review, a gap analysis, a series of tests, and monitoring your ISMS. Once passed, an extensive Recertification Audit is required every three years to maintain your ISMS’s compliance.
What Is Information Security Management System?
An ISMS is a system of policies and procedures to manage information security within an organization. It helps companies protect proprietary information assets, such as financial data, customer information and intellectual property, while also helping them meet legal compliance and regulatory requirements.
To become ISO 27001 certified, organizations must undergo an internal audit every year. This audit checks whether the organisation’s ISMS meets the Standard’s expectations. It also provides an opportunity for employees to provide feedback and help improve the ISMS.
What Is An Internal Audit?
During an internal ISO 27001 audit, your auditor examines your organization’s ISMS to ensure it meets the standards required for certification. They look at documents, perform tests and talk to employees to see how the system works in practice.
Whether you are going through the process of getting certified or simply enhancing your IT security, your organization will benefit from an ongoing program of internal audits. Regular audits allow you to identify and manage information risks, as well as improve your existing systems by implementing changes suggested by the external audits.
It is important for internal audits to be conducted by an independent team. This is to prevent conflict of interest and ensure that the auditor can provide a fair and objective evaluation.
What Is An External Audit?
A business that wants to be ISO 27001 certified will need to pass an external audit. This audit is conducted by an independent auditor (one person or a professional audit firm) that examines the company’s financial statements. In most cases, these audits are required by law. For example, in the United States, publicly traded companies must have their finances audited annually. An external audit will provide an official “audit opinion” which establishes whether or not the company’s financial reports give a true and fair picture of the business’ operations and financial affairs over the auditing period.
What Is The Certification Process?
Once you’ve been through the ISO 27001 audit process and your ISMS is certified, you’ll be required to undergo a series of Periodic Surveillance Audits in order to maintain compliance. These audits will be conducted by the same auditor who performed your certification audit to make sure that your system is continuing to run like a well-oiled machine.
For the surveillance audits, your auditor will review documentation that includes the documented scope of your ISMS, ISMS policies and objectives, risk assessment report, statement of applicability and your internal audit and management reviews.