ISO 27001 is a specification for the management of information security. It is applicable to all sectors of industry and not confined to just information held on computers. Information may be printed or written on paper, stored electronically, transmitted by post or email, shown on films, or spoken in conversation.

• Confidentiality, ensuring that access to information is appropriately authorised
• Integrity, safeguarding the accuracy and completeness of information and processing methods
• Availability, ensuring that authorized users have access to information when they need it

The objective of ISO 27001 certification is to ensure that there are adequate confidentiality, integrity and availability controls in place to safeguard the information of interested parties. These include clients, employees, trading partners and consumers. Unprotected systems are vulnerable to an array of threats, including computer-assisted fraud, sabotage and viruses. Such threats can be internal or external, accidental or malicious. Breaches in information security can allow vital information to be accessed, stolen, corrupted or lost. Information is now globally accepted as being a vital asset for most organisations. Therefore the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of corporate and customer information may be essential to maintain competitive edge, cash-flow, profitability, legal compliance and commercial image. The ISO 27001 standard is intended to assist with these risks. It is easy to imagine the consequences and damage to a brand or organisation if its information was lost, destroyed, corrupted, burnt, flooded, sabotaged or misused. An information security management system compliant to ISO 27001 can help you demonstrate to clients and suppliers that you take information security seriously. You will gain a competitive advantage; an ever-growing number of companies require certification to ISO 270001 as a prerequisite for doing business. You will be able to make a public statement of capability without revealing your security processes. And by ensuring controls are in place, you reduce the risk of security threats and prevent systems from being exploited. Whatever the media the information takes, or means by which it is shared or stored, the ISO 27001 standard assists in providing a system approach an organisation ensure it is always appropriately protected.

Demonstration of credibility and trust	Proven business credentials
Establishes that laws and regulations are being met	Openings in new markets
Ensures commitment to on-going information security	Customer satisfaction
Provides confidence to stakeholders, customer, trading partners, employees

The main requirements of the standard can be categorised as follows:

Security policy	Communications and operations management
Organisational security	Access control
Asset classification and control	System development and maintenance
Personnel security	Business continuity management
Physical and environmental security	Compliance with legislation