In the world of cybersecurity, one certification rules supreme.

It's the big daddy. The unstoppable champ. Legend has it, if you say its name three times into a mirror, you'll summon a being of unimaginable power.

It's…

(Pause for effect.)

...ISO 27001.

OK, we know it sounds like a form you'd fill in to set up a Direct Debit. But believe us, ISO 27001 has some serious clout in security circles.

But what exactly is it? And why should a business like yours care?

Fear not. By the end of this post, you'll know the answers to these questions and more. Consider this your ultimate beginners' guide to ISO 27001 and all its arcane secrets.

What's an ISO anyway?

ISO is almost an acronym (but not quite) for the International Organisation for Standardisation, the world's most notable developer of technical and commercial standards.

When you see the word ISO followed by a string of numbers, this refers to a specific standard laid out by the organisation. The organisation has been churning these out since 1947, so as you can imagine, there are now standards covering all sectors and every imaginable facet of business.

Best of all, ISO standards are globally recognised and universally respected.

What's ISO 27001?

Published in 2005, ISO 27001 is the specific standard relating to information security. Its primary focus is on the confidentiality, availability and integrity of data.

Confidentiality: data should be available only to those with proper authorisation.

Availability: data should be available to authorised persons when they need it.

Integrity: only authorised persons should be able to amend data.

ISO 270001 is part of a growing family, which includes more than 50 individual standards. These cover everything from digital forensics to sector-specific guidelines.

Don't worry about these. ISO 27001 is the one that's most relevant to most businesses. And – bonus – it's the most widely recognised among customers too.

Why should I invest in ISO 27001 certification?

Two big reasons.

Reason one: it helps your business implement rock-solid security practices.

This is increasingly important, as cybercrime is an ever-growing threat – a shocking four in ten businesses experienced a cyber attack in 2021.

In this climate, exceptional protection is just good common sense. Being a victim of cybercrime is inevitably costly and reputation damaging. And, if customer data is compromised, it can result in hefty GDPR fines too.

Nevertheless, when you have a business to run, it's hard to organise and implement cutting-edge security protocols. ISO 27001 security certification provides a proven framework for doing so.

Reason two: it shows customers and stakeholders that you're taking their data seriously.

The public is increasingly security aware. Many of us have fallen victim to data leaks already, and have become pickier about the organisations we entrust with our information.

ISO 27001 is the world's most esteemed standard for information security. Getting certified proves to customers that you're serious about protecting their data.

Plus, because it's globally recognised, you can rely on its stellar reputation wherever you do business. In fact, in certain situations, compliance with the standard is a legal requirement. This means it could help you win contracts you'd otherwise be locked out from.

Great, I'll just put "get ISO 27001 certified" in my diary for next Thursday, then?

Woah there. Hold your digital horses.

Becoming ISO 27001 certified is not for the faint of heart. It requires serious investments in terms of time, cash and mental energy.

Don't get us wrong – the more companies that get certified, the better. And when you work with us, we go above and beyond to make the process go as smoothly as possible.

But even with our help, the accreditation process can take upwards of 12 months.

If you're based in the UK and you're looking for a "quick fix" for your cybersecurity, you might want to consider Cyber Essentials (or its big brother, Cyber Essentials Plus).

Cyber Essentials is, like ISO 27001, a security certification. However, while ISO 27001 is as in-depth as it gets, Cyber Essentials helps you implement some basic security safeguards.

This might sound like faint praise, but that couldn't be further from the truth. By implementing these simple defences, you could protect your business from 80% of the most common cyber attacks.

It's not exactly easy to get Cyber Essentials certified (at least if you're going it alone, wink wink). But you could expect to gain your certificate in a matter of weeks, not months.

No. I'm serious. Security is my number one priority and I want ISO 27001 certification with all the bells and whistles.

Hooray! Welcome to the club.

It's a big commitment, but ISO 27001 is the world's gold standard for online security. You'll be joining an exclusive few who have invested in leading-edge data protection.

Next, we'll teach you the secret handshake and invite you to your initiation ceremony in our underground laboratory.

OK, not really. But you should be proud that you're taking the leap, and we'd be happy to come up with a secret handshake if you like.

Here's how it works… seriously this time:

1. You sign up for a free, no-obligation consultation. This gives us a chance to say hello and get to know your business. If, at this stage, we think ISO 27001 certification isn't for you, we'll tell you.

2. We conduct a full audit of your current IT and security infrastructure. This allows us to identify any serious problems straight away and gives us a solid foundation to work from.

3. We offer support and advice throughout the process, helping you bolster existing protocols and upgrade systems where necessary. You get solid, jargon-free advice and access to our 24/7 support lines.

This might be a good spot to point out that we're ISO certified ourselves, and have more than 340 five-star reviews on Google. We're boasting, sure, but that's because we're proud of what we do and the exceptional service we provide.

Interested? Book your free introductory meeting today. (And if you want more tech tips like this, sign up to our Knowledge Hub newsletter.)