The safeguarding of information and the integrity of data stored in the cloud is in the mind of most businesses at the moment. With recent revelations about personal data being used without consent along with the introduction of GDPR across Europe, companies of all sizes are having to take a closer look at where their data is stored and what procedures are in place to protect it.
That’s why it is so important when choosing a hosting partner that you choose a company that has achieved both ISO27001 and ISO9001 certification. ISO9001 is an international standard which provides a basis for any company to measure customer satisfaction and improvement. While ISO27001 helps to identify the risks and threats that affect your data confidentiality, integrity and availability.
So as the threat of data breaches continues to rise, here are 10 compelling reasons why you should use an ISO27001 / ISO9001 registered hosting partner:
Helps manage risk
ISO27001 helps to identify vulnerabilities and threats to information and data across the network, allowing IT staff to effectively manage information security risks. By implementing best practice security controls, potential risks can be mitigated and data breaches prevented from happening.
Proves resilience in the event of a disaster
By having both ISO27001 / ISO9001 in place proves your hosting partner is ready for any eventuality. Not only are best practice security policies in place but policies also exist for the continuation of business should a data breach take place. This allows your business to maintain the integrity of your information while forensic investigations are carried out.
Gives stakeholders peace of mind
ISO27001 / ISO9001 gives you peace of mind that the organisation has invested in security and procedural best practices in order to safeguard both its own reputation and that of its customers. This saves you the time and expense of carrying out an audit yourself, allowing you to sleep soundly at night knowing your data is safe.
Helps you win new business
If your business involves storing sensitive customer information, proving you use an ISO27001 / ISO9001 accredited hosting partner can help you win new business. Potential customers like to know their data is stored safely and that proper procedures are in place to ensure that data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Minimises financial loss in the event of a disaster
By implementing best security practices the risk of financial loss due to a data breach is significantly reduced. While no certification can reduce the risks entirely, having best practices in place can help minimise the risk of your data being compromised.
Implements proved processes
ISO27001 / ISO9001 provides a framework for implementing best practice across both information security and customer satisfaction domains. The two certifications are quite different but work hand in hand to ensure your companies data is kept safe and that you are kept up to date on the risks your data is exposed to and the procedures that are implemented to protect you from those risks.
Allows the continual improvement of services
The world of IT security is constantly evolving, so it is important that any systems in place are continually evaluated to ensure they provide adequate protection in an ever-changing landscape. ISO27001 ensures that best security practices are deployed and that updated procedures are implemented as they become available, giving you peace of mind that your data is safe from the prying eyes of hackers.
Provides regulatory compliance
ISO27001 can help you meet the requirements of various governing bodies and regulations around the world. In the UK the data protection act requires that companies have procedures in place to ensure customer data is kept safe, while the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the US, also requires such procedures are in place.
Worldwide recognition across industries
Both certifications are recognised across the world and are crucial if you want to expand your business abroad. Many companies in the US and Europe will insist on you having proper procedures in place to protect their data. This is particularly true if you intend to target organisations in the public sector.
Prove you have strong corporate compliance in place
Finally, many companies and organisations expect you to have strong corporate compliance in place before they do business with you. This is not just relevant for organisations that operate in highly regulated industries such as finance, but most industries these days will expect you to prove you have compliance policies in place. Ensuring your hosting partner is ISO27001 / ISO9001 certified will go a long way to showing that you take storing their data seriously.
Together these two standards provide a powerful platform to help ensure your hosting partner can keep your data safe and that they deliver on their promise of data integrity and customer satisfaction. While no certification can completely eliminate the risk of your data being compromised, by ensuring you partner with an ISO27001 / ISO9001 certified company you can go a long way to reducing the risks.
catalyst2 is proud to be ISO27001 and ISO9001 certified. If you have any questions please feel free to contact us.
