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3 Ways to Instantly Minimize ISO Certification Disruption

3 Ways to Instantly Minimize ISO Certification Disruption

IT Management Standards

3 Ways to Instantly Minimize ISO Certification Disruption

Want to minimize ISO accreditation disruption to keep the timeframe in check. Accreditation usually takes 6, 12, or 18 months. Getting things done right the first time means less money, less manpower, and a better quality management system that will set your company up for success.

(Most small businesses can implement ISO in 3 months or less with Sync Resource.)

Here are 3 ways to minimize ISO accreditation disruption.

Plan

Have a solid plan to minimize ISO accreditation disruption. Implementing ISO is complex. There’s no winging it. As in every other area of life, plans reduce uncertainty. They make goals clear and specific. They get everyone on the same page about what they need to do and when.

When you plan, you give your team the tools they need to do their job well.

Pick the Right Leader to Minimize ISO Certification Disruption

Don’t just need the right plan for success. You need the right person to put that plan into action. To minimize ISO certification disruption and save time, someone in management is a good choice.

The quality system is really a Success System. A person who is respected inside the company that can focus on profitability and growth, and that has the decision-making power to enact change is set up perfectly to make quality choices.

If someone on the management team isn’t available, that’s okay. As long as the leader of ISO implementation is business-minded and has the support of management, you can be successful.

CLICK HERE to get a free gap analysis.

Consistent and Clear Documentation

Documenting your procedures is a lot of what ISO implementation is about. Documenting well is difficult.

Without clear direction, some of your employees will write down their process in 2 lines and others in 200. While this could reflect the difference in their jobs, the discrepancy usually reflects a difference in their writing style.

To minimize ISO certification disruption, make sure you give guidelines to your staff about documentation. Or having a third-party interview people and write down all procedures. Otherwise, there’s a risk of having to rewrite everything submitted.

Ready to get started? Schedule a call with us here.

We have tips that will minimize ISO certification disruption.

Become ISO 17025: 2017 accredited. Schedule a call with an ISO expert today! Or reply to this email or call us now at 1.678.257.2242 for faster service.

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Comparing ISO 27001 Standard and NIST Security Framework

Comparing ISO 27001 Standard and NIST Security Framework

IT Management Standards, NIST

Both the NIST security framework and the ISO 27001 standard deal with information security controls. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) mentions that ISO 27001 provides guidelines for the establishment of an information security management system (ISMS). Digital Guardian informs us that the NIST security framework is designed to shore up inefficiencies in a business’s information security plans. 

It’s immediately apparent that both of these methodologies share a common goal. However, they’re not interchangeable. This article delves into the similarities and differences between the NIST’s framework and ISO 27001.

The Structure of the ISO 27001

The ISO 27001 standard has ten (10) clauses that outline the critical information for applicants. The first three (3) clauses go over references, terms, and a basic understanding of the standard. The seven that follow are instrumental in helping businesses develop and finalize their ISMS. They define the business’s organizational context and probe whether the company’s leadership is committed to ensuring the standard’s success. 

Other steps ask about the business’s ability to anticipate information  security threats (cybersecurity and IT security) and manage its information security risk. The ISO standard examines the company’s established support network and suggests ways to improve and develop it. It then makes suggestions on the operation of the business’s ISMS. 

As with all ISO standards, there is a built-in system for self-improvement. The final clauses of the ISO 27001 document focus on evaluating the established system’s performance and how to improve those processes. Implementing this standard can bring benefits to businesses in several ways. We covered previously how the ISO 27001 standard can work in concert with project management.

ISO 27001 Annex A has 14 Domains with 114 controls. NIST covers 110 of these controls. 

Understanding the NIST Security Framework

Since both the ISO 27001 standard and the NIST framework have similar goals, it’s evident that there will be overlap between their implementations. However, while the ISO 27001 standard was designed for a specific purpose, the NIST framework is more open-ended. As such, any business that uses information technology stands to benefit from this framework. The NIST security framework relies on five overarching principles:

  • Identify: This step determines the risks that exist within the organization from a cybersecurity perspective. It’s similar to the fourth clause of ISO 27001.
  • Protect: Businesses that have cybersecurity risks need to protect the organization’s data and infrastructure from them. This protection either stops threats from occurring or minimizes the impact of those threats if they enter the system.
  • Detect: The longer a threat remains undetected on a system, the more havoc it can cause. This step allows businesses to find threats faster and neutralize them.
  • Respond: This step creates an organized response so that all parties know what they have to do. In a cybersecurity breach, time is crucial to success. Having everything planned out beforehand speeds up deployment and engagement.
  • Recover: This stage focuses on getting the business’s systems back online and working as usual. It addresses factors such as backup and restore times, and allows the company some recovery time to get back on track after an attack.

Similar Yet Different

There are distinct similarities in how these methodologies approach the problem of information security. The NIST framework is heavily flexible, which gives it a lot of room for application. However, this flexibility leaves the interpretation of the framework to the business implementing it. The ISO standard, on the other hand, is more focused on what it provides to companies. The defined, cyclical nature of the standard makes it ideal for a specific situation. Unfortunately, it’s not very flexible in application. Despite this, we’ve covered several ways how the ISO 27001 standard can benefit businesses.

If you’ve got questions about ISO 27001 or the NIST security framework, Contact Sync Resource. Let our experts help you to understand what each offers your business and which one is right for you.

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How the DOD Cyber Security Program Impacts Contractors

How the DOD Cyber Security Program Impacts Contractors

IT Management Standards, Quality Management Standards (QMS)

Military contractors are usually poised at the cutting edge of DOD cybersecurity programs. Their contributions help the US maintain the most impressive standing army in the world. Because of their position, they have always needed to have top-notch cybersecurity.

Before now, the US Government hasn’t had to put guidelines in place to enforce robust cybersecurity. That changed in June 2020, with the Cyber Security Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). According to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment (OUSD(A&S)), the CMMC combined several security standards and industry best practices to reduce the risk of threats to contractor systems.

The implementation of this certification has changed the way contractors do business. In this article, we’ll look at the measures that the DOD has implemented to ensure governmental data safety when working with contractors. We’ll also delve into how contractors can figure out if they comply with current standards.

No Longer an Honor-Based System

In the past, contractors needed to sign a document that stated that they followed industry best-practices regarding their Cyber Security. Unfortunately, recent events have forced the government to reconsider its stance. In March 2019, NBC News reported that Iranian-backed hackers gained access to contractor systems, acquiring sensitive data on government-funded projects. Because of the potential fallout associated with sensitive information, the Pentagon decided to take action. The CMMC resulted from consultation, which was designed to ensure that contractors complied with the security standards the government has come to expect from its contractors.

The Cyber Security Obligations for Contractors

The DOD Cyber Security program focuses on one specific clause. The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (“DFARS”) clause 252.204-70122, also known as the “7012 clause.” It has also been referred to as the Safeguarding Covered Defense Information and Cyber Incident Reporting clause. It’s an addition that puts the onus for identifying sensitive information on the contractor. Additionally, the contractor is responsible for ensuring the data they’ve deemed as sensitive remains secure.

Contractors need to be aware of the information they will receive. Typically, the 7012 clause deals with “covered defense information” (CDI). CDIs include unclassified controlled technical data and any information inside the controlled classified information registry. If interaction with a CDI is contained within the contract, the company needs to verify that its practices meet the demands of the DOD Cyber Security program recommendations.

DOD Cyber Security Program Guidelines

Among the guidelines that the DOD suggests for contractors are:

  • Security Standards: At a minimum, contractors should implement the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-171 (“NIST SP 800-171”). This implementation includes putting together a system security plan and an action plan. Both of these plans must be approved by DOD personnel.
  • Rapid Incident Reporting: After an incident occurs, contractors have up to seventy-two (72) hours to submit a report. Reportable incidents have an expansive definition. All accounts must be made to the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) portal and require contractors to have a DOD-approved Medium Assurance Certificate. Because of how tiny the reporting window is, contractors should apply for this certificate in advance.
  • Cloud Computing Standards: The DOD Cyber Security program has its own recommendations for cloud-based solutions. If the business has its own in-house cloud solution, it must implement the NIST SP 800-171. For those using third-party cloud suppliers, the vendors must align with the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (“FedRAMP”) Moderate baseline. Vendors must also comply with all obligations related to forensic analysis, media preservation, malicious software, and incident reporting, and damage assessment.

Relying On Your Business Practices

Contractors already have their own standards for operation regarding their cybersecurity departments. However, it doesn’t hurt to have a fallback position. Sync Resource has an understanding of the NIST cybersecurity framework that both the CMMC and the standard DOD cyber security program obligations require. If you’d like a third-party audit of your systems or just advice on how to improve them, give us a call. We’ll be glad to ensure that you’re fully compliant with the DOD Cyber Security standards.

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What is NIST Security Framework?

What is NIST Security Framework?

IT Management Standards

Established in 2014, the NIST security framework came about in response to a IS governmental mandate to secure the country’s critical IT infrastructure. Columbia Business School informs us that the NIST framework’s most recent iteration was released in April 2018. The NIST framework was a game-changer for several reasons. It set in place a generic framework that could be adapted by any business requiring cybersecurity. Organizations ranging from IT departments to IoT manufacturers have utilized their guidelines and practices. Despite this, many companies still ask what is NIST security framework, and should their organization use it? This article will explore what the NIST framework is and how it can help a business manage its cybersecurity risk.

The Functions of the NIST Framework

The framework is divided up into a series of five functions, namely:

  • Identify: Businesses understand the risk to their systems in the context of their entire organization.
  • Protect: The organization develops and implements safeguards to ensure that its critical infrastructure remains safe from cyber attacks.
  • Detect: Departments set up monitoring to ensure that, if a threat becomes present on the network, they can detect its presence and deal with it.
  • Respond: If a threat has been detected, the organization implements countermeasures the ensure that the risk is dealt with.
  • Recover: After the attack, the organization’s systems must return to working order. These measures ensure that the time needed for recovery is minimal and that all data can be retrieved.

These functions are broad and can be further subdivided into categories and subcategories. An in-depth exploration of these comes with implementing the NIST framework within an organization’s IT infrastructure.

The Tier System

The framework divides up organizations into tiers, depending on how well they implement the suggestions put forward by the NIST. These tiers can be used as benchmarks to compare one institution’s compliance against another. They are similar to the levels that you would find in an ISO standards implementation. We covered the process for ISO certification in a previous post. The Tier system in the NIST security framework is as follows:

  • Tier 1 Partial: The organization demonstrates a limited awareness of cybersecurity risk. Management of this risk is usually ad hoc and reactive. 
  • Tier 2 Risk-Informed: The institution is aware of the potential risk that cybersecurity breaches can have on their organization. Management adopts a just-in0time approach, handling threats as they happen.
  • Tier 3 Repeatable: organizations at this tier demonstrate a well-defined and repeatable cybersecurity policy. This policy informs all risk management.
  • Tier 4: Adaptable: At this stage, organizations will adapt their risk management policies based on experience and analytics of both their and other comparable approaches. This adaptability usually requires the organization to be part of a network that also implements the NIST security framework.

How Can These Tiers be Useful?

The tier system, as established by the NIST, allows companies to compare themselves to the rest of the industry. It removes the guesswork in what needs to be improved and will enable companies to forge their own path forward. Because of the framework’s open-ended nature, these tiers can be applied to any industry that needs to be concerned about cybersecurity. Using a nationally defined and accepted standard, organizations can conform to industry best practices and learn from others’ implementation.

Cybersecurity is a crucial part of your business. It’s about time you ensured that you understood the threats to your data and how to deal with them. While a business’s final adoption is ultimately their decision, having a consultant explain “what is NIST security framework” can be crucial to achieving compliance. Sync Resource has years of experience in supporting our clients through compliance testing and certification. Let us help you to meet the standards of the NIST framework and rise up the tier ranks.

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What Does ISO Stand For? 3 Powerful Letters

What Does ISO Stand For? 3 Powerful Letters

ISO 9001, IT Management Standards

You have heard the acronym ISO…  so what does ISO stand for? ISO refers to the International Organization for Standardization with a membership of 164 national standards of bodies. ISO is an international organization that develops standards of operations and establishes certifications. Why are businesses usually looking for certification?

ISO exists in almost all areas of industry, from medical devices to food safety, and many more. Each certification is classified with a separate number and has separate standards and criteria of evaluation.

So, what does ISO stand for and what is Certification?

ISO certification ensures the safety, quality, consistency, and effectiveness of products and services. Third parties conduct various rigorous tests on the organization seeking certifications. Once certified, the organization is tested for that particular ISO annually. ISO certification gives an organization recognized credibility.

What does ISO stand for?

What does ISO stand for and what is certification?

Since ISO has come into existence, the support to innovation has been off the charts. Members share their expertise and develop market-relevant international standards together. ISO standards are key to resolving industrial challenges.

Where Did ISO Come From?

After 1942, ISO replaced ISA (International Federation of the National Standardizing Association). This was right after the end of World War II. Naturally, everything was poorly affected by the war, including the quality of industrial life. With increased fraud and inconsistent services, there was a rise in the loss of credibility.

There were meetings held by UNSCC (United Nations Standards Coordinating Committee) on national standards. After a year of these meetings, a nongovernmental organization for international standards came into being in 1947 in the presence of a group of delegates from 25 countries. The main purpose was to write, draft, and publish standards.

ISO has a central secretariat in Geneva, Switzerland. The first standard published by ISO was in 1951, known as ISO/R 1: 1951. This was a standard for reference temperature for industrial length measurement, which is still used after many updates and is now known as ISO 1:2016.

To date, ISO has published over 22,000 international standards, both certifiable and non-certifiable and celebrated 70th anniversary in 2017.

What does ISO Stand for when You Get a Certification?

Well, the ISO standards not only safeguard the end-users but the owners and workers of businesses too. ISO is an important strategic tool that helps companies tackle some of the challenges that they face. Here we have listed down the benefits of using an ISO certification.

  • Reduces cost by minimizing blunders, errors, and waste
  • Reduces insurance fees
  • Makes the process and procedure of your business more robust
  • Heightens staff engagement and motivation
  • Enables organizations to compare their products in different markets directly
  • Aids in your future planning by freeing up time that you spend on fixing things that went astray to plans
  • Helps businesses enter new markets
  • Aids the development of global trade on an equality basis
  • Increases success in tenders by increasing credibility to customers
  • Improves customer satisfaction levels by ensuring consumers that the product or service adheres to the minimum standards set internationally

If you haven’t already been certified by ISO and have found all the above-listed reasons applicable to business, then consider implementing an ISO standard.

How Can You Get ISO Certified?

Obtaining ISO certifications requires time, effort, money, and careful consideration. Getting an ISO certification requires a process of four simple steps.

  1. Identify your core business processes, document them properly, and develop your management system. Distribute the document to all those that need assessing.
  2. Ensure proper implementation of your system as defined by your policies and documents.
  3. Measure, monitor, and review the effectiveness of your procedures and system.
  4. Select the appropriate auditing body and Register your business. Submit your management system documentation for review to ensure compliance with the local, international, and applicable standards.

Now you know the answer to the common question, “What does ISO stand for?” Yes, the process might seem complicated at first. However, all the efforts are worthwhile when you benefit from the improved process and control. Learn more about ISO certification costs.

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3 Ways to Instantly Minimize ISO Certification Disruption

3 Ways to Instantly Minimize ISO Certification Disruption

IT Management Standards

You want to minimize ISO certification disruption to keep your timeframe down. Certification usually takes 6, 12, or 18 months, which is long enough. Getting things done right the first time means less money, less manpower, and a better quality management system that will set your company up for success.

(Most small businesses can implement ISO in 3 months or less with Sync Resource.)

Here are 3 ways to minimize ISO certification disruption.

Plan

You need to have a good plan to minimize ISO certification disruption. Implementing ISO is complex. You can’t just go in and wing it. As in every other area of life, plans reduce uncertainty. They make goals clear and specific. They get everyone on the same page about what they need to do and when.

When you plan, you give your team the tools they need to do their job well.

Pick the Right Leader to Minimize ISO Certification Disruption

You don’t just need the right plan for success. You need the right person to put that plan into action. To minimize ISO certification disruption, someone in management is a good choice.

Your quality system is really your success system. A person who has the respect of the whole company, who can focus on profitability and growth, and who has the decision-making power to enact change is set up perfectly to make quality choices.

But if no one on the management team is available, that’s okay. As long as the leader of ISO implementation is business-minded and has the support of management, you can be successful.

CLICK HERE to get a free gap analysis.

Consistent and Clear Documentation

Documenting your procedures is a lot of what ISO implementation is about. Documenting well is difficult.

Without clear direction, some of your employees will write down their process in 2 lines and others in 200. While this could reflect the difference in their jobs, the discrepancy usually reflects a difference in their writing style.

To minimize ISO certification disruption, make sure you give guidelines to your staff about documentation. Or consider having a third party interview people and writing down all procedures. Otherwise, you risk having to rewrite everything submitted to you.

Ready to get started? Schedule a call with us here.

These tips are going to minimize ISO certification disruption. We have one more simple tip for you: make sure you know which ISO certification is right for you! 

Book A Call With An Expert Now