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What Is the ISO 27001 Benefit to Business? Understanding Security Compliance

What Is the ISO 27001 Benefit to Business? Understanding Security Compliance

ISO/IEC 27001

Businesses considering implementing this standard have to answer the question of what the ISO 27001 benefit to business is. The British Assessment Bureau informs us that ISO 27001 helps companies achieve an information security management system (ISMS) that allows the company to minimize or remove the chance of a data breach.

Data security isn’t a new concern for companies. The BBC mentions that cybersecurity is of the utmost importance to any business in the twenty-first century. However, while we are aware of how important data security is, how does this tie into the ISO 27001 benefit to business?

Data Integrity and Restoration

Data corruption can be a plague that can cause an entire company’s databases to buckle and collapse. Ensuring that individual records maintain their integrity is crucial to ensuring that the company can meet its mandate to clients and suppliers alike.

With integrated databases, minor corruption could cost a company quite a lot. There’s no way to isolate and repair the corrupted data. By implementing data security systems under the ISO 27001 standard, a business sets up a framework. This framework deals with data integrity and can help with compromised datasets.
Data organization, access control, and a specific backup protocol ensure that datasets remain viable and avoid corruption. Comparing the latest backup with the current version can help a company restore the damaged data without too much hassle.

Privacy of User Data

Another crucial ISO 27001 benefit to the business is increased privacy for the company’s data. An ISMS helps businesses avoid problems that arise if they fail to secure data appropriately. Access control, group management policies, and destruction of data no longer in use are crucial parts of an ISMS. They ensure that user information doesn’t leave the company’s servers or fall into the wrong hands.

ISO 27001 regulations keep businesses secure in knowing that the data they have on their systems are protected. It also helps to avoid messy legal battles associated with data leaks.

Intellectual Property Protection

Businesses all have their own intellectual property generated within the company. Protecting a business’s intellectual property (IP) ensures that it maintains its competitive edge. Risk management techniques can help spot issues with how the company currently deals with its IPs.

Once more, access controls per ISO 27001 are crucial in ensuring that the company keeps ahold of its intellectual property rights. Secure systems stop external access to the company’s IP records. This practice helps to create an impenetrable digital barrier to anyone who would seek to appropriate the company’s IPs.

Peace of Mind to Customers

Digital security is now a hot topic for many consumers. Data breaches have become commonplace, and most users have had account information from one or more large companies compromised in the past. The incidence of these occurrences makes them less likely to trust businesses with their data.

An ISO 27001 benefit to business that is often overlooked is increased confidence in the company’s data management. This certification allows clients to be aware of how the business manages data. Customers understand the steps that the firm undertakes to ensure that all data collected by the company is stored securely. They can also rest assured that the data is destroyed when no longer in use. These steps can go a long way towards convincing a client that they can trust their user data with the business.

ISO 27001 Benefit to Business – The Never-Ending Arms Race

Business security is always about staying one step ahead of malicious actors. By implementing the guidelines set forward under ISO 27001, a company can apply industry best practices that may help them avoid problems with their data security. If you’re looking at implementing a new ISMS, we’ve got you covered. Maybe you need to audit the ISMS the business already has with the aim of certification? Contact Sync Resource today. We’d be glad to help you make your business data management a more secure process.

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Bits and Bytes – The No. 1 Formula for Learning the Benefits of How to get ISO Certification for Software Company

Bits and Bytes – The No. 1 Formula for Learning the Benefits of How to get ISO Certification for Software Company

ISO 9001, ISO/IEC 27001

Understanding how to get ISO certification for software company brings a lot of potential and possibilities for a small business. Certification underlines the company’s dedication to upholding industry standards.

Indeed reinforces this by stating that ISO certification establishes credibility within the industry and increases consumer trust with their service provider.

Many software companies avoid ISO certification because they don’t think the standards apply to their industry.

This opinion isn’t strictly true. Software companies stand to benefit from implementing two essential ISO standards: ISO 9001 and ISO 27001.

In this article, we’ll delve into what these certifications are and what they bring to the table for software companies.

Defining The Standards for How to Get ISO Certification for Software Company

Software companies, like many small businesses, utilize several standard practices. ISO 9001, as we previously explained, deals with establishing a quality management service within the company.

The International Standards Organization itself states that certifications from the ISO 9000 family help businesses to maintain the quality of their products and customer service through an iterative methodology.

In particular, software companies depend upon excellent customer support and high-quality products to help make a name for themselves and stand out from the competition.

Another vital certification that software companies shouldn’t overlook is ISO 27001.

We’ve touched on how this particular certification can be critical to small businesses since it deals primarily with data protection.

The International Standards Organization mentions that the ISO 27001 certification offers peace of mind when it comes to data security by helping a business establish an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

How to Get ISO Certification for Software Company – The Steps Involved

Each of these ISO certification standards has its own requirements, and as such, we will be covering each one separately.

ISO 9001

In a previous post, we mentioned a simplified 5-step process that a company could undertake to achieve ISO 9001 certification. For those who missed that post, the five steps we mentioned are:

  1. Get Informed:
    Source basic and essential information about the ISO certification process. Companies should start by designating a member of staff as the “point person” for this process, making them the go-to person for all ISO-related issue.
  2. Prepare Documentation:
    ISO 9001 is heavily based on documentation. At this stage, a company should be getting the documents they currently have and note the materials they lack compared to what the standard requires.
  3. Implement Certification Requirements:
    Using the information generated from the previous step, a company can note its weakest areas and its lack of documentation. Taking into account the requirements for certification, the company can see where they comply with the regulations entirely, partially, or not at all.
  4. Internal Audit:
    Once the company has arranged its documentation, it can undergo an internal audit. At this stage, the company inspects its documentation and compares it to the requirements. Glaring errors can be picked up and rectified here, and the company may need to go through multiple internal audits before it’s ready for the next step.
  5. External Audit and Certification:
    A third-party certification body will visit the company in the final step and perform a thorough audit of the company’s documents and system improvements. If it meets the standards, the company will achieve ISO 9001 certification.

ISO 27001

We also outlined a detailed methodology of how a company can obtain ISO 27001 certification in a past post. The process is a bit more involved, covering eleven steps:

  1. Identify objectives
  2. Get management on board with the plan
  3. Ensure the scope of the project is acceptable
  4. Develop an ISMS brief covering the policy
  5. Define the Methodology for Risk Assessment and the Strategy the company intends to pursue
  6. Develop a risk treatment plan and manage the risks that already exist within the system
  7. Create policies to take on risks
  8. Define the resources required for implementing those policies and train the staff to be more aware of the implementation process
  9. Monitor the ISMS after it goes online
  10. Prepare for an internal audit
  11. Have management review the ISMS periodically for improvements or updates

Certification Raises Marketability

A company that learns how to get ISO certification for software company raises its stature on the open market. Businesses know they can trust ISO certified companies. As a result, those companies tend to get more consideration compared to others in tendering processes around the world.

If you’d like to have a more competitive business, contact Sync Resource today, and let’s help you achieve how to get ISO certification for software company.

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What is ISO Certification?

What is ISO Certification?

General

What is ISO Certification? The International Standards Organization (ISO) has outlined a series of requirements for standardization and quality assurance. The ISO is an internationally recognized body that is responsible for developing standards of quality assurance. The ISO itself doesn’t grant certification. Instead, the certification comes from a third-party organization that is responsible for ensuring that companies who want to be certified adhere to the ISO’s requirements. Certification is usually a requirement for bidding on individual contracts.

What is ISO Certification for?

Businesses that want to increase their marketability should think about certification. The International Standards Organization is recognized worldwide as an organization that focuses on maintaining quality. As a result, certification makes a business more likely to be chosen as a contract awardee.

Where Can a Business Get Certified?

Several third-party organizations exist that allow for certification. The process for accreditation differs for each organization. The cost for smaller businesses will be less than for larger firms. At its core, the ISO certification process deals with ensuring that a company documents its processes extensively. In addition to the initial assessment, companies that are certified will need to undergo periodic audits to retain the certification. The certification process has several steps, including:

Preparation: The company decides whether it wants to hire a consultant or undertake the certification process themselves. Consultants can help the business because of their knowledge of the certification process, saving the business time. If you’re interested in getting professional advice with your ISO application, contact us today.

Documentation: Businesses should document their quality management systems. Ideally, a business should spend time documenting every detail of its management systems. More documentation is better than less.

Implement the System: After outlining the system, it’s up to the business to ensure they apply the processes. The aim is to incorporate the [process improvements into the daily function of employees.

Internal Audits: Certification requires both internal and external audits. the internal audits happen first, usually conducted by the company’s lead ISO certification personnel. The audit helps the business to understand where it needs improvement to conform to the requirements of the ISO.

External Audits and Certification: the final part of the process relies on third-party auditors that are part of an ISO registrar. These businesses audit a company to ensure that it conforms to the guidelines set out by the ISO. If they do, then the company is granted certification.

What is ISO Certification Process?

While the best-case scenario runs between six to eight weeks, typically, there is no set period for a company to attain certification. On starting the process, a business usually gets a letter that they can include with any tender submissions to show that they are in the process of obtaining ISO certification. After the company attains certification, they will receive an announcement letter that states their compliance.

Why Should a Business Get ISO Certification?

Aside from making the business more marketable, there are a few essential points that certification addresses. Certified companies will demand greater respect within their industry. Their business processes will demonstrate a higher level of consistency and control as long as they conform to the requirements. Customers particularly will have the peace of mind that the business is certified to follow best-practices. Additionally, companies that maintain ISO standards have to keep employee training in line with those requirements. Its employees, therefore, have a firmer grasp of the organization’s goals and procedures. This translates into better employee performance.

What is ISO Certification Time Frame?

As mentioned before, companies that are certified need to undergo periodic audits to ensure they retain the certification. These occur yearly. In these audits, the auditing body examines the company’s quality management system to ensure that it conforms to the ISO’s standards. After three years, a re-certification audit happens. A company has the chance to lose its certification because of severe violations. Occasionally, auditors might allow for some leeway to businesses that are in danger of losing their ISO certification to make changes.

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Critical ISO Certification Advertising Rules

Critical ISO Certification Advertising Rules

General

ISO Certification Advertising Rules

A bunch of congratulation for achieving ISO certification!

You have just finished your ISO audit and have been handed over a brand new ISO certificate.

Reward your internal audit on special notes by offering them monetary bonuses  as token of appreciation, customized mugs, shirts, calendars and diaries with your company’s logo on is another smart marketing technique. The first thing you should do is to celebrate the achievement with your team, shoot out an email of admiration to everyone, you can hold a press conference and prepare a press release, display banner of announcement on your website but what to do afterwards. Below you will find guidelines in order to understand how to market yourself.

What are the ISO Certification Advertising Rules?

Having ISO certification can give you competitive edge among your competitors. Here are few effective enlisted ways to use your ISO certification as a lethal marketing weapon.

ISO Certification Advertising Rules – How to Display ISO Certificate?

Displaying a hanging copy of ISO certificate on your reception desk or your entrance is also not a bad idea but more effective ways to display such strong marketing weapons are to display on corporate events, on your workers’ uniform or on exhibition standees.

ISO Certification Advertising Rules – Using the ISO Logo  Offline

You can have the certification mark on your company’s letterhead, documents, business cards, flyers, handouts or stationary.

Using the Logo On Online Basis

Include the certification mark on the home page of your website and at your social media digital banners so that online audience should get to know about the improvement that you have accomplished in your business. There are few ISO Certification Advertising Rules that you need to know before placing ISO logos anywhere. These are:

(a). Using the complete name of your certification is mandatory.

(b). Sometimes in certain cases, you need to include your certification number also.

(c). please keep in consideration that ISO certification have been granted on your management system not the products itself.

(d). Do not claim certification outside the scope of your business.

About Your Organization

While writing a description of your company’s profile, it is advisable to write few lines about ISO  certification that you have so far succeeded to achieve along with the list of potential clients that you have worked for in your past and are satisfied with your products’ and services quality.

Inclusion In Email Signature

Do include a statement about ISO certification achievement in your email signature as the statement written in the end of your email will definitely be read by your clients, customers or your vendors/suppliers leading to enhanced credibility of your company in marketplace.

Target Print Media

Prepare an effective, short and crisp press release and send it to local and international newspapers agency and business magazines so that your message can reach to your target market.

Marketing Via Blog

A blog post regarding your ISO certification and your journey to all the way of achieving it can be posted accompanied with your celebration pictures with your team can really boost confidence of your peers working under you, your present customers and other potential clients of yours.

Email Marketing

Design a beautiful newsletter with catchy headlines explaining your ISO certification success so that readers can know how you are able to offer everyone improved services. Remember, spamming can take you into deep troubles so avoid it by all means!

Making the Most Of Social Media Platform

A tweet or a post can connect you to the right audience in few blinks. Make yourself socially active on social media by regularly engaging your audience and by boosting your posts and social media activity on paid basis.

Healthy Networking With Past, Present and Future Clients

The power of human touch cannot be ignored. You can host an open day session, an orientation day or a simple networking event can help to connect you with people who are interested in your business, your products and your services. Furthermore, you will get to find many suppliers who will be seeking someone like you to supply their products and services to you so that their portfolio can come in better competitive shape.   

Don’ts of ISO certification Marketing

There are few rules and regulations by which an organization has to abide by them. Enlisted below are some safe ISO marketing tips and tricks that will sink you into hot waters.

Claim and ISO Certification Advertising Rules

If you are owner of more than one companies and any one of your company has got ISO certification successfully then you can only market ISO certification of that company who has got ISO certification successfully and not for the other one that has not got ISO certification. Wrong advertisement can result in legal actions against your organization.

Usage of ISO logo

One cannot really use ISO logo nor can you alter the logo in any way for using it any of your endorsements. One cannot put logo on the products or package of the product.

Mention Complete Name of the ISO standard

ISO Certification Advertising Rules state you must always mention complete name and version of the ISO standard. Delivering half knowledge is one of the bad practice of ISO certification marketing.

ISO Accreditation

Please remember that there is no such thing as ISO accreditation and you cannot claim it so. Legal action can be taken against your organization on wrong public claims.

 

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ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System Performance Evaluation

ISO 9001:2015 – Quality Management System Performance Evaluation

Quality Management Standards (QMS)

A quality management system (QMS) is a formulized system that documents processes, procedures and responsibilities for achieving policies and objectives. A quality management system (QMS) provides a basic cadre to meet customer requirements and legal requirements and improve the effectiveness and efficiency on a continuous basis, by not compromising on the productivity and loss of time. ISO 9001:2015, the international standard specifies the requirements for effective quality management systems and is the most prominent approach to quality management systems.

Evaluating Quality Managements System:

1. Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis and Evaluation:

The ISO standard emphasizes on process approach and the review or checking phase. The standard describes that what type of data is to be collected, how data is interpreted and what actions to be taken against the data. ISO registration or internal audits based on quality costs, customer response or elimination of errors measure the effectiveness.

a. Quality Reports:

Quality Management System effectiveness lies in the record of quality department for that purpose quality reports must be designed and implemented on regular basis. These reports must not be just a showoff rather for the analysis and must base on reality so that reality base decision making can be done.

b. Quantify the quality:

Value measurements that demonstrates a quality system’s effectiveness in terms of rework or scrap costs clearly provides a cause and effect relationship between quality and profit. If scrap and rework costs are in defined limits then Quality Management System is working effectively.

c. Production Error Rate (Rejection Rate):

Every production system involves the four factors (Man, Machine, Method, and Material) contribute potentially in quality. Product errors range from 2 percent to 5 percent. If the product error is in control limits then the System is working effectively otherwise some serious actions are needed to be taken.

d. Quality Defect Reports:

Customer satisfaction can be used as a yardstick for measurement of effectiveness of Quality Management System. Feedback reports can help a lot in this manner from the consumer side. Highlighted issues must be resolved in proper and serious way.

3. Customer Satisfaction:

Data about the extent of customer satisfaction must be collected, analyzed and monitored to ensure that quality is aligned with customer’s expectation. Data can be collected through surveys, quality defect reports, warranty claims, sales channel reports. On time delivery and order accuracy must be included in the data collection.

4. Analysis and Evaluation of data:

Collected data shows the performance of quality management system that’s why data must be analyzed and evaluated to suggest corrective and preventive measures accordingly.

  • Internal Audit:

Planned Periodic Internal Audit confirm that the efficacy of QMS. A formal internal audit program needs to be established and results of the internal audits are used to make corrections and improvements in the system.

  • Management Review Meetings:

Management review meetings conducted periodically help to manage the change and to properly address the improvements suggested previously.

Benefits of Effective Quality Management System:

Implementation of an effective quality management system has very significant impacts in every aspect of an organization’s performance. Two important benefits of implementation of documented quality management systems are:

  • External Benefits (Meeting the customer’s requirements):
  1. Improves: Product and service quality, Customer satisfaction, Repeat sales, Company Image, Market Value
  2. Reduces: Complaints, Warranty claims, rejection ratio,
  • Internal Benefits (Meeting the organization’s requirements):
  1. Improves: Management efficiency, Planning, Problem Solving, Supplier Control, Communications, Change Management, Discipline, Staff Morale, Training program, growth, Profit
  2. Reduces: Over processing, Over Production, Travelling, Rework, Waste, Costs(Direct or Indirect), Staff turnover, Absentees, Production Delays

Improvement of image and credibility:

Quality management system is based on ISO 9001 which is internationally recognized standard. An effective quality management system ensures the consistent production of good quality products and that’s why helping in improve the image of the company. When companies look for supplier, it is often a requirement to have quality management system or company is ISO certified. So, certification can be used as a powerful tool when in competition with other companies.

Improvement of customer satisfaction:

The ultimate goal of a quality management system is to meet or exceed the customer’s expectation by providing good quality products with a continuous improvement plan. Customer satisfaction is one of the quality management principles. Loyalty of the customer is linked with its satisfaction and it helps in retention of the customer. At the end loyal customers bring in more revenues and profits.

Improvement in processes:

ISO 9001 emphasizes on process approach and devise a plan for continual improvement, by finding out the flaws and issues associated with the processes. These issues may include like travelling, inventory, wastes, unbalanced lines, unequal distribution of workers and not efficiently using the workers skills. This can be done by having an improvement plan for the timely maintenance of the machines and training of the workers to hone their skills. Skill development plan for the staff can better help in it.

Evidence based decision making:

Collected data and a comprehensive analysis and results obtained from it provides basis for decision making. A good decision is that which is made on actual place, in actual conditions and on actual time. Gemba Walks (Genchi Gembutsu) can be conducted to realize the reality of problem and help in analyze the situation.

Effective change management:

Change management is also a key factor which is a hurdle as well as an opportunity for the improvement of the business. Workers and staff always oppose the change because they do not want to come out of their comfort zone. That’s why an effective change management plays its role here and convinces the workers that this improvement is a good improvement both for them and company. To overhead this, awareness sessions can be conducted, in which workers and staff is told about the benefits of the new system and how will new system help them and increase efficiency and productivity. Benefits may be related to ease in work, better environment, better health activities and Pollution free environment.

Change implementation is a tough task because it involves a complete change of mind of working staff. That’s why ISO standard focuses on continual improvement rather than a complete and abrupt change.

Relations improvement between supplier and vendors:

Firm must know that their relationship with other parties in the supply chain impacts on overall success of the firm. It is better to develop a strong bond with suppliers and customers by mutual understanding. An effective Quality Management System provides a frame work to evaluate the vendors on the basis of their quality and on time supply schedule. For evaluation of vendors audits are best way.

Better Control of records and documents:

Documents are the evidence of judging the improvement or effectiveness of a system and they are evidence of conformity to the requirements of ISO standards. Therefore, quality management system provides better control of documents which are easily identifiable and retrievable when needed.

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