Information Security Management is the first line of defence for a company against a range of threats, including data breaches, ransomware attacks, and malicious intrusions. With cyber attacks growing in frequency and sophistication, organisations of all sizes face unprecedented risks to their operations, finances, and reputation.
Almost 54% of international business leaders believe the cybersecurity risk to their organisation has increased over the past 12 months.2 The financial and reputational damage inflicted by a cyber attack can be immense. Organisations operating in every sector – manufacturing, construction, retail, wholesale, health, ICT and all others – are at risk of these threats daily. The cost of recovery from an Information Security Management Breach can often exceed the investment required for preventative cybersecurity measures.
Stewart Hickey, Head of Business Excellence, NSAI said:
“Standards and certification can be used by companies to underpin both legal and ethical obligations with respect to information security management and GDPR. Standards provide an important means to give technical effect to a principle or regulation in a way that can be evaluated, compared and certified, thereby offering a compliance pathway. Consequently, every business must protect itself – and ISO/IEC 27001 can help you identify the essential tools and skills to do this. Organisations need to be aware of the most serious threats so they can protect their reputation and finances. ISO/IEC 27001 equips companies with protocols and procedures that minimise the chance of a cybersecurity breach.”
The National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is urging firms in Ireland to be aware of the importance of cyber security. Cyber criminals are constantly developing new ways to steal data, demand ransoms, and disable IT systems. Any business, large or small, is a potential target. Tackling these ever-evolving dangers can’t be just another management talking point- it is a matter of corporate survival.
Conor Dowling, Director of Managed Services with ProCloud, commenting on the benefits undertaking the ISO/IEC 27001 certification process said:
“We applied for and achieved ISO/IEC 27001 certification for how we manage security for our own business, and the benefit of this also extends to our clients. We look after their security, so that gives them confidence. There is a huge concern and consciousness regarding cybersecurity in today’s climate. We also found that the benefits extend to ProCloud’s own staff as we now have clear processes in place from the moment an employee starts with us, so they feel confident and secure in their management of our systems and handling of information on behalf of clients. We would recommend ISO/IEC 27001 to any company looking to improve their cyber resilience and protect the security of their business”.
Certification to ISO standards is a significant step for any company. The NSAI are hosting free webinars so you can find out more about what is involved and how you can help your company secure itself against today’s most serious cyber threats. Places are limited and you can register at nsai.ie/27001 for the upcoming webinar dates; November 30th 2023, December 6th 2023, and January 25th 2024.
You can also download a free self-assessment tool to help analyse your current Information Security Management status and how ISO/IEC 27001:2022 could enhance it. Prepare your company now for 2024 – regardless of the size of your business or the sector in which you operate, cybersecurity needs to be a priority.
2 https://www.mazars.ie/Home/
