ISO 27001 Certification (Security)
Blueprint Information Security is an independent, Melbourne-based consultancy that helps Australian organisations achieve and maintain ISO 27001 certification. We custom-design and implement Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) that gain certification and, more importantly, keep working efficiently and effectively for the business afterwards. We have guided organisations from very small businesses to large enterprises through the process since 2008, across industries including SaaS, finance, health, datacentre, legal, NFP and government.
Contact us or call 1300 977 774 to discuss your certification goals.
What is ISO 27001?
ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally recognised standard for information security management. Developed by a global panel of security experts and maintained by ISO and the IEC, it is the benchmark that customers, regulators, boards and insurers often use to judge whether an organisation manages information security properly.
The standard sets out the requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS) – a risk-based framework for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and continually improving information security.
Certification is issued by an accredited, independent certification body after an initial two-stage audit. Blueprint can help you prepare for that audit.
Why Australian organisations pursue ISO 27001
Most of our clients seek ISO 27001 certification for these reasons:
- Winning and keeping contracts. Enterprise, government and international customers increasingly require ISO 27001 in tenders and vendor security assessments.
- Demonstrating due diligence. Certification gives boards, insurers and regulators objective evidence that security risk is being well managed, which can be particularly relevant to organisations with obligations under the Privacy Act, APRA CPS 234, SOCI and similar regimes.
- Reducing real risk. A well-built ISMS identifies your most important information security risks and the most effective and efficient controls to mitigate them.
- Structuring security activities. ISO 27001 turns ad hoc security activity into a repeatable management process with clear ownership.
- Building on existing certifications. Organisations already certified to ISO 9001, 14001, 45001 or 42001 can integrate an ISMS into their existing management system with far less effort.
Our ISO 27001 consulting services
We tailor our involvement to how much help you need. Typical engagements include:
Gap assessment
A structured review of your current security practices against ISO 27001, resulting in a comprehensive but plain-English roadmap to compliance.
ISMS design and implementation
Including the development of the certification scope, risk management tooling, policies, procedures, registers and control selection – built around how your organisation actually operates, not generic templates.
Risk assessment and treatment
A practical information risk assessment that identifies your key assets and threats and selects controls on the basis of risk, rather than box-ticking.
Policies and documentation
Development of a lean, clear and maintainable document suite. We write information security and AI policies that people can understand and achieve.
Internal audits
Conducting regular independent internal audits to review continuing effectiveness and avoid any surprises during certification audits.
Ongoing ISMS maintenance / virtual CISO services
Support for maintaining the ISMS and keeping it current as your business, technology and threats change.
Development of integrated management systems
Combining ISO 27001 with ISO 27701 (privacy), ISO 42001 (AI) or ISO 22301 (business continuity) into a single, coherent management system.
How the ISO 27001 certification process works
ISO 27001 follows the same Plan–Do–Check–Act cycle as ISO’s other management system standards
ISO 27001 adopts a process approach for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving an organisation’s Information Security Management System. It emphasises the importance of:
- understanding the organisation’s information security requirements (what the key information assets are and how sensitive they are);
- establishing policies and objectives for information security;
- using a risk based approach to determine the most effective information security controls for the organisation;
- implementing and operating those controls;
- monitoring and reviewing the performance and effectiveness of the ISMS; and
- continual improvement of the ISMS based on objective measurements.
Blueprint’s ISO 27001 consultants have guided many Australian organisations through the often confusing maze of ISO 27001 implementation to ensure they not only get certified, but also implement an efficient, functional and maintainable ISMS that adds value to the business in its own right.
Who ISO 27001 is for
ISO 27001 is designed for organisations of every type and size. The scope of certification can be as narrow as a single system or as broad as a multinational group – ten people or ten thousand.
Our clients include:
- Technology and SaaS companies selling to enterprise or government
- Financial services and fintech
- Health and human services providers handling sensitive personal information
- Professional services, such as legal firms and IT service providers
- Suppliers to critical infrastructure and government
Why choose Blueprint
- Independent. We don’t resell software, so our recommendations are driven only by what suits your organisation.
- Melbourne-based, Australia-wide. We provide on-site and remote services in Melbourne, Victoria and throughout Australia.
- Customised design. We build ISMSs tailored to your organisation and your existing systems and processes, so they are efficient to run and address your specific risks – not generic solutions that require yet another software product.
- Senior consultants. You work directly with extremely experienced practitioners who have been doing what they do for many years. We’ve implemented ISO 27001 at a wide range of organisations and conducted hundreds of ISO 27001 audits over more than 15 years. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t in many different organisations. Our Managing Director works on the Standards Australia committee that helps develop new versions of the ISO 27001 standard.
- Broad capability. Information security, AI governance and business continuity under one roof, so your ISMS connects to the wider risk picture.
Frequently asked questions
How long does ISO 27001 certification take? Typically six to twelve months from kick-off to certificate, depending on the size of the scope, the maturity of existing controls and how much internal time you can commit. We can discuss this and determine a realistic timeline for your organisation during our first conversation.
How much does ISO 27001 certification cost in Australia? Costs include consulting services, implementation resources and the certification body’s audit fees. We provide fixed-price proposals after an initial scoping discussion and can provide estimates of your audit fees too. Costs can be dramatically reduced by doing it right the first time, saving time and money during implementation and the ongoing management of the ISMS.
What is the difference between ISO 27001 compliance and certification? Compliance means your ISMS meets the requirements of the standard. Certification means an accredited third-party certification body has audited it and issued a certificate. Many organisations start with compliance and pursue certification when a customer or tender requires it.
Do we need to certify the whole organisation? No. You define the scope. It can cover a single service, system, location or business unit. However, customers will often check that the scope covers the services they are buying from you.
We are already certified to ISO 9001 (Quality Management), 14001 (Environmental Management) or 45001 (OH&S Management). Does that help? Yes. ISO 27001 shares the harmonised structure of other management system standards, so processes used for governance, planning, support, performance evaluation and improvement can be largely reused. We integrate the ISMS into your existing system rather than building a parallel one.
How does ISO 27001 relate to SOC 2, the SOCI Act and APRA CPS 234? They overlap heavily. An ISO 27001 ISMS provides the governance structure that makes it far easier to satisfy CPS 234 or SOCI Act obligations, or to obtain a SOC 2 report. We can map your controls across frameworks so evidence is collected once.
Does Blueprint issue the certificate? No. Certificates are issued by accredited certification bodies (typically accredited by JAS-ANZ in Australia). Blueprint prepares you for the audit and remains independent of the body that issues your certificate.
Can you help with ISO 27001 for a company outside Melbourne? Yes. We deliver engagements across Australia and for international organisations with Australian operations, on-site or remotely.
Ready to start?
Talk to a Melbourne ISO 27001 consultant about your scope, timeline and budget.
Call 1300 977 774 or contact us online.
