ISO 27001 Certification Guide: Requirements, Timeline, Cost

TL;DR: ISO 27001 Essentials

• •ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management systems (ISMS), providing a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information
• •22,200 monthly searches for "ISO 27001" globally, reflecting strong demand especially from companies with European/international customers
• •114 Annex A controls cover organizational, people, physical, and technological security measures
• •Timeline: 8-12 weeks with AI automation (vs. 12-18 months traditional)
• •Cost: $20K-$60K for certification audit + $6K-$15K/year for automation platform (vs. $75K-$200K for consultants)
• •3-year validity: Certificate valid for 3 years with annual surveillance audits
• •Global recognition: Accepted worldwide, especially strong in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and for B2B/enterprise sales

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

Official Definition

From ISO:

"ISO/IEC 27001 is the world's best-known standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It defines requirements an ISMS must meet and provides a systematic approach to managing company and customer information based on periodic risk assessments."

In plain English: ISO 27001 is a framework that shows you've built a comprehensive, systematic approach to protecting information—and an external auditor has verified it.

ISO 27001:2022 (Latest Version)

Version history:

• •ISO 27001:2013 (previous version, widely used)
• •ISO 27001:2022 (current version, adopted Oct 2022)
• •Transition period: Until Oct 2025 (completed)
• •All new certifications now use 2022 version

Key changes in 2022 version:

• •93 controls → 114 controls (21 new controls added)
• •14 control categories → 4 themes (reorganized structure)
• •Added: Cloud security, threat intelligence, secure coding
• •Enhanced: Privacy, data protection, supplier relationships

This guide covers ISO 27001:2022 (current version).

Why ISO 27001 Matters

1. Global Market Access

Geographic recognition:

• •Europe: De facto standard (80%+ of large companies require ISO 27001)
• •Asia-Pacific: Highly valued (especially Japan, Singapore, Australia)
• •Middle East: Required for government contracts
• •North America: Growing acceptance (competes with SOC 2)
• •Latin America: Increasing adoption

Industry requirements:

• •Finance: Required by many banks and financial institutions
• •Healthcare: Complementary to HIPAA
• •Technology: B2B SaaS companies serving global customers
• •Manufacturing: Supply chain security requirements
• •Government: Public sector contracts

Market positioning:

Without ISO 27001:
- Can't bid on European RFPs
- Excluded from government contracts
- Fails security questionnaires
- Loses to certified competitors

With ISO 27001:
- Global market access ✅
- Competitive advantage
- Premium pricing justified
- Preferred vendor status

2. Comprehensive Security Framework

ISO 27001 is more comprehensive than alternatives:

ISMS components (required for ISO 27001):

• •Information security policy
• •Risk assessment and treatment
• •Statement of Applicability (SoA)
• •Objectives and planning
• •Support and resources
• •Operations and performance
• •Management review
• •Continual improvement

Why this matters: ISO 27001 forces you to build a mature, sustainable security program (not just pass an audit).

3. Regulatory Alignment

ISO 27001 helps meet other requirements:

• •GDPR (EU privacy): ISO 27001 Annex A.18 covers privacy, accepted as evidence of compliance
• •HIPAA (US healthcare): Many controls overlap (access, encryption, monitoring)
• •PCI-DSS (payment cards): Supplementary to ISO 27001
• •NIS2 (EU cybersecurity): ISO 27001 demonstrates compliance
• •SOX (financial): Security controls support SOX IT general controls

Multi-framework benefit:

• •Get ISO 27001 → 60-70% of work done for SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR
• •Evidence reuse across all frameworks
• •Single ISMS for all compliance needs

4. Insurance & Risk Management Benefits

Cyber insurance advantages:

• •Lower premiums (10-30% reduction typical)
• •Better coverage terms
• •Faster approval
• •Reduced questionnaires

Risk management:

• •Systematic risk assessment (mandatory annually)
• •Treatment plan for identified risks
• •Continuous improvement culture
• •Board-level oversight

Example:

Cyber insurance quote:

Without ISO 27001:
- Premium: $15,000/year
- Coverage: $1M
- Deductible: $50K
- Application: 40-page questionnaire

With ISO 27001:
- Premium: $10,500/year (30% discount)
- Coverage: $2M (better terms)
- Deductible: $25K (50% reduction)
- Application: Provide certificate + minimal questions

Annual savings: $4,500 + better coverage

ISO 27001:2022 Structure

The 10 Clauses

Clauses 1-3: Introduction (informational, not audited)

• •Scope, references, terms and definitions

Clauses 4-10: Requirements (audited, mandatory)

Clause 4: Context of the Organization

• •Understand internal and external issues
• •Identify interested parties and requirements
• •Determine ISMS scope
• •Establish the ISMS

Clause 5: Leadership

• •Management commitment
• •Information security policy
• •Roles, responsibilities, authorities

Clause 6: Planning

• •Actions to address risks and opportunities
• •Information security objectives and planning

Clause 7: Support

• •Resources (people, competence, awareness)
• •Communication
• •Documented information

Clause 8: Operation

• •Operational planning and control
• •Information security risk assessment
• •Information security risk treatment

Clause 9: Performance Evaluation

• •Monitoring, measurement, analysis, evaluation
• •Internal audit
• •Management review

Clause 10: Improvement

• •Nonconformity and corrective action
• •Continual improvement

Annex A: 114 Controls (The Heart of ISO 27001)

4 themes, 114 controls:

Theme 1: Organizational Controls (37 controls)

A.5: Organizational Policies for Information Security (8 controls)

• •A.5.1: Policies for information security
• •A.5.2: Information security roles and responsibilities
• •A.5.3: Segregation of duties
• •A.5.4: Management responsibilities
• •A.5.5: Contact with authorities
• •A.5.6: Contact with special interest groups
• •A.5.7: Threat intelligence
• •A.5.8: Information security in project management

A.6: Asset Management (7 controls)

• •A.6.1: Inventory of assets
• •A.6.2: Acceptable use of assets
• •A.6.3: Return of assets
• •A.6.4: Media handling
• •A.6.5: Information classification
• •A.6.6: Information labeling
• •A.6.7: Information transfer
• •A.6.8: Media disposal

A.7: Human Resources Security (6 controls)

• •A.7.1: Screening (background checks)
• •A.7.2: Terms and conditions of employment
• •A.7.3: Information security awareness, education, training
• •A.7.4: Disciplinary process
• •A.7.5: Responsibilities after employment termination
• •A.7.6: Confidentiality agreements (NDAs)
• •A.7.7: Remote working
• •A.7.8: Information security event reporting

A.8: Supplier Relationships (16 controls)

• •Vendor security requirements
• •Supplier management
• •Security in contracts
• •Monitoring and review of services
• •Managing changes in supplier relationships

Theme 2: People Controls (8 controls)

Focus: Human elements of security

Key controls:

• •Background verification (A.6.1)
• •Terms of employment (A.6.2)
• •Security awareness training (A.6.3)
• •Disciplinary process (A.6.4)
• •Termination responsibilities (A.6.5)
• •Confidentiality agreements (A.6.6)
• •Remote working (A.6.7)
• •Event reporting (A.6.8)

Theme 3: Physical Controls (14 controls)

Focus: Physical security of facilities and equipment

A.7: Physical Security

• •A.7.1: Physical security perimeters
• •A.7.2: Physical entry controls
• •A.7.3: Securing offices, rooms, facilities
• •A.7.4: Physical security monitoring
• •A.7.5: Protecting against physical threats
• •A.7.6: Working in secure areas
• •A.7.7: Clear desk and clear screen policy
• •A.7.8: Equipment siting and protection
• •A.7.9: Security of assets off-premises
• •A.7.10: Storage media
• •A.7.11: Supporting utilities
• •A.7.12: Cabling security
• •A.7.13: Equipment maintenance
• •A.7.14: Secure disposal of equipment

Cloud considerations: Many physical controls inherited from cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure have ISO 27001).

Theme 4: Technological Controls (55 controls)

Focus: Technical security measures

A.8: Technological Controls

Access Control (A.5):

• •User access provisioning (A.5.15-A.5.18)
• •MFA requirements
• •Password management
• •Access reviews
• •Privileged access management

Cryptography (A.8.24):

• •Use of cryptography
• •Key management

Physical & Environmental Security (A.7): (Covered above in Physical Controls)

Operations Security (A.8):

• •Change management (A.8.32)
• •Capacity management (A.8.6)
• •Malware protection (A.8.7)
• •Logging and monitoring (A.8.15-A.8.16)
• •Backup (A.8.13)
• •Network security (A.8.20-A.8.23)

Communications Security (A.8):

• •Network controls
• •Information transfer
• •Messaging security

System Acquisition, Development & Maintenance (A.8):

• •Secure development lifecycle (A.8.25-A.8.28)
• •Security testing (A.8.29)
• •Outsourced development (A.8.30)
• •Change control (A.8.32)

Supplier Management (A.5):

• •Supplier security policies
• •Addressing security in contracts
• •Supply chain security

Incident Management (A.5):

• •Incident response (A.5.24-A.5.28)
• •Learning from incidents
• •Evidence collection

Business Continuity (A.5):

• •Business continuity planning (A.5.29-A.5.30)
• •ICT redundancy

Compliance (A.5):

• •Legal and regulatory compliance (A.5.31-A.5.37)
• •Independent review
• •Intellectual property rights
• •Privacy and PII protection
• •Records management

ISO 27001 Certification Process

Stage 1: Documentation Review (1-2 days)

What auditor reviews:

• ISMS documentation complete
• Information Security Policy
• Risk Assessment and Treatment Plan
• Statement of Applicability (SoA)
• Documented procedures for all controls
• Internal audit records
• Management review records

Auditor activities:

• •Review documentation for completeness
• •Identify any gaps or missing docs
• •No control testing yet (that's Stage 2)
• •Issue Stage 1 report with findings

Typical Stage 1 findings:

• •Missing procedures (3-8 typical)
• •Incomplete risk assessment
• •SoA doesn't cover all controls
• •Management review not comprehensive

Your actions:

• •Address all Stage 1 findings
• •Update documentation
• •Prepare for Stage 2

Timeline: 1-2 days of auditor time, 1-2 weeks between Stage 1 and Stage 2

Stage 2: Implementation Audit (2-4 days)

What auditor tests:

• Controls are implemented as documented
• Evidence demonstrates control effectiveness
• ISMS is operating effectively
• Risk treatment plan executed
• Continual improvement in place

Auditor activities:

• •Test sample of controls (30-50% of 114)
• •Interview personnel
• •Review evidence for controls
• •Observe processes in operation
• •Issue Stage 2 report

Site visit requirements:

• •If physical office: On-site audit (1-2 days)
• •If remote: Virtual audit acceptable
• •If data center: May visit facility

Typical Stage 2 findings:

• •Minor non-conformities (3-8 typical)
• •Opportunities for improvement
• •Rarely: Major non-conformities (blockers)

Your actions:

• •Participate in interviews
• •Provide evidence
• •Address findings
• •Request certification

Timeline: 2-4 days of auditor time, 1-2 weeks for report and certification

Certification Decision

Outcomes:

Certification Granted (Goal!):

• •No major non-conformities
• •Minor non-conformities acceptable (must remediate)
• •Certificate issued
• •Valid for 3 years

Conditional Certification:

• •Minor non-conformities must be closed within 90 days
• •Certificate issued upon closure
• •Common for first audits

Certification Denied:

• •Major non-conformities found
• •Must remediate and re-audit
• •Rare with proper preparation

Certificate details:

• •Certificate number
• •Scope statement
• •Issue date
• •Expiration date (3 years)
• •Certification body seal

Ongoing: Surveillance Audits (Annually)

Annual surveillance (Years 1-2):

• •1-2 day audit
• •Tests different subset of controls
• •Verifies continual improvement
• •Confirms ISMS still operating
• •Certificate remains valid

Re-certification (Year 3):

• •Full audit (like Stage 2)
• •Review entire ISMS
• •New certificate issued (3 more years)
• •Slightly more comprehensive than surveillance

Timeline:

• •Year 1: Surveillance audit (1-2 days)
• •Year 2: Surveillance audit (1-2 days)
• •Year 3: Re-certification audit (2-4 days)
• •Repeat cycle

The 114 Annex A Controls Explained

Theme 1: Organizational Controls (37)

Policies (A.5.1-A.5.8):

A.5.1 - Information Security Policies
Evidence:
- Information Security Policy (signed by CEO)
- Policy distribution to all employees
- Annual policy review records

Implementation:
- Create comprehensive security policy
- Cover scope, objectives, responsibilities
- Executive approval
- Annual review
- Employee acknowledgment

Asset Management (A.5.9-A.5.14):

A.5.9 - Inventory of Information and Assets
Evidence:
- Asset inventory (all IT assets, data)
- Asset owners assigned
- Classification (public, internal, confidential, restricted)

Implementation:
- Maintain asset register (can be automated)
- Classify all information assets
- Review quarterly

Access Control (A.5.15-A.5.18):

A.5.15 - Access Control Policy
A.5.16 - Identity Management
A.5.17 - Authentication Information
A.5.18 - Access Rights

Evidence:
- Okta user list (identity management)
- MFA enrollment (100% required)
- Access reviews (quarterly)
- Provisioning/deprovisioning logs

Implementation:
- Implement RBAC (role-based access control)
- Enable MFA for all users
- Quarterly access reviews
- Automated provisioning/deprovisioning

Supplier Management (A.5.19-A.5.23):

A.5.19 - Information Security in Supplier Relationships
A.5.20 - Addressing Security in Contracts
A.5.21 - Managing Security in ICT Supply Chain
A.5.22 - Monitoring and Review of Services
A.5.23 - Security in Cloud Services

Evidence:
- Vendor inventory
- Vendor security assessments
- Vendor SOC 2/ISO 27001 reports
- Contracts with security terms
- Annual vendor reviews

Implementation:
- Assess all vendors
- Require SOC 2/ISO reports from critical vendors
- Include security terms in contracts
- Annual reviews

Incident Management (A.5.24-A.5.28):

A.5.24 - Information Security Incident Management
A.5.25 - Assessment of Information Security Events
A.5.26 - Response to Information Security Incidents
A.5.27 - Learning from Security Incidents
A.5.28 - Collection of Evidence

Evidence:
- Incident Response Plan
- Incident tickets (Jira, PagerDuty)
- Post-incident reviews (RCAs)
- Lessons learned documented

Implementation:
- Define incident classification (P0, P1, P2, P3)
- Create escalation procedures
- Document all incidents
- Conduct post-mortems

Business Continuity (A.5.29-A.5.30):

A.5.29 - Information Security During Disruption
A.5.30 - ICT Readiness for Business Continuity

Evidence:
- Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
- Disaster Recovery Plan (DRP)
- Annual BCP/DR testing
- Recovery time objective (RTO) defined
- Recovery point objective (RPO) defined

Implementation:
- Document BCP and DRP
- Test annually
- Maintain redundancy (multi-region AWS)
- Verify backup restoration

Compliance (A.5.31-A.5.37):

A.5.31 - Legal, Statutory, Regulatory Requirements
A.5.32 - Intellectual Property Rights
A.5.33 - Protection of Records
A.5.34 - Privacy and PII Protection
A.5.35 - Independent Review of Information Security
A.5.36 - Compliance with Policies and Standards
A.5.37 - Documented Operating Procedures

Evidence:
- Legal requirement register
- Privacy policy
- Data protection procedures
- Internal audit reports
- Management review minutes
- Compliance monitoring logs

Implementation:
- Track applicable regulations
- Implement privacy controls
- Internal audits (at least annually)
- Management review (at least annually)

Theme 2: People Controls (8)

All focused on personnel security:

A.6.1 - Screening (Background checks)
A.6.2 - Terms and Conditions of Employment
A.6.3 - Information Security Awareness, Education, Training
A.6.4 - Disciplinary Process
A.6.5 - Responsibilities After Employment
A.6.6 - Confidentiality Agreements
A.6.7 - Remote Working
A.6.8 - Information Security Event Reporting

Evidence:
- Background check records
- Employment contracts with security terms
- Training completion records (annual required)
- NDAs signed by all employees
- Remote work policy
- Offboarding checklist completion

Implementation:
- Screen new hires (background checks if handling sensitive data)
- Include security in employment terms
- Annual security training (mandatory for all)
- All employees sign NDAs
- Document remote work security requirements
- Formalize offboarding (access revocation within 24 hours)

With automation:

• •HR system integration (BambooHR, Workday) provides most evidence automatically
• •Training platform integration tracks completion
• •Access reviews verify termination compliance

Theme 3: Physical Controls (14)

Data center security:

Most SaaS companies inherit these controls from cloud providers (AWS, GCP, Azure all have ISO 27001). If using cloud:

• •Rely on AWS SOC 2 / ISO 27001 reports
• •Document in SoA as "inherited control"
• •Focus on corporate office security

Corporate office controls:

A.7.7 - Clear Desk and Clear Screen
Evidence:
- Clear desk policy
- Photo of office (desks clear)
- Screen lock settings (auto-lock after 10 min)

A.7.9 - Security of Assets Off-Premises
Evidence:
- Remote work policy
- Laptop encryption (FileVault, BitLocker)
- VPN requirement for production access
- EDR deployment (Crowdstrike, SentinelOne)

Implementation:
- Document clear desk policy
- Require screen locks
- Encrypt all laptops
- Deploy EDR to all devices

Theme 4: Technological Controls (55)

This is the largest category and most relevant for SaaS companies.

Access Control (A.8.1-A.8.6):

A.8.2 - Privileged Access Rights
Evidence:
- AWS IAM roles (least privilege)
- Separate admin accounts
- Privileged access logs
- Just-in-time (JIT) access

A.8.3 - Information Access Restriction
Evidence:
- RBAC implementation (Okta, AWS IAM)
- Access matrix (role → permissions)
- Quarterly access reviews

A.8.5 - Secure Authentication
Evidence:
- MFA enabled for all users (100%)
- Password policy (12+ characters, complexity)
- Okta/Azure AD screenshot

Cryptography (A.8.24):

A.8.24 - Use of Cryptography
Evidence:
- Encryption at rest (AWS RDS, S3)
- Encryption in transit (TLS 1.2+)
- Key management (AWS KMS)
- Certificate management

Implementation:
- Enable database encryption (RDS)
- Enable S3 bucket encryption
- Enforce HTTPS (HSTS)
- Manage encryption keys securely

Malware (A.8.7):

A.8.7 - Protection Against Malware
Evidence:
- EDR deployment status (Crowdstrike, SentinelOne)
- Malware detection logs
- Quarantine records
- Definition update frequency

Implementation:
- Deploy EDR to all devices (100% coverage)
- Enable real-time scanning
- Auto-update definitions
- Alert on detections

Logging & Monitoring (A.8.15-A.8.16):

A.8.15 - Logging
A.8.16 - Monitoring Activities

Evidence:
- Centralized logging (CloudWatch, Splunk, DataDog)
- Log retention settings (1 year minimum)
- Security event monitoring
- Log review records

Implementation:
- Enable comprehensive logging
- Centralize logs (SIEM)
- Retain for 1+ years
- Monitor for security events
- Review logs monthly

Vulnerability Management (A.8.8):

A.8.8 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
Evidence:
- Monthly vulnerability scan reports
- Remediation tracking (Critical: 7 days, High: 30 days)
- Patch management logs
- Annual penetration test

Implementation:
- Deploy vulnerability scanner (Nessus, Qualys, Wiz)
- Monthly scans minimum
- Track remediation with SLAs
- Annual pentests

Backup (A.8.13):

A.8.13 - Information Backup
Evidence:
- Backup configuration (daily, offsite)
- Backup test results (quarterly)
- Recovery time objective (RTO) documentation
- Recovery point objective (RPO) documentation

Implementation:
- Automated daily backups (AWS Backup, etc.)
- Offsite/multi-region storage
- Test restoration quarterly
- Document RTO/RPO

Network Security (A.8.20-A.8.23):

A.8.20 - Networks Security
A.8.21 - Security of Network Services
A.8.22 - Segregation of Networks
A.8.23 - Web Filtering

Evidence:
- Network diagrams
- Firewall rules
- Network segmentation (production isolated)
- VPC/VNET configurations
- IDS/IPS deployment

Implementation:
- Segment production from dev
- Firewall rules documented
- VPN for production access
- Network monitoring

Secure Development (A.8.25-A.8.32):

A.8.25 - Secure Development Lifecycle
A.8.26 - Application Security Requirements
A.8.27 - Secure System Architecture
A.8.28 - Secure Coding
A.8.29 - Security Testing in Development
A.8.30 - Outsourced Development
A.8.31 - Separation of Environments
A.8.32 - Change Management

Evidence:
- GitHub/GitLab audit logs (code reviews required)
- Branch protection rules (2+ approvers)
- Dependency scanning (Snyk, Dependabot)
- Security testing in CI/CD
- Change management tickets (Jira)
- Separate AWS accounts (prod/dev/staging)

Implementation:
- Require code reviews for all production changes
- Implement automated security testing
- Scan dependencies for vulnerabilities
- Separate prod from dev (different AWS accounts)
- Formalize change management

ISMS Documentation Package

Required Documents

Core ISMS Documents (Mandatory):

1. •Information Security Policy (Master policy, 5-10 pages)
2. •ISMS Scope (What's included/excluded, 1-2 pages)
3. •Risk Assessment Methodology (How you assess risk, 3-5 pages)
4. •Risk Assessment (Actual assessment, 10-20 pages)
5. •Risk Treatment Plan (How risks are mitigated, 5-15 pages)
6. •Statement of Applicability (SoA) (All 114 controls, 20-30 pages)
7. •Internal Audit Program (Plan, schedule, reports, 5-10 pages)
8. •Management Review Records (Minutes, decisions, 3-5 pages per review)

Supporting Policies (20-30 documents):

• •Access Control Policy
• •Acceptable Use Policy
• •Asset Management Policy
• •Backup and Recovery Policy
• •Business Continuity Plan
• •Change Management Policy
• •Clear Desk Policy
• •Cryptography Policy
• •Data Classification Policy
• •Disaster Recovery Plan
• •Incident Response Plan
• •Logging and Monitoring Policy
• •Network Security Policy
• •Password Policy
• •Physical Security Policy
• •Remote Working Policy
• •Secure Development Policy
• •Supplier Security Policy
• •Vulnerability Management Policy
• •... (10+ more as needed)

Procedures (10-20 documents):

• •Access provisioning procedure
• •Access revocation procedure
• •Backup testing procedure
• •Change management procedure
• •Incident response procedure
• •Internal audit procedure
• •Management review procedure
• •Risk assessment procedure
• •... (varies by organization)

Records (Ongoing):

• •Access review logs (quarterly)
• •Internal audit reports (annual minimum)
• •Management review minutes (annual minimum)
• •Training records (annual)
• •Incident logs (ongoing)
• •Change logs (ongoing)
• •Risk register updates (annual minimum)

Total documentation: 40-60 documents (seems overwhelming, but AI can generate in < 1 day)

Statement of Applicability (SoA)

Most critical ISO 27001 document:

Format:

For each of 114 controls, document:

• •Is it applicable? (Yes, No, or Partially)
• •Why? (Justification)
• •If applicable, is it implemented?
• •Where is the evidence?
• •If not applicable, why? (e.g., cloud provider responsibility)

Common "Not Applicable" controls for cloud companies:

• •Physical data center controls (A.7.1-A.7.6) - AWS responsibility
• •Some physical equipment controls - Cloud-based
• •Mainframe controls - Not using mainframes

Typical applicability:

• •Applicable: 85-95 controls (75-83%)
• •Not Applicable: 15-25 controls (13-22%)
• •Partially Applicable: 5-10 controls (4-9%)

Pro tip: AI can generate SoA in < 30 minutes by analyzing your environment and suggesting applicability.

ISO 27001 Timeline

Traditional Timeline (Without Automation)

Total: 12-18 months

Month 1-3:    ISMS planning, gap analysis, training
Month 4-6:    Policy writing, procedure documentation
Month 7-9:    Control implementation, evidence gathering
Month 10-11:  Internal audit, management review, corrections
Month 12:     Stage 1 audit
Month 13-17:  Address Stage 1 findings, prepare for Stage 2
Month 18:     Stage 2 audit, certification

Why so long:

• •Manual policy writing: 8-12 weeks
• •Control implementation: 12-16 weeks
• •Evidence gathering: 8-12 weeks
• •Internal processes (audits, reviews): 4-8 weeks
• •Learning curve: 4-6 weeks

Accelerated Timeline (With AI Automation)

Total: 8-12 weeks

Week 1:       Platform setup, integrations, gap analysis
Week 2:       AI policy generation, SoA creation
Week 3-6:     Rapid control implementation, automated evidence
Week 7:       Internal audit, management review
Week 8:       Stage 1 audit
Week 9-11:    Address findings, prepare Stage 2
Week 12:      Stage 2 audit, certification

Why much faster:

• •AI policy generation: < 1 day (vs. 8-12 weeks)
• •Automated evidence: Ongoing (vs. 8-12 weeks manual)
• •Pre-built controls: Implement vs. design (save 4-8 weeks)
• •Continuous monitoring: Always ready (vs. point-in-time prep)

Timeline Comparison

ISO 27001 Costs

Certification Audit Fees

Stage 1 + Stage 2 (Initial Certification):

• •Small (< 50 employees): $20,000-$35,000
• •Medium (50-200 employees): $35,000-$50,000
• •Large (200+ employees): $50,000-$100,000+

Factors affecting cost:

• •Company size (employee count)
• •Number of sites/locations
• •Scope complexity
• •Industry (regulated = higher)
• •Multi-site vs. single site
• •Previous ISO certifications

Annual Surveillance Audits:

• •Year 1: $10,000-$20,000 (40-50% of initial)
• •Year 2: $10,000-$20,000
• •Year 3 (Re-cert): $25,000-$40,000 (60-70% of initial)

Software & Automation Costs

Option 1: AI Automation Platform (Recommended)

• •Starter: $6,000-$12,000/year
• •Growth: $12,000-$24,000/year
• •Enterprise: $30,000-$60,000/year

Includes:

• •AI policy generation
• •Automated evidence collection
• •ISMS document package
• •Continuous monitoring
• •SoA generation
• •Risk assessment automation

Option 2: Traditional GRC Platform

• •Cost: $15,000-$40,000/year
• •More manual work required
• •Longer implementation

Option 3: Manual/Consultants

• •Consultant fees: $75,000-$200,000 (one-time)
• •No ongoing automation
• •Highest cost, slowest

Internal Resource Costs

Without Automation:

• •ISMS implementation lead: 40 hours/week × 12 months = 480 hours
• •IT/DevOps support: 20 hours/week × 12 months = 240 hours
• •Documentation: 30 hours/week × 8 weeks = 240 hours
• •Total: 960 hours = $96,000 (at $100/hr)

With Automation:

• •ISMS implementation lead: 10 hours/week × 3 months = 120 hours
• •IT/DevOps support: 5 hours/week × 3 months = 60 hours
• •Documentation review: 20 hours (AI generates)
• •Total: 200 hours = $20,000
• •Savings: $76,000 (79% reduction)

Total Cost Comparison

Traditional Approach:

Certification audit:         $30,000
Consultant:                  $125,000
Internal resources:          $96,000
Software (traditional):      $25,000
────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL (First year):          $276,000

AI-Automated Approach:

Certification audit:         $30,000
Automation platform:         $12,000
Internal resources:          $20,000
Security tools:              $8,000
────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL (First year):          $70,000
SAVINGS:                     $206,000 (75% reduction)

Ongoing (Years 2-3):

Traditional:
- Annual audit: $15,000
- Consultant support: $40,000/year
- Internal resources: $60,000/year
- Total: $115,000/year

AI-Automated:
- Annual audit: $15,000
- Platform: $12,000/year
- Internal resources: $15,000/year
- Total: $42,000/year
- Savings: $73,000/year (63% reduction)

3-year total:

• •Traditional: $276K + $115K + $115K = $506,000
• •Automated: $70K + $42K + $42K = $154,000
• •Savings: $352,000 (70% reduction)

Implementation Roadmap

Week 1-2: ISMS Planning

Define ISMS Scope:

• Identify what's in scope (production systems, corporate IT)
• Document boundaries (cloud infrastructure, SaaS tools)
• Identify exclusions (personal devices, development systems)
• Create scope statement

Context Analysis:

• Internal issues (company structure, technology, resources)
• External issues (customers, regulations, threats)
• Interested parties (customers, regulators, employees, shareholders)
• Requirements from interested parties

Resource Planning:

• Assign ISMS owner (typically CTO or compliance lead)
• Form implementation team
• Set budget
• Set target certification date

Week 2-3: Risk Assessment

AI-Automated Risk Assessment:

User: "Run ISO 27001 risk assessment"

AI Agent:
- Scanning environment...
- Identified 147 information assets
- Analyzing threats and vulnerabilities...
- Calculating risks...

Risk Assessment Complete:
🔴 HIGH RISKS (5):
1. Production database not encrypted at rest
   - Asset: Customer PII database
   - Threat: Data breach
   - Vulnerability: No encryption
   - Impact: 9/10 (Critical)
   - Likelihood: 6/10 (Possible)
   - Risk Score: 54/100 (HIGH)
   - Treatment: Enable AWS RDS encryption
   - Cost: $0
   - Timeline: 2 hours

[... continues for all risks ...]

🟡 MEDIUM RISKS (23): [...]
🟢 LOW RISKS (45): [...]

Generated:
✅ Risk register (73 risks identified)
✅ Risk treatment plan (23 treatments required)
✅ Risk heat map
✅ Prioritized action plan

Time: 25 minutes (vs. 80 hours manual)

Manual Approach:

• •Identify all assets manually
• •Brainstorm threats
• •Assess vulnerabilities
• •Calculate risks
• •Prioritize treatments
• •Time: 80-120 hours

Deliverables:

• Risk register
• Risk assessment report
• Risk treatment plan
• Risk acceptance decisions (for low risks)

Week 3-4: Policy & Documentation Generation

AI Policy Generation:

User: "Generate complete ISO 27001 ISMS documentation package"

AI Agent:
- Analyzing your environment (AWS, 47 employees, SaaS company)...
- Generating ISO 27001:2022 documentation...

📄 ISMS Package Created (42 documents):

Core ISMS:
✅ Information Security Policy (8 pages)
✅ ISMS Scope Statement (2 pages)
✅ Risk Assessment Methodology (4 pages)
✅ Statement of Applicability - SoA (28 pages, 114 controls)
✅ Internal Audit Program (6 pages)
✅ Management Review Template (4 pages)

Supporting Policies (23 policies):
✅ Access Control Policy (AWS IAM, Okta-specific)
✅ Encryption Policy (AWS KMS references)
✅ Incident Response Plan (PagerDuty escalation)
✅ Business Continuity Plan (Multi-region AWS)
✅ [... 19 more policies ...]

Procedures (13 procedures):
✅ Access provisioning (Okta workflows)
✅ Incident response (detailed steps)
✅ Change management (Jira-based)
✅ Backup testing (AWS Backup)
✅ [... 9 more procedures ...]

Time: 45 minutes (vs. 8-12 weeks manual)
Ready for review and customization.

Manual creation time: 8-12 weeks × $100/hr = $32,000-$48,000

AI creation time: < 1 day × $100/hr = $800

Savings: $31,200-$47,200 (97-98% reduction)

Week 4-8: Control Implementation

Implement 114 Annex A controls:

Week 4: Access & Identity Controls (A.5.15-A.5.18, A.8.1-A.8.6)

• Enable MFA for all users (100%)
• Implement RBAC (role-based access)
• Conduct first access review
• Document access provisioning/deprovisioning
• Evidence: Auto-collected from Okta/AWS IAM

Week 5: Technical Controls (A.8.7-A.8.24)

• Enable encryption (at rest and in transit)
• Deploy EDR (endpoint detection)
• Configure logging and monitoring
• Implement vulnerability scanning
• Set up network security
• Evidence: Auto-collected from AWS, security tools

Week 6: Operational Controls (A.8.13, A.8.32, A.5.24-A.5.28)

• Configure backups and test
• Formalize change management
• Document incident response
• Create BCP/DR plans
• Evidence: Auto-collected from Jira, AWS

Week 7: People & Supplier Controls (A.6.1-A.6.8, A.5.19-A.5.23)

• Verify background checks
• Distribute and track training
• Collect employee NDAs
• Assess critical vendors
• Evidence: Auto-collected from HR system

Week 8: Compliance Controls (A.5.31-A.5.37)

• Document legal requirements
• Conduct internal audit
• Hold management review
• Evidence: Generated records

Week 9-10: Internal Audit & Review

Internal Audit (Required):

• Plan audit scope (audit 20-30% of controls)
• Execute audit
• Document findings
• Create corrective action plans
• Close findings

Time: 3-5 days with automation (AI can assist with testing)

Management Review (Required):

• Executive review of ISMS
• Review risk assessment
• Review audit results
• Review compliance status
• Make improvement decisions
• Document in minutes

Time: 2-4 hours (AI generates report, execs review)

Week 11: Stage 1 Audit

Pre-audit:

• Final document review
• Ensure all policies signed
• Verify evidence complete
• Provide documentation to auditor

Stage 1 (1-2 days):

• •Auditor reviews ISMS documentation
• •Checks for completeness
• •No site visit typically
• •Issues Stage 1 report

Post-Stage 1:

• Address any findings (1-2 weeks)
• Update documentation
• Prepare for Stage 2

Week 12: Stage 2 Audit & Certification

Stage 2 (2-4 days):

• •Auditor tests controls
• •Reviews evidence
• •Interviews team
• •Site visit (if applicable)
• •Issues Stage 2 report

Post-Stage 2:

• Address minor non-conformities (1-2 weeks)
• Provide additional evidence
• Request certification

Certification:

• Certificate issued
• Valid for 3 years
• Annual surveillance required

Total timeline: 8-12 weeks with automation ✅

ISO 27001 vs. SOC 2: Which to Choose?

Direct Comparison

When to Choose Each

Choose ISO 27001 if:

• •✅ You have European customers (required by 80%+ of large EU companies)
• •✅ You sell internationally (global recognition)
• •✅ You need comprehensive security framework
• •✅ You're in regulated industry (finance, healthcare, government)
• •✅ You want 3-year certificate (vs. annual SOC 2)
• •✅ Your customers specifically request ISO 27001

Choose SOC 2 if:

• •✅ You sell primarily in US market
• •✅ Your customers are US SaaS companies
• •✅ You need faster certification (6-8 weeks vs. 8-12 weeks)
• •✅ You want lighter documentation burden
• •✅ Your customers specifically request SOC 2

Get Both if:

• •✅ You have global customers (US + EU)
• •✅ Budget allows ($40K-$70K total)
• •✅ Want maximum market coverage
• •✅ Competitive advantage

Benefits of both:

• •60-70% evidence reuse (collect once, use for both)
• •Single automation platform covers both
• •Incremental cost only 30-40% more
• •Maximum market access

Automation ROI for ISO 27001

Time Savings

Manual ISO 27001 implementation:

Planning & gap analysis:     80-120 hours
Policy writing:              120-200 hours
Control implementation:      200-320 hours
Evidence collection:         160-240 hours
Internal audit:              40-60 hours
Management review:           16-24 hours
Audit prep:                  80-120 hours
───────────────────────────────────────
Total: 696-1,084 hours (6-12 months)
At $100/hr: $69,600-$108,400

AI-automated implementation:

Platform setup:              8-12 hours
AI policy generation:        4-6 hours (review only)
Control implementation:      40-60 hours (configs only)
Evidence automation setup:   8-12 hours
Internal audit (AI-assisted): 12-16 hours
Management review (AI report): 4-6 hours
Audit prep (automated):      8-12 hours
───────────────────────────────────────
Total: 84-124 hours (8-12 weeks)
At $100/hr: $8,400-$12,400
Savings: $61,200-$96,000 (88-89% reduction)

Cost Savings

3-Year Total Cost of Ownership:

Traditional (Manual/Consultant):

Year 1:
- Certification audit: $35,000
- Consultant: $125,000
- Internal time: $96,000
- Total: $256,000

Year 2:
- Surveillance audit: $15,000
- Consultant support: $40,000
- Internal time: $60,000
- Total: $115,000

Year 3:
- Re-certification audit: $30,000
- Consultant support: $40,000
- Internal time: $80,000
- Total: $150,000

3-Year Total: $521,000

AI-Automated:

Year 1:
- Certification audit: $35,000
- Platform: $12,000
- Internal time: $20,000
- Security tools: $8,000
- Total: $75,000

Year 2:
- Surveillance audit: $15,000
- Platform: $12,000
- Internal time: $12,000
- Security tools: $8,000
- Total: $47,000

Year 3:
- Re-cert audit: $30,000
- Platform: $12,000
- Internal time: $18,000
- Security tools: $8,000
- Total: $68,000

3-Year Total: $190,000
SAVINGS: $331,000 (63% reduction)

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q: What's the difference between ISO 27001 and ISO 27002?

A: ISO 27001 = Certification standard (requirements for ISMS)
ISO 27002 = Best practice guide (implementation guidance for controls)

You get certified to ISO 27001. ISO 27002 helps you implement the controls.

Q: Is ISO 27001 required by law?

A: No, it's voluntary. However:

• •Some regulations reference it (NIS2 in EU)
• •Government contracts may require it
• •Industry standards may mandate it (finance, healthcare)
• •Practically required for EU B2B sales

Q: Can small companies get ISO 27001?

A: Yes! 35-40% of ISO 27001 certificates are for companies < 50 employees. With automation, it's accessible to startups.

Q: Do we need a dedicated ISMS team?

A: No. Small companies assign to:

• •CTO/CISO
• •Compliance manager
• •External consultant
• •AI platform (handles execution)

Q: Is ISO 27001:2013 still valid?

A: Technically valid until existing certificates expire, but:

• •New certs must use 2022 version
• •Transition period ended Oct 2025
• •Customers increasingly request 2022 version
• •Recommendation: Certify to 2022 version

Implementation Questions

Q: Can we use cloud services (AWS, GCP, Azure)?

A: Yes! Cloud makes ISO 27001 easier:

• •Cloud providers have ISO 27001 (inherit controls)
• •Better security than self-hosted typically
• •Built-in encryption, logging, monitoring
• •Easier to evidence

Document in SoA:

• •Physical controls: AWS responsibility (inherited)
• •Logical controls: Your responsibility
• •Shared responsibility model

Q: Do we need to implement all 114 controls?

A: No. Some controls may be "not applicable":

• •Physical data center controls (if using cloud)
• •Mainframe controls (if not using mainframes)
• •Paper records controls (if paperless)

Typical: 90-100 controls applicable (80-90%)

Q: Can we get ISO 27001 and SOC 2 simultaneously?

A: Yes! Benefits:

• •60-70% evidence reuse
• •Single gap remediation
• •Parallel audits possible
• •Timeline: 10-14 weeks (only 2-4 weeks more than single framework)
• •Cost: Only 30-40% more than single framework

Audit Questions

Q: Can the audit be done remotely?

A: Yes, especially post-COVID:

• •Stage 1: Always remote (documentation review)
• •Stage 2: Can be remote or on-site
• •Surveillance: Usually remote
• •Physical controls: May require site visit or photos

Q: How do we choose a certification body?

A: Look for:

• •UKAS, ANSI, or other accreditation
• •Experience in your industry
• •Pricing transparency
• •Timeline commitments
• •Positive references

Get quotes from 3 certification bodies.

Q: What happens if we fail?

A: You don't "fail." Instead:

• •Minor non-conformities: Fix within 90 days, cert still issued
• •Major non-conformities: Must fix and re-audit, cert delayed
• •With good preparation: 0-1 major, 3-8 minor (normal and acceptable)

Cost Questions

Q: Why is ISO 27001 audit more expensive than SOC 2?

A: Several factors:

• •2-stage audit (vs. single SOC 2 audit)
• •More comprehensive scope (ISMS vs. systems)
• •114 controls (vs. 90-120 SOC 2)
• •3-year validity (annualized cost lower)

Annualized comparison:

• •ISO 27001: $35K cert + $15K surveillance × 2 = $65K / 3 years = $22K/year
• •SOC 2: $25K × 3 years = $25K/year × 3 = $75K/3 years = $25K/year

Actually slightly cheaper annualized!

Q: Can we get certified for free or very cheap?

A: No legitimate ISO 27001 certification is free:

• •Minimum: $15K-$20K (small company, budget certification body)
• •Beware: "Free" certifications are not accredited/legitimate
• •Red flag: Certification < $10K (not credible)

Conclusion: Your ISO 27001 Action Plan

ISO 27001 is the gold standard for information security, recognized globally and increasingly required for B2B sales, especially in Europe and international markets.

Key Takeaways

✅ Comprehensive framework: 114 controls cover all aspects of information security
✅ Global recognition: Especially strong in Europe, Asia-Pacific, regulated industries
✅ 3-year validity: More sustainable than annual SOC 2 (lower annualized cost)
✅ GDPR alignment: Helps meet EU privacy requirements
✅ With AI automation: 8-12 weeks to certification (vs. 12-18 months manual)
✅ Cost-effective: $70K first year vs. $276K traditional (75% savings)
✅ Future-proof: Continual improvement = always evolving security

Implementation Timeline

Week 1-2: Planning

• Define ISMS scope
• Choose automation platform
• Run gap analysis

Week 2-3: Risk Assessment

• AI-automated risk assessment
• Create risk treatment plan
• Prioritize implementations

Week 3-4: Documentation

• AI generates all policies and procedures
• Review and customize
• Executive approval

Week 4-8: Implementation

• Implement 114 controls
• Automated evidence collection
• Address gaps

Week 9-10: Audits & Reviews

• Internal audit
• Management review
• Address findings

Week 11: Stage 1

• Documentation review
• Address Stage 1 findings

Week 12: Stage 2 & Certification

• Implementation testing
• Receive certificate
• Celebrate! 🎉

Ready for ISO 27001 Certification?

Get certified 10x faster with AI:

Simple Comply for ISO 27001:

• •✅ AI generates complete ISMS package (< 1 day vs. 12 weeks)
• •✅ 114 controls pre-mapped with implementation guidance
• •✅ Automated risk assessment and treatment planning
• •✅ Evidence automation from 150+ integrations
• •✅ Statement of Applicability (SoA) auto-generated
• •✅ 8-12 week timeline to certification
• •✅ 75% cost savings vs. traditional methods

Start Free Trial → (14 days, no credit card required)

Or Schedule Demo → to see ISO 27001 automation in action.

About ISO 27001: ISO/IEC 27001 is the international standard for information security management, with over 80,000 certified organizations worldwide. The 2022 version includes 114 controls across organizational, people, physical, and technological themes.

Last Updated: October 2025
Article Length: 6,000+ words
Reading Time: 27 minutes