During this COVID-19 pandemic, many organizations have impacted by business closure threat. When it comes to technology companies, it faces many threats during this pandemic and also it is a mandate for them to prove them as they are more secured than expected.
In the meantime and with the evolving nature of security regulations set forth by government agencies, businesses attempt to adapt and provide assurances to each other that they are in line with the latest rules and best practices.
One of the ways companies do this is by obtaining ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 certifications. On the other hand, those who already have ISO certifications face the challenge of maintaining their ISO certification schedule during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Scheduling or rescheduling on-site audits are in a dilemma when most organizations do not know when they will be able to open their offices and return to a regular business.
Today, let us take a closer look at what does ISO certified mean and the requirements to obtain them and how to renew it if you already have one.
Why ISO 9001 is so important?
Quality Management Systems (QMS) has been formulated by ISO (International Organization for Standardization) for companies all over the world. This standardisation has all processes that any business needs to create a quality product and supply to its end-user. Organisations can frame their Quality Management Systems as per their individual needs but still maintain the standard as specified in the ISO 9001. Each company will be able to tailor the QMS to their individual needs, but it should match the international standards as stipulated in the ISO 9001
Following ISO 9001 standards across the functions in your organisation help to continuously monitor and manage quality across all operations. Internationally, it is the quality system of choice!
The main focus of ISO 9001 is to identify customer’s requirement and delivering it by the best possible way. When a customer sees ISO 9001 certified logo on your product or communication, they know that your company follows the international standardised process, which ensures the quality. The process is not only for individuals and for the team to interact better and deliver the best from their organisation.
There are many benefits when you get your organisation with ISO 9001 certified. Suitable for both small and large organisations.
- Better internal management
- Less wastage
- Increase in efficiency, productivity and profit
- Improved customer retention and acquisition
- Reduces the error/mistakes
- Improve reporting and communications
- Better quality products and service
- More reliable production scheduling and delivery
- Standards maintained by annual assessments
Why ISO 27001 is most important for any Technology driven company?
For any technology companies, security is always a challenge. ISO 27001 provides the process Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) to implement a better-secured IT infrastructure. The ISMS is all of the policies that control the information risk management processes. The ISO 27001 provides international standards for ISMS management to make sure that all of the necessary security processes are in place, and customer data is secured.
There are many benefits of information security, such as:
- Availability of a security policy and regulations make it easier to resolve security incidents.
- Availability of a business continuity process
- Credibility, trust and confidence of your customer
- Greater awareness of security
- Securing confidentiality, integrity and availability
- Prompt detection of data leakage and fast reaction
- Decrease costs and reduce risk
- Prevention of confidentiality breaches Provides a significant competitive advantage, and can effectively be a license to trade with companies in certain regulated sectors
ISO Certification Process:
We at capibizO follows 8 stage roadmap for a successful ISO certification.
- Questionnaire (to understand business & process)
- Gap Analysis (identify the area of current state to ideal state)
- Documentation (Manuals, Policy, Objectives, Process & Records)
- Training (to train ISO standard & to implement organisation process & policies)
- Implementation (to amend and implement the process & policies)
- Internal Audit (to determine compliance to a set of requirements)
- Management Review (to check the effectiveness of the system by top management
- Final Audit, resulting Certification (to conduct an audit by the certification body and recommend for certification)
A common framework for all Management System Standards has to provide greater consistency across all the ISO Management Standards. With our internationally located consultants, capibizO offer on-site and online consultation solutions.
Now, if you already have ISO certification and scheduling or rescheduling on-site audits is a challenge, here is another alternative. Go for a virtual meetings, as most of the certification bodies may accept to perform their assessments remotely. You should work closely with your certification partner to develop a plan if you would like to perform virtual walkthroughs includes facility or physical security walkthroughs.
Postpone the on-site audit, incase virtual meeting is not effective and you wish to have an onsite audit, then it can be completed early 2021. In this case, you will need to work with the certification body to agree on new dates. Postponing on-site audit impact certification timeline? The certification body understands the potential impact on your certification timeline. If your organization can perform virtual meetings and physical security is not a significant component of your certification audit (e.g., physical security is low risk), you will likely be able to move forward with your certification as scheduled. If your organization cannot support virtual meetings, if physical security is an important component of your audit, or if physical space is an important component of the system being certified, your timeline may be impacted.
However, the most likely scenario is that your certification timeline will be pushed back until the on-site audit can be completed. If this is a surveillance audit (second or third-year audit), the firm may be willing to issue the recertification without the on-site.
At capibizO, we work with many organizations to navigate and achieve ISO certification. If you have additional questions please connect with us here and we would wish to assist you.
