With the number of cyber attacks in the UK rising each year, ensuring that your business’ information is secure is more important than ever.
Information security provides added protection for your data and IT systems from people who shouldn’t have access. It helps keep your business information private and safe from hackers. This might involve using strong passwords and regularly checking your systems to prevent data theft, helping you avoid data breaches and keep your client’s trust.
Read on to learn what information security covers and how to manage it with a certified Information Security Management System (ISMS).
We’ll also explain how ISO 27001 certification could help your business in the long-term as online security threats become more complex and aggressive.
Understanding Information Security
Information security is essential for any business because it helps keep critical data and systems safe from potential threats or hackers.
It involves various methods and tools designed to protect information and information systems from unauthorised access, use, modifications, disclosure or destruction. This protection is essential for maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
Effective data protection involves implementing thorough strategies to keep data safe and accurate. It also improves an organisation’s overall resilience and trustworthiness. When people know their information is secure, they’re more likely to trust and do business with an organisation.
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Information Security vs Cyber Security
Information security and cyber security are closely linked but focus on different security aspects.
Information security is the broader discipline that involves protecting all types of information – whether digital, physical or intellectual – from being accessed, used or damaged by unauthorised individuals. It covers a wide range of practices for securing information.
Cyber security, on the other hand, is a specialised branch of information security that concentrates on safeguarding digital data and systems from threats like hacking and cyber attacks.
Types of Information Security
Information security covers several key areas businesses need to consider, all of which are connected. Here are the main types:
- Network security – focuses on protecting an organisation’s network infrastructure from unauthorised access, misuse or cyber-attacks. It involves using tools such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems and encryption to ensure that data moving across the network stays protected. Network security is crucial for preventing breaches and keeping sensitive data safe and accessible.
- Application security – involves securing software applications by finding and fixing any weaknesses that hackers might exploit. This can include regular updates, checking code and conducting security tests like penetration tests. By protecting applications, companies can avoid data breaches and ensure that all applications work smoothly.
- Endpoint security – focuses on protecting devices such as smartphones, computers and tablets that connect to a network. It involves using antivirus software, device management rules and access controls to defend against potential cyber threats. Endpoint security is essential to stop malware and prevent unauthorised access to sensitive information through individual devices.
- Data security – focuses on safeguarding sensitive data, whether stored or transferred. It uses access controls, encryption and data masking to keep information secure and only accessible to authorised users. Data security is crucial for maintaining privacy and meeting legal requirements.
The Dangers of Poor Information Security Protocols
Any business that decides not to implement robust information security practices and policies risks harming its reputation and clients. Risks can have adverse effects on the integrity of data if they come to fruition.
Without proper security measures, organisations can be vulnerable to a number of cyber attacks, including data breaches, where sensitive information can be stolen or exposed. This could lead to significant financial losses, which might be directly related to the breach or indirectly related to responding to it and any potential fines or redress payments.
For example, in a recent incident, TfL had to contact around 5,000 customers after a cyber attack compromised their information, which included home addresses and bank details.
One of the worst outcomes of weak information security is damage to a company’s reputation. If clients don’t trust a company to protect their sensitive data, it can lead to lost business and long-term harm to the brand, possibly affecting its market value.
Failing to properly protect sensitive data and information can also have legal and regulatory consequences. Many sectors have strict, specific data protection laws, and the UK is subject to the Data Protection Act 2018.
Not complying with this Act can result in legal action and substantial fines, further damaging an organisation’s reputation.
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The 3 Principles of Information Security
Good information security is based on three main principles: confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality means that sensitive information is only accessible to people authorised to see it. This is maintained by using access controls, authentication methods and security measures like encryption to block unauthorised access.
Confidentiality is vital for protecting personal and internal information from breaches that could lead to identity theft, fraud, fines or costly legal action.
Integrity
Integrity involves making sure that sensitive information is accurate and complete. It also ensures that data stays unchanged during storage, transfer and processing, except by those who have permission to alter it.
Methods such as hashing, audit trails and checksums help confirm that information hasn’t been tampered with. This means that any decisions are based on reliable data.
Availability
Availability guarantees that authorised users can access sensitive information whenever it is needed. This is achieved through regular maintenance, backups and strong security measures. These help businesses protect their information against disruptions, such as cyberattacks or hardware/software failures.
Keeping sensitive information available is essential for continuing business operations during disruption and ensuring critical business processes aren’t interrupted.
Information Security Management Systems
Businesses can set up an Information Security Management System (ISMS) to protect their sensitive information and data properly.
An ISMS is a structured set of rules and procedures for managing and improving a company’s information security. It aims to keep data safe by identifying risks, implementing controls and continually improving security measures. This approach is aligned with the organisation’s business goals.
An ISMS is essential for managing information security. It involves carrying out risk assessments to understand potential threats and weaknesses, which helps in effectively using resources and budgets. This process also helps organisations protect their information assets.
Part of implementing an ISMS involves developing incident response plans that allow for quick and effective action in the event of a security breach to minimise any potential damage.
What is an Information Security Policy (ISP)?
An Information Security Policy (ISP) is an essential tool for setting a company’s security goals and rules.
It provides a clear framework for managing information security.
An ISP helps businesses to maintain consistency in security practices and protocols, supporting compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
How ISO 27001 Can Aid Information Security
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management established by the International Organization for Standardization. It outlines the requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining an effective ISMS.
ISO 27001 provides clear guidelines and controls to help organisations establish a comprehensive ISMS. Adopting a risk-based approach helps enhance security and resilience at every stage when handling sensitive information.
A key part of ISO 27001 is ongoing improvement. Organisations must regularly check and update their ISMS to ensure it stays effective as the business changes and new cyber threats appear.
Achieving certification helps businesses to systematically identify and manage risks effectively. By meeting ISO 27001’s requirements, they can demonstrate that their information security measures are up-to-date and robust, inspiring trust from clients and stakeholders.
Read our ISO 27001 guide for beginners.
Start Your ISO 27001 Certification With British Assessment Bureau
Implementing a robust ISMS is essential for safeguarding sensitive data and aligning your organisation’s information security goals with your business goals.
ISO 27001 certification can help you improve your information security management. It requires time and resources to achieve certification, but you may be surprised to find that your ISMS is already compliant in many aspects.
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At British Assessment Bureau, we pride ourselves on providing a simple and impartial pathway to certification success. We offer auditing services for ISO 27001 certification from the initial audit to the recertification audit three years later.
We’re a UKAS-accredited certification body for ISO certifications, with proven expertise to help guide your business towards successful ISO certifications. UKAS is the only government-endorsed body for ISO certification in the United Kingdom.
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