We’ve Got ISO 27001 – Now What?

You’ve done it. The audits are complete, the certificate is on the wall and the website, and everyone’s breathing a collective sigh of relief that all the work has finally paid off. But if you think getting ISO 27001 certified was the hard part and it’s all downhill from here, think again.

ISO 27001 maintenance isn’t just about keeping your certificate on the wall. It’s about turning those hard-won security practices into business value. While getting certified is a major achievement, the real challenge – and opportunity – lies in what comes next.

Remember that old car you had? The one that started making weird noises before it finally broke down? Your Information Security Management System (ISMS) is a lot like that – it needs regular maintenance to run smoothly. Too many organisations invest heavily in getting certified, only to watch their security practices slowly unravel in the months that follow when they fail to maintain it.

The good news? With the right approach to ISO 27001 maintenance, you can do more than just keep your certification – you can transform your security practices into a genuine business advantage.

The Post-Certification Blues

The champagne’s barely flat when reality hits: ISO 27001 isn’t a one-and-done deal. It’s more like getting a driver’s license – passing the test is just the start.

First Things First: Don’t Let Things Slide

The biggest mistake I see companies make? They relax. Teams start slipping back into old habits. Those carefully documented procedures gather digital dust. Three months later, someone asks, “When was the last time we checked the access logs?” and everyone looks at their shoes. They fail to ensure regular management reviews and risk assessment meetings take place and awareness about information security practices is non-existent.

Here’s the thing – ISO 27001 isn’t just a certificate. Used properly, it’s a powerful business tool.

Making It Part of Your Business as Usual

Policy, Process and Procedure words on three red dice to illustrate a company or organization’s practices, rules and regulations

The key is embedding the good practices into your company’s practices and embedding them. Think of it like going to the gym – the real results come from consistent habits, not sporadic bursts of activity.

Some practical ways to do this:

Start your departmental meetings with a quick security update. Simple stuff: any incidents, upcoming reviews, or changes needed. Keep it relevant and actionable.

Create a monthly awareness campaign where you focus on one aspect of your ISMS. Maybe it’s access control this month, incident management the next. Deep dive into what’s working and what isn’t.

Keep Your Documentation Up to Date

Your documentation should evolve as your business does. That incident response plan you wrote six months ago? It might need tweaking based on what you’ve learned since then. We find that most non-conformities in the first year of operation are because the documentation hasn’t been updated to reflect improved practices.

Continuous Improvement is easy to miss

Every security incident, near-miss, or awkward process is the chance to recognise improvements. They’re telling you where your system needs work. It is very easy to make changes to remedy shortcomings but each one is also an improvement. We know companies find it hard to recognise what they are improving. But they are a great opportunity to celebrate things you are doing well.

Getting Ready for Surveillance Audits

Your first surveillance audit might seem ages away, but it’ll sneak up on you like Christmas. Start preparing now by:

Running internal audits that are tougher than the external ones. We thinks its better to find issues yourself than have an auditor point them out.

Keeping a “change log” of any significant updates to your business – new systems, processes, or services. These all need security consideration.

Training Isn’t a One-Time Thing

Your team needs regular reminders and updates. But please, spare them death by PowerPoint. There are lots of ways to mix things up and work with peoples learning styles so think about real-world scenarios, tabletop exercises, even security-themed quizzes. It’s engaging and memorable and that means it is having an impact.

Measuring What Matters

KPIs aren’t just for satisfying auditors. They tell you if your security measures are actually working. But choose wisely – try to pick the things that are important to you to measure rather than trying to measure everything. You want the results to be useful and not waste time measuring stuff that doesn’t help you. Think of things like employee engagement with security training, security incidents.

Growing Your Security Culture

The goal is making security second nature. Like putting on a seatbelt – you do it automatically, not because there’s a policy.

I saw this work brilliantly at a software company where they created security champions in each team. These weren’t security experts – just regular staff who took an interest and helped keep security part of the conversation.

When Things Go Wrong (And They Will)

Security incidents aren’t failures of your ISMS – they’re tests of it. How you respond shows if your system is working. Document everything, learn from it, and improve your processes.

Looking Ahead

Your business won’t stand still, and neither should your security. Start thinking about:

– New technologies you might adopt
– Changes in your industry landscape
– Evolving threats and risks
– Growing team engagement

The Real Secret to Post-Certification Success

The companies that get the most from ISO 27001 are those that see it as a business tool, not a compliance checkbox. They use it to make better decisions, win new business, and protect what matters. Your ISO 27001 certificate is just the beginning. It’s given you the foundation and how you develop it to add more value is up to you.

If you need some help maintaining your certification – you can book a free chat here.