ISO certification can bring benefits such as improved credibility, customer trust, and competitive advantage. However, organisations need to balance the costs associated with certification against the expected returns. By saving money during the process, organisations can enhance the return on their investment in ISO certification.
At Core to Cloud, we wanted to pull together how organisations can look at lowering any exponential cost or increasing costs during the ISO preparation and certification process.
How to save on your ISO 27001 Certification
Leveraging Existing Standards and Frameworks
One effective approach is to leverage existing standards and frameworks that are already in place within your organisation. When you take the time to identify similarities between these existing standards and the ISO requirements, you can significantly reduce the effort and resources needed to develop new policies and procedures from scratch. Saving you time, money and the stress of creating these policies and frameworks.
Another cost-saving tip within this vein is to reuse existing policies and procedures that align with the ISO standard. Many organisations may already have established processes and documentation that can be adapted to meet certain ISO requirements. By reviewing and modifying these existing policies, organisations can save time and effort in creating new ones, leading to overall cost reduction. You have already spent time and investment creating these documents, so why not use them in a different context?
Conduct a Thorough Gap Analysis
When pursuing ISO certification, identifying areas of improvement and prioritizing cost-saving actions can play a significant role in reducing expenses.
You should thoroughly assess existing processes and systems to identify areas that require improvement. By pinpointing inefficiencies or gaps, organisations can develop targeted cost-saving measures. This could involve streamlining workflows, optimising resource allocation, or eliminating unnecessary steps. Identifying these areas early on allows for targeted cost-saving efforts.
When you allow yourself the information and overview to see clearly what you already have, you can compare it to the requirements of the ISO certification with more clarity. This ensures that you don’t repeat anything you can already utilise and that you are clearly ensuring everyone involved knows what you need to focus on first to make this a seamless process.
Remember! Not all actions have the same cost-saving potential, so it's important to focus on those that yield the highest return on investment. Organisations can prioritise cost-saving initiatives based on factors such as the potential cost reduction, the level of effort required, and alignment with ISO requirements.
Build Internal Competence and Awareness
Firstly, investing in training and upskilling employees can have long-term cost-saving benefits. Employees can develop the necessary skills and knowledge to handle certification-related tasks internally by providing comprehensive training on ISO standards and requirements. This reduces the need to hire expensive external consultants for every certification process step.
This is not to say that outsourced consultants don’t have a place within the ISO certification process, but the cost associated can be lowered by ensuring that your internal team are aware of what is needed within this process.
Training can include workshops, seminars, online courses, and mentorship programs to equip employees with the required expertise. By developing an in-house team of ISO experts, organisations can save significantly on consultant fees and ensure a more efficient certification process.
Secondly, reducing reliance on external consultants can lead to substantial cost savings. While consultants can provide valuable expertise, their services can be expensive. Organisations can explore alternatives such as assigning internal resources or leveraging existing staff members who have experience with ISO standards. By utilising internal expertise, organisations can significantly reduce costs associated with consultant fees and retain greater control over the certification process.
Furthermore, organisations can consider establishing a cross-functional team or task force dedicated to ISO certification. This team can manage and coordinate the certification process, ensure compliance with ISO standards, and oversee internal audits.
Compare Certification Bodies
When looking for ISO certification, it's crucial to do thorough research and find reputable certification bodies that are accredited and recognised by relevant authorities. It's important to choose certification bodies with a strong track record of successfully certifying organisations, as this instils confidence and also ensures you are not wasting your precious budget.
Opting for well-regarded certification bodies ensures that the certification process is conducted effectively and in compliance with ISO standards.
To save costs, organisations should request quotes or proposals from multiple certification bodies and compare them over coffee with the deliverable promised. It's essential to review the services they offer, including the audit process, certification duration, and ongoing support. By carefully evaluating the costs and benefits of each proposal, you can make informed decisions based on their specific needs and budget.
While cost is important, it shouldn't be the sole deciding factor. Organisations must also consider the quality of service provided by the certification bodies. This includes factors such as the expertise and experience of auditors, their responsiveness to inquiries, and their reputation for being thorough and professional.
As always, a team member is ready to take your call if you are ready for a no-nonsense conversation and the opportunity to be supported in your process of gaining an ISO 27001 certification. (Contact Here)
At Core to Cloud, we talk the talk and walk the walk, and you can discover here our own journey to ISO accreditation.
