ISO 27001 certification requires a substantial investment of time, money, and effort to achieve.

But it doesn’t have to be so costly and time-consuming.

Automation can slash the time and money needed to achieve compliance by making the entire process more efficient.

How long does ISO 27001 certification take without automation?

Because ISO 27001 certification requires so much manual work, it’s worth breaking the process down into pre-audit prep and the audits themselves.

The pre-audit phase typically lasts 1-4 months, consisting of:

• Scoping your ISMS
• Evaluating your information assets 
• Conducting a risk assessment and risk treatment plan 
• Completing a gap analysis
• Implementing new controls
• Writing new policies and procedures
• Training your employees
• Compiling the necessary audit documentation and evidence
• Completing a readiness assessment and/or internal audit

The stage 1 audit can take around 4 weeks and the stage 2 audit can take approximately 2 months, depending on the scope and complexity of your ISMS and the number of additional evidence requests and control tests your auditor has to issue.

The auditor will gather and review all of your evidence documentation, interview members of your team, and finally issue your ISO 27001 certification.

Once you achieve certification, the work continues on maintaining it. This includes monitoring and improving your ISMS in preparation for your surveillance audits at the end of years 1 and 2, as well as the recertification audit at the end of year 3. 

How much does ISO 27001 certification cost without automation?

Like the certification timeline, ISO 27001 compliance costs vary depending on:

• The scope and complexity of your ISMS
• Whether you’re pursuing a new certification or completing a surveillance audit
• The level of prestige of your auditing firm

On average, companies can expect to pay up to $40,000 during the audit preparation process, $15,000+ for the certification audit itself, and $10,000 per year for maintenance and surveillance audits. 

In addition to the formal audit, ISO 27001 costs often include:

Penetration testing

With a penetration test, also known as a “pen test,” a company hires a third party to launch a simulated attack designed to identify vulnerabilities in its infrastructure, systems, and applications. It can then use the results of that simulated attack to fix any potential vulnerabilities. A professional ISO 27001 penetration test costs between $2-8k, depending on the size of your organization and the scope of your systems.

Security tools and training

Fixing gaps in your data management system can mean purchasing new security tools. You might also need to invest in employee security training or even hire more employees.

Consulting fees

Some companies without an internal compliance team choose to hire an ISO 27001 consultant. These security consultants can help conduct a gap analysis, create a remediation plan, and assist in audit prep. If you choose to hire a consultant, expect to pay an additional $1,500-$2,500 per day, depending on the scope of your systems.

Between preparation and the certification audits themselves, the total cost of achieving ISO 27001 compliance can land between $35k and nearly $100k. And because ISO 27001 certification needs to be maintained and renewed, many of these are recurring annual costs.

Why automation is a game-changer for ISO 27001 audits

Secureframe’s compliance automation streamlines the entire certification process. We save teams hundreds of hours and tens of thousands of dollars spent writing security policies, collecting evidence, hiring security consultants, and performing readiness assessments.

Our customers have prepared for successful audits in weeks instead of months. And because Secureframe continuously monitors your infrastructure and alerts you of vulnerabilities, you’ll get your ISO 27001 certification faster, save money, and strengthen your security posture.

Checklists and dashboards for easy audit prep

Assign tasks to individuals on your team throughout your preparation and audit and track your progress towards being audit-ready. You’ll get a real-time view of what’s looking good and what you can do to improve before bringing in your auditor.

Automated evidence collection to streamline audits

We automatically pull evidence throughout the year for seamless submission to your auditor. Easily upload and classify any additional evidence to the Data Room for export.

Expert support from readiness to report

Our team of in-house compliance experts has decades of audit advisory and consulting experience. They understand your company’s specific requirements, provide tailored advice for an ironclad security posture, and guide you through a successful audit.

Continuous monitoring to maintain compliance

From your cloud infrastructure to your vendor ecosystem, we continuously scan and monitor your tech stack for vulnerabilities and help you stay compliant.

Thousands of companies trust Secureframe to streamline ISO 27001 compliance. If you’re ready to get started, schedule a demo with one of our product experts.