Over the past decade or so we have seen the rise and fall of a lot of security standards, data management protocols, and even systems designed to enhance data security. However, some of the best solutions are still standing today.
One of the reasons data security protocols such as the ISO 27001 are still reliable today is because they have made adjustments as necessary overtime to counter the ever-changing cyber-criminal behavior. Secondly, protocols such as these appeal to a large audience and are effective in a variety of applications. This makes them great solutions for all kinds of business, in every part of the world.
However, while they are effective and efficient, there are also some drawbacks to these systems. The most significant of these limitations is the sheer complexity of the system and the cost of going through such a certification. While the actual price of the certification is one thing, making the required changes, using the right hardware, and training staff to work in the required manner is another expense to bear in mind.
Another major drawback to large, comprehensive certifications such as the ISO 27001 is that they require an in-depth analysis and up-gradation of the system. If such a certification is a requirement for a business to perform in its industry then there is no working around it, but if it isn't critical to workflow then it isn't necessarily the most efficient solution. To put this into perspective the ISO 27001 standard requires businesses to overhaul more than a dozen separate business domains. This can be a task that is simply too overwhelming for smaller businesses, or may not even be applicable to their structure at all.
Information Assurance for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (IASME) is a much more compact solution for smaller businesses that aims to achieve the same security objectives as other larger certifications. The IASME framework is a solution that is just as flexible as any other, and businesses from any industry can make use of it. More importantly, while being compact, it still incorporates many of the critical features found in the GDPR and Cyber Essentials. In fact, this matter is highlighted in the fact that getting IASME qualified automatically qualifies a business for Cyber Essentials. The groundwork is very similar, yet the process is simpler and quicker.
This is critically important for businesses that don’t have the resources or the need for such large security models. A simple ISO 27001 certification can easily cost a business anywhere from $25000 to $50000, whereas the complete IASME certification can be attained in a budget as low as $300 to a maximum of $1500.
This drastically reduces the financial burden on a business, especially for a small business that is trying to make the most of its resources.
Through the IASME framework businesses can take care of everything from risk assessment and management to employee training to incident response solutions. It is a complete solution for a business, regardless of their line of work. The fact that it is a wholesome solution is something that is vital in today's digital environment. According to research, more than 50% of the overall cyber-attacks were targeted towards small businesses. The reason being that these SMEs don't have the right kind of defense, they don't have security management and often rely on free solutions which are easy for attackers to break through.
IASME is a solution that gives smaller businesses the opportunity to protect themselves thoroughly and really expand their digital operations without the worry of not being prepared to manage a problem. Being very cost-effective, it will help more businesses realize the benefit of having a good data security model in place.
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