In 2025, keeping information safe isn’t just about firewalls and passwords, it’s about building trust, staying compliant, and making smart decisions about risk. As cyber attacks become more common, regulations get stricter, and customers and partners expect more, companies are feeling the pressure to show they take security seriously.
IBM’s 2024 Cost of a Data Breach report found that the average breach now costs $4.45 million, up 15% in just three years. That sharp increase highlights how important it is to have a solid security foundation. ISO/IEC 27001 helps teams put structure around how they manage risk and respond to threats, something more and more businesses can’t afford to ignore.
ISO/IEC 27001 is widely seen as the gold standard for setting up and proving you have a solid Information Security Management System (ISMS). But getting certified isn’t just about writing policies, it takes real commitment, clear roles, and a shift in mindset: stop reacting to problems and start getting ahead of them.
Whether you’re in charge of compliance, leading IT, or managing risk, here’s what to know about tackling ISO 27001 in 2025, especially if you’re just starting out.
Why ISO 27001 Still Matters in 2025
While ISO 27001 has been around for two decades, its relevance is only growing. The 2022 revision modernized the standard to reflect today’s threats, from ransomware to supply chain breaches, and emphasized aligning security with the real-world business context.
For industries like finance, healthcare, and tech, ISO 27001 has become a standard expectation. In fact, 58% of organizations surveyed by BSI Group in late 2023 reported that ISO 27001 certification directly improved customer trust and contractual outcomes.
One of our customers, a mid-sized financial services company, recently faced this head-on when a regulatory audit required them to demonstrate structured information security controls. ISO 27001 became their roadmap, helping them go beyond “bare minimum” compliance and into building a long-term security culture. The result? A stronger risk posture, fewer internal blind spots, and a much smoother audit experience.
ISO 27001: A Quick Refresher
At its core, ISO 27001 is a framework for managing the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. But unlike technical standards that focus purely on software or networks, ISO 27001 looks at people, processes, and technology, and how they all work together to manage risk.
It’s built around the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle, and includes 10 management system clauses plus 93 controls (Annex A) grouped into:
- Organizational controls
- People controls
- Physical controls
- Technological controls
Yes, physical security is part of the picture. And it should be. In a hybrid work world, where sensitive information lives on laptops in cafés or on unlocked office whiteboards, protecting physical assets is just as critical as encrypting data.
The Often-Overlooked Role of Physical Security
While most ISO 27001 journeys start with digital defenses, physical vulnerabilities are often the weakest link, and the easiest to exploit. Think:
- Unsecured access to server rooms or equipment closets
- Confidential documents left on desks
- Laptops without cable locks in shared workspaces
- Visitors entering office spaces without escort or registration
- Security cameras that don’t work, or don’t exist at all
According to a 2024 report by SANS Institute, 17% of breaches in regulated industries involved physical access weaknesses or social engineering.
We’ve seen cases where physical security gaps almost derailed a customer’s certification process. In one instance, a well-structured ISMS lacked a clear visitor access policy, meaning anyone could (theoretically) walk in and plug a device into the company network. That one gap would have failed a section of the audit.
The takeaway? ISO 27001 involves more than just the IT team. Everyone has a role to play, from facilities and reception to building management.
So... How Do You Start?
Here’s a step-by-step breakdown for organizations aiming to align with ISO 27001 in 2025:
1. Scope and Gap Assessment
Start by defining what part of the organization the ISMS will cover. Is it one department? A business unit? The entire company? Once scoped, run a gap analysis to assess where your current practices fall short of ISO requirements, across governance, risk processes, and technical controls.
2. Build or Strengthen Your ISMS
This is your system of policies, roles, procedures, and records that guide how your organization protects information. It includes:
- An information security policy
- A risk assessment and treatment methodology
- An inventory of assets and risks
- A Statement of Applicability (SoA) mapping which controls you use and why
3. Prioritize Real Risks
ISO 27001 allows for risk-based implementation, meaning you don’t have to apply every control blindly. Instead, align controls to the real risks your organization faces. For example, a fintech firm may double down on encryption and access control, while a logistics company may prioritize supplier risks and physical access.
4. Train Your People
This step is often underestimated. Without awareness and ownership, even the best-designed systems fail. Run training, host tabletop exercises, simulate phishing attacks. Security isn’t “someone else’s job”, everyone needs to understand their role.
5. Test, Audit, Improve
Before certification, you’ll need to conduct internal audits and management reviews to assess ISMS effectiveness. Use findings to close gaps and show a culture of continuous improvement.
Then, when you’re ready, bring in a certification body to perform the external audit.
What It Really Takes: Time, Effort and Commitment
ISO 27001 certification takes time and commitment. Most organizations spend 6 to 18 months getting there, depending on their starting point, and costs vary with size and complexity. But the payoff, in reputation, resilience, and reduced risk, can make a real difference.
And if you’re in a regulated industry like finance, health, logistics or retails, as many of our customers are, ISO 27001 might not just be helpful; it could be mandatory to meet external audit requirements or win customer trust.
Final Thoughts: Think Beyond the Certificate
ISO 27001 certification is valuable, but the real goal is resilience. A strong ISMS helps you recover faster from incidents, spot risks earlier, and foster a culture where information security becomes second nature.
In 2025, the organizations that thrive will be the ones that build security into everything they do, how they work, think, and grow.
The next step? Start with a gap assessment, get your team involved, and approach security as an ongoing journey.
About Us
Human Risks is a comprehensive security risk management platform designed to help security teams drive effective engagement with asset owners from the ground up.
Across eight core modules, Human Risks helps organisations proactively embed security risk management into everyday business processes: providing clarity on risk accountability, streamlining collaboration, and supporting a dynamic, living risk assessment approach.
Interested in learning more? Connect with the team to see how we’re working with leading organisations to foster proactive security cultures and drive strategic engagement.
