The ISO Show Blackmores UK

As many of you are aware, an updated version of ISO 27001 was published in October 2022. While there is a 2-year grace period for transition, we would urge everyone to make a start on implementing the changes to ensure you are compliant with latest best practice standards. But where do you start?
In the last episode, Mel and Steve gave an overview of the updated ISO 27001:2022, including a high-level look at some of the key changes.
In addition to the control changes, there have been several changes made to specific clauses within the Standard.
Mel is once again joined by Steve Mason, Managing Consultant here at Blackmores, to discuss the ISO 27001:2022 clause updates and their purpose.
You’ll learn
What clauses have been updated from the 2013 version of ISO 27001? Why have these clauses been updated?  
Resources
Isologyhub NIST Cyber Essentials ISO 9001  
In this episode, we talk about:
[01:06] The changes to these clauses appear to align your Management System with the business more so than in the previous iteration of ISO 27001 – a key focus is integration.
 [01:20] First change: Clause 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of Interested parties – ‘c) which of these requirements will be addressed through the information security management system.’ - This seeks to align the Management System with interested parties and identify where it may or may not be able to meet their needs and expectations.
[03:30] Clause 4.4 Information Security Management System – ‘The organization shall establish, implement, maintain and continually improve an information security management system, including the processes needed and their interactions, in accordance with the requirements of this document.’ – There will be more focus on process flows and not Policies and Procedures. This can be further used to align the Management System with your business, by clearly identifying where it fits in with your business activities. 
[06:14] Clause 5.1. Leadership – ‘Reference to “business” in this document can be interpreted broadly to mean those activities that are core to the purposes of the organization’s existence.’ – This acts more as a reminder to top management to ensure they include the Management System as part of the business and not just a bolt-on. It should be a part of the strategy and part of the business (part of the ship, part of the crew)
[07:42] Clause 6.1.3  Information Security Risk Treatment –‘ Note 2 in sub-clause ‘c’ now states ‘Annex A contains a list of possible information security controls.’ (it had previously read Annex A contains a comprehensive list of control objectives and controls.) – This simply means that you can add references to other controls outside of the list provided within Annex A i.e. NIST or Cyber Essentials. Though, do be careful to avoid doing this at minutia level, as that just increases Management System maintenance.
[09:15] Clause 6.2  Information security objectives and planning to achieve them –‘ A couple of extra points have been added to this clause: d) be monitored g) be available as documented information’  - The monitoring was previously a given, but not really specified. So now, you’ll have to demonstrate how you’re monitoring objective planning and achievements.
[10:24] Clause 6.3 Planning of Changes – ‘When the organization determines the need for changes to the information security management system, the changes shall be carried out in a planned manner.’ – This has now been aligned more with ISO 9001’s approach to changes. All changes should be planned before implementation, and this now includes information security consideration. Fun fact – they forgot to include this clause in the Standard table of contents! (as of January 2023, this will probably be added later!)
[11:55] Clause 9.3.2  Management Review Inputs –‘ c) changes in needs and expectations of interested parties that are

The long-awaited update of ISO 27001 arrived in October 2022, having gone 9 years since its previous 2013 iteration. Needless to say, it was much overdue.
The new 2022 version of the Standard includes 11 new controls and sees around 56 other controls combined into 24 newly titled controls.
In order to cover every aspect of the new Standard, we’ll be running a mini-series through January and February on the updated ISO 27001:2022 in addition to how you can transition to the new version.
Starting off the series strong, Mel is joined once again by Steve Mason, our very own Information Security guru, to broadly discuss the changes to ISO 27001:2022.
You’ll learn
Who is ISO 27001:2022 applicable to? An overview of the changes to ISO 27001:2022 What is Steve’s favorite change to ISO 27001:2022? What are the challenges involved with updating to the 2022 version?  
Resources
Isologyhub ISO 27031 (Guidelines for information and communication technology readiness for business continuity) ISO 27005 (Risk assessment) ISO 22301 (Business Continuity)  
In this episode, we talk about:
[01:50] Steve Gives an overview of what’s new in ISO 27001:2022 – The updated version of ISO 27001 was released on the 26th Oct 2022. The new version included 24 changes and clarifications within the main clauses.
 [02:50] The controls for the new standard are now categorised into 4 groups: Organisation, People, Physical and Technology  
[05:50] We covered some of the new controls in more detail in previous episodes: #109, #110, #111, #112, #113 and #114
[06:17] The 24 changes and clarifications to Clauses include older existing clauses which have been tidied up to be more transparent. We recommend reviewing to ensure that you are complying in a way that aligns with the Standard.
[06:35] There are 11 new Controls. 56 controls from the 2013 version have been reduced to 24 with 58 remaining unchanged. So, in short, Annex A has been simplified with less duplication of controls.
[07:44] Steve highlights section A.9 for Access Control as one of the much-improved controls – due to the lack of repetition and simplified requirements for compliance.
[08:35] Steve’s favourite update to the Standard: The whole Standard now collectively encourages incorporation into your business. Your ISMS should not feel like a bolt on, it should be a part of your businesses DNA.
[10:36] Steve’s favourite update to the Standard #2: It’s not a static Standard, it encourages development and continual improvement.  
[13:45] For those completely new to ISO 27001 – check out our 3-part Steps to Success series which explains the Implementation process from start to finish.
[14:38] Listen to some of our client interviews to hear the challenges others faced when Implementing ISO 27001 in addition to the benefits gained as a result of adopting the Standard:   
[14:50] Why would the business continuity elements of ISO 27001:2022 pose a challenge?  There used to be a clause in the 2005 version of the standard which documented the need for a business impact analysis – this was removed in the 2013 version. The new ‘ICT readiness for business continuity’ control will require at the very least, a risk assessment.   
[16:48] Steve recommends checking out the Plan, Do, Act, Check diagram in ISO 27031 (Guidelines for information and communication technology readiness for business continuity). It also includes some great guidance on business impact analysis.
[18:40] The ICT readiness control is not designed to be an all encompassing business continuity strategy – it’s designed to work in tandem with as existing one (you may already be certified to ISO 22301 Business Continuity Management).
 [19:50] It’s highly recommended that if you don’t have a Business Continuity Plan or strategy – at least have a framework in place. Disasters by their nature are unpredictable, as is the resulting damage to an extent. You will not know the f

Happy New Year! We at Blackmores hope you all managed to have a break over the holiday season and are gearing up for many challenges and successes in 2023.
As a reminder, we signed off last year by highlighting the top 5 podcasts as dictated by you, the listeners.
Before we dive into a brand-new year full of top tips, expert advice with industry leaders and client interviews, we’d like to take a step back and let the host share her reflections on 2022.
Join Mel as she shares her personal top 5 ISO Show episodes from last year.   
You’ll learn
What are Mel’s top 5 episodes of 2022?  
Resources
ISO Show Archive Isologyhub  
In this episode, we talk about:
[00:30] A reminder to listen to our last podcast, covering the top 5 podcasts as dictated by the listeners.
[01:21] #1 Episode 102 – What’s in a name? This episode features our Senior Isologist, Sarah Ball, as she explains the importance of giving a meaningful name to your Management System. 
[03:40] What’s in a Name snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive   
[08:01] #2 Episode 94 – The 7 Steps of Carbonology_ Reduce – Part 4 of the 7 Steps of Carbonology series, featuring our Carbonologist, David Algar. This episode delves into the creation and communication of a carbon reduction plan, and the benefits of reducing your footprint rather then relying on offsetting alone.
[10:14] The 7 Steps of Carbonology - Reduce snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive   
[16:48] #3: Episode 117 PMC’s journey and ongoing success with ISO 27001– This is an interview with Philip Bailey, the Managed Services Director at PMC Retail, talking about their ISO 27001 journey. Philip shares his lessons learned and gives some top tips for anyone considering implementing the Information Security Standard  
[17:58] PMC’s journey and ongoing success with ISO 27001 snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive 
[24:00] #4: Episode 100 How to get the most out of your Management Review – Featuring Rachel Churchman, Managing Consultant here at Blackmores, this episode explores how added value can be gained from doing a Management Review. Mel and Rachel discuss various ways you can conduct a Management Review and what should be your key inputs and outputs.   
[26:14] How to get the most out of your Management Review snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive   
[30:41] #5: Episode 108 How to align your Management System with the Sustainable Development Goals– Following on from the Sustainable Development Goals summary episodes, Mel shares how you can align your Management System right now without the need for any ISO certification.  
[32:37] How to align your Management System with the Sustainable Development Goals snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive 
We look forward to bringing you even more amazing content in 2023, so stay tuned! 😊
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Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes:
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It’s been a busy year here at Blackmores! Somehow, we managed to fit in the time to publish 37 new ISO Show episodes.
It’s been a mix of knowledge sharing, top tips, advise and stories from our very own consultants and clients – and we’re looking forward to sharing even more with you next year!
We thought it’d be good to end this year on a look back at 2022 and highlight 5 of the most listened to episodes of the ISO Show across its many platforms.
Join Mel as she shares some snippets from our top 5 most popular episodes this year.
You’ll learn
What are the most listened to episodes of the ISO Show for 2022?  
Resources
ISO Show Archive Isologyhub  
In this episode, we talk about:
[00:30] The top 5 episodes of 2022 have been selected based on which episodes have been listened to the most.
[01:00] #1 98 What is a Management Review? This is an episode that appeals to a more general audience as Management Review is a requirement of many ISO’s. This was the 1st of a 3-part series and explains the basics of what a Management Review is and what it typically includes. 
[02:47] What is a Management Review snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive   
[05:40] #2 100 How to get the most out of your Management Review – Part of the Management Review series – this episode includes Rachel Churchman, a Managing Consultant here at Blackmores. The episode explored various ways in which you can make your Management Review both more engaging and successful in achieving tangible outcomes.  
[06:55] How to get the most out of your Management Review snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive   
[13:20] #3: 106 What are the Sustainable Development Goals – This is a 2-part series which explores the 17 SDG’S and how ISO Standards can meet certain goals. In both episodes, Mel gives specific examples of the many ISO’s that align with the SDG’s.
[15:08] What are the Sustainable Development Goals snippet – Full episodes available in the ISO Show Archive  - Part 1 / Part 2
[22:08] #4 and #5: 109 What’s new with ISO 27002:2022? / 110 What are the 11 new controls in ISO 27002? – Both of these episodes shortly followed the release of ISO 27002 – A guidance document for ISO 27001. While not certifiable, it did give us an insight to the changes in ISO 27001 that were published later in the year. Episode 109 summarises how ISO 27002 works in relation to ISO 27001, along with a very brief summary of the changes. Episode 110 goes into more detail on each of the 11 new controls – and features our very own Managing Consultant, Steve Mason. 
[24:38] What are the 11 new controls in ISO 27002 snippet – Full episode available in the ISO Show Archive   
That’s it from us for 2022! We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and New year - See you on the other side in 2023 😊
We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how:
Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date with our latest episodes:
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Currently, there are around 1,077,884 valid ISO 9001 certificates globally – which beats the second runner ISO 14001 by over 600,000!
There is no doubt that the Quality Management Standard, ISO 9001, is still the most widely adopted ISO Standard – and for good reason!
ISO 9001 is basically a model for running a successful and profitable business. It provides a common framework for things that all businesses should have in place, including defining your companies unique ‘way of working’.
In addition to being a blueprint for a business’s operation, there are many other benefits to be gained from implementing ISO 9001. Today, Mel explains a few of these benefits in greater detail.
You’ll learn
What is ISO 9001? Why Implement ISO 9001? The benefits of ISO 9001 Resources
What is ISO 9001? Isologyhub In this episode, we talk about:
[00:30] Why talk about ISO 9001 benefits? Often times, Mel gets asked for benefits of ISO 9001 so a business case can be put forward.
[01:00] What is ISO 9001? For a detailed break down of the Standard, go back and watch ‘Episode 36 – What is ISO 9001?’
[01:45] For those that have Implemented ISO 9001, what are the benefits? We’d love to hear from you! If you have some stories to share – feel free to leave a comment on which ever media player you’re listening on – or email us. We’d love to share some of your experiences in a future episode.   
[02:09] Benefit #1: Win new business – From a sales and marketing perspective, ISO 9001 is essentially a passport to trade. It demonstrates credibility to Stakeholders as it’s a mark of quality.
[02:55] Benefit #2: A framework that can fit any business – This can be for any industry sector and business size. It helps businesses figure out what is working well and what’s not working so well.
[03:10] Benefit #3: Identify opportunities for Improvement - It helps businesses figure out what is working well and what’s not working so well. It can help identify issues such as: Bottlenecks in processes, resourcing and external factors.
[04:05] ISO 9001 helps you to look at your business – warts and all. It does no one any good to bury their head in the sand and ignore issues, especially as Stakeholders and clients will see through this.
[04:40] Benefit #4: Put quality controls in place to mitigate risk and raise your standards – If you have complaints or need to do a product recall – you need processes in place to handle this. ISO 9001 gives you the tools to do so, creating an effective framework everyone can follow.
[05:40] Benefit #5: Improve efficiency – ISO 9001 helps you identify the best way of working and pushes you to optimise that. That could include eliminating aspects of you business that waste time, or create burdens.
[06:05] Benefit #6: Creating a unique Blueprint – ISO 9001 isn’t an out of the box solution – it can be tailored to your way of working. It helps to establish relevant Policies and Procedures that improve your business operations.   
[06:24] Benefit #7: Enhancing customer satisfaction and employee retention – Good quality business practices will inevitably help you to keep ahold of good clients – and good employees too! This can be achieved by having clear roles and responsibilities in addition to vision and goals for the business.
[07:20] Benefit #8: Increase profitability – Businesses often look at the cost of poor quality – where is your business leaking money? Addressing those issues is a direct cost saving.
[08:21] Businesses who have grown through acquisition often find ISO 9001 a great tool to help standardise their way of working, so they can easily integrate other businesses and services.  
We’d love to hear your views and comments about the ISO Show, here’s how:
Share the ISO Show on Twitter or Linkedin Leave an honest review on iTunes or Soundcloud. Your ratings and reviews really help and we read each one. Subscribe to keep up-to-date

Data breaches have risen by 70% globally in Q3 of 2022, reenforcing the requirement for many to seek out Information Security solutions, especially those within the tech space.
Today we speak to Triaster, who have been in operation since 1994, providing businesses with process mapping and execution software to help drive business improvement.
Triaster’s Business Operations Manager, Jane Duncan, explains why they sought to implement ISO 27001, what challenges they faced and what they learned during their certification journey.
You’ll learn
Who are Triaster? Why Triaster Implemented ISO 27001 What did they learn from their experience? What benefits have they seen as a result of Implementing ISO 27001?  
Resources
Triaster What is ISO 27001? Internal Auditing in plain English: A simple guide to super effective ISO Audits by Craig Cochran  
 
 
In this episode, we talk about:
[00:54] Get to know Jane Duncan – Triaster’s Business Operations Manager who has recently started fostering dogs for a local charity.
[01:41] Who are Triaster? In short, they build software solutions that drive business improvement. They are a thought leader in their field and strive to create new software to meet business needs.
[02:25] What was the main driver for achieving ISO 27001? In 2020, they had certified to the Quality Standard, ISO 9001, and saw the many benefits that come with ISO certification. They saw ISO 27001 as both an opportunity and a necessity due to their work within the IT industry. ISO 27001 is seen as a mark of trust and provides a central framework to improve data security.  
[04:28] How long did It take to implement ISO 27001? They started looking at certification bodies and consultants to help with implementation in March 2021. The project overall lasted six months, with their assessments taking place in September and October of the same year. They also chose to recertify to ISO 9001 at the same time – this aligned both Standards under one Integrated Management System.  
[06:35] If you are considering implementing multiple ISO’s, it’s recommended to integrate them into a single Management System. This reduces the costs of implementation and is overall easier to maintain.
[07:17] What was the biggest gap identified in Triaster’s initial Gap Analysis? They had a lack of security policies in place in addition to a lack of processes that would have mitigated potential data security risks.   
[08:00] What was the biggest difference ISO 27001 made? They now do regular annual SWOT and PESTLE’s that are evaluated at Management Reviews. Risks identified during those reviews are added to a risk register and are used to develop the necessary objectives and controls needed to mitigate future risk.
[08:38] Other differences include the ability to track non-conformities, security risks and opportunities for improvement. They also have the confidence to prove their data security credentials to clients and have the required documentation to back it up. Tendering processes are also made easier by having ISO 27001 as it is often a requirement that can now be ticked off.
[09:25] Triaster use Infrastructure partner (who are also ISO 27001 certified) and can now hold them accountable for the services they provide. 
[09:50] Jane states that they are now a much better business following the Implementation of both ISO 9001 and ISO 27001 – continually improving their processes and scrutinising working practices.  
[10:54] All of the same security practices can be done by those who are homeworking at Triaster
[11:05] What has been the main lesson learned? The process if certification is a journey – it’s about continually improving and truly adopting the ethos of Information Security into every aspect of the business.  
[11:52] What are the main benefits? They hope their clients can see their efforts and have confidence in Triaster’s ability to keep their data secure. They also now have th