ISO 27001 Certification – Information Security
ISO 27001 - Information Security Management Systems
ISO/IEC 27001 is an international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It provides a framework for organizations to establish, implement, maintain, and continually improve their information security management processes.
- Risk Management: Identifies and mitigates information security risks.
- Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability (CIA): Ensures that data is protected, accurate, and accessible only to authorized individuals.
- Legal & Regulatory Compliance: Supports your obligations under privacy and data protection laws, such as PIPEDA and provincial privacy legislation.
- Continuous Improvement: Requires regular audits, monitoring, and updates to security policies.
Components
Key Components of ISO 27001
01
Security Controls (Annex A)
A set of 93 controls across 4 themes (organizational, people, physical, and technological) to safeguard information.
02
Continuous Improvement (ISMS)
Regular monitoring, audits, and updates to ensure ongoing security effectiveness.
03
Risk Assessment & Treatment
Identifying information security risks and selecting controls to treat them, documented in a Statement of Applicability.
Process
Certification Process
Stage 1
Audit (Documentation Review)
The auditor reviews your documented management system, confirms the scope of certification and evaluates your readiness for the Stage 2 audit. Any areas of concern are reported so they can be addressed before Stage 2.
Stage 2
Audit (On-Site Assessment)
The auditor evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of your management system through interviews, observation and a review of records. Any nonconformities are reported for corrective action.
Final Step
Certification Decision
A qualified reviewer who was not part of the audit team reviews the results. Once any major nonconformities are resolved, your ISO/IEC 27001 certificate is issued, valid for three years.
After Certification
Maintaining Your Certification
Surveillance Audits
Surveillance audits are carried out at least once a year to confirm that your management system continues to conform to ISO/IEC 27001 and is maintained and improved.
Recertification
Before your certificate expires, a recertification audit reviews your full management system and renews your certification for another three years.
Certificate Transfers
Already certified by another accredited certification body? Your certificate can usually be transferred to us after a pre-transfer review, without restarting the certification cycle. Learn how transfers work
ISO 27001 Certification in Canada and the USA
Apex Systems Registrar provides ISO/IEC 27001 certification audits for organizations across Ontario, the rest of Canada and the United States. Apex is an affiliate of American Registration Inc., an ANAB-accredited certification body.
Who Needs ISO 27001 Certification?
ISO 27001 is valuable for any organization that needs to show customers its information is protected. It is especially common in:
- Software and SaaS companies
- Managed IT and cloud service providers
- Data centres and hosting providers
- Financial and insurance services
- Organizations that handle sensitive client or personal information
What Affects the Cost and Length of Your Audit?
Audit time is set according to accreditation requirements for information security management systems and depends mainly on:
- The number of people working within the scope of your ISMS
- The number of sites covered by the scope
- The complexity of your information systems and business processes
- The information security risks relevant to your business
Share these details in a quote request and we will send you a detailed proposal.
Independent and Impartial
As a certification body, Apex Systems Registrar does not provide consulting or implementation services for the management systems we certify. Our role is to audit your system independently against ISO/IEC 27001. That independence is what gives your certificate its credibility with customers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which version of ISO 27001 do you certify to?
ISO/IEC 27001:2022, including Amendment 1:2024. The transition period for the 2013 edition ended on October 31, 2025, so all certificates must now be to the 2022 edition.
What is a Statement of Applicability?
A document that lists the Annex A controls, states whether each one applies to your organization and why, and whether it has been implemented. The auditor refers to it throughout the audit.
Does ISO 27001 make us compliant with privacy law?
Not by itself. ISO 27001 helps you manage information security risks in a structured way, which supports your obligations under privacy laws such as PIPEDA, but it is not a substitute for legal compliance.