How to get ISO 27001 certified: A startup founder's quick guide

Achieving ISO 27001 certification is more vital than ever for startups looking to establish trust and expand globally. According to A-LIGN's 2025 Compliance Benchmark Report, 92% of organizations now pursue two or more audits annually, highlighting the growing emphasis on security and compliance.

With ISO 27001 adoption surging from 67% in 2024 to 81% in 2025, it's becoming a near-essential requirement for doing business for startups in SaaS, fintech, or healthcare.

Without it, startups risk losing customer trust, international deals, and a competitive edge particularly when entering regulated markets like the EU or dealing with enterprise clients.

Modern compliance automation tools simplify the process, reducing manual effort and accelerating certification. Our guide provides a step-by-step approach to achieving ISO 27001, helping your startup stay competitive and tap into global growth opportunities.

What type of startup needs to be ISO 27001 certified?

Not every startup needs ISO 27001 certification from day one; it serves as a key differentiator— especially when security is a deciding factor for partnerships with other service providers.

Here's how you can determine if your startup needs ISO 27001:

1. Data handling responsibilities:

Certification ensures that your security practices meet internationally recognized standards if you collect, store, process, transmit, or access sensitive customer data.

2. Global business ambitions:

When you plan to operate outside North America or target international markets, ISO 27001 signals to partners and customers that you prioritize data security.

3. Building trust and credibility:

Achieving certification demonstrates your commitment to strong security practices. This can enhance your reputation and give you a competitive edge with customers and strategic partners who value data protection.

How to get ISO 27001 certified?

Getting ISO 27001 certification may look challenging, but breaking it into practical steps makes it easier to handle. The certification process centers on designing, implementing, and maintaining an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that shields your startup's sensitive information.

Your startup needs to take these key steps to get ISO 27001 certified:

Step 1: Define your ISMS scope

Identifying the scope is crucial as it sets the boundaries for your ISMS.

1. For startups, this typically involves:

• Core product or service: Focus on the primary offering that generates revenue.
• Key business processes: Include processes critical to product or service delivery.
• Essential IT infrastructure: Cover systems, networks, and databases handling sensitive information.
• Physical locations: Include offices or data centers where critical operations occur.
• Third-party relationships: Consider vendors or partners with access to your data.

2. Keep the scope manageable: Start with what's most critical and expand later as the company grows.

3. Document the scope clearly: This helps communicate boundaries to auditors and stakeholders.

Step 2: Conduct a gap assessment

This step assesses how your current security practices align with ISO 27001 requirements.

• Process:
  • Review the ISO 27001 standard, particularly the Annex A controls and clauses 4 to 10 of the standard, which cover mandatory requirements.
  • Compare each requirement against your existing practices.
  • Document discrepancies or missing elements.
  • Prioritize gaps based on risk and importance to your business.
• Tools to use:
  • ISO 27001 checklist or assessment template.
  • Interviews with key personnel.
  • Review of existing documentation and processes.
• Outcome:
  • A clear picture of what needs to be done to achieve compliance.
  • A roadmap for implementing missing controls or improving existing ones.

Step 3: Perform risk assessment and treatment

This is a critical step in understanding your security landscape.

• Identify threats:
  • External threats: Hackers, malware, natural disasters.
  • Internal threats: Employee errors, insider threats.
• Assess vulnerabilities:
  • Technical vulnerabilities: Outdated software, misconfigurations.
  • Process vulnerabilities: Lack of procedures, inadequate controls.
  • People vulnerabilities: Lack of awareness, insufficient training.
• Evaluate potential impact:
  • Financial loss.
  • Reputational damage.
  • Operational disruption.
  • Legal and regulatory consequences.
• Create a risk treatment plan:
  • Prioritize risks based on likelihood and impact.
  • Decide on risk treatment options: Mitigate, transfer, accept, or avoid.
  • Develop action plans for each significant risk.
• Document the entire process for future reference and audits.
  • This forms part of your Risk Treatment Plan and Statement of Applicability (SoA) — key artifacts reviewed during the audit.

Step 4: Create security policies

Policies form the foundation of your ISMS and guide all security-related activities.

• Key policies to develop:
  • Information security policy: Overarching document outlining your commitment to security.
  • Acceptable use policy: Guidelines for proper use of IT resources.
  • Access control policy: Rules for granting and revoking access to systems and data.
  • Data classification policy: How to categorize and handle different types of data.
  • Incident response policy: Procedures for detecting, reporting, and responding to security incidents.
• Ensure policies are:
  • Clear and easy to understand.
  • Aligned with business objectives.
  • Reviewed at planned intervals — or when significant changes occur — to stay aligned with evolving risks.
  • Communicated effectively to all employees.

Step 5: Implement security controls

This step involves establishing the necessary safeguards.

• Focus on Annex A controls that are most relevant to your startup:
  • Access control: Implement strong authentication and authorization mechanisms.
  • Cryptography: Use encryption for sensitive data storage and transmission.
  • Physical security: Secure physical assets and control access to facilities.
  • Operational security: Implement malware protection, logging, and monitoring.
  • Communications security: Secure networks and manage third-party service providers.
  • Supplier relationships: Particularly for SaaS startups using third-party APIs, hosting, or data processors.
• Prioritize implementation based on:
  • Risk assessment results.
  • Potential business impact.
  • Resource availability.
• Document the implementation process and maintain evidence of controls.

Step 6: Train your team

Security awareness is crucial for maintaining an effective ISMS. Training should be part of onboarding for new employees — and repeated at regular intervals (e.g., annually) to remain effective.

• Develop a comprehensive training program:
  • Cover all aspects of the ISMS relevant to each role.
  • Include both general security awareness and role-specific training.
  • Use various methods: workshops, e-learning, and simulations.
• Key training topics:
  • Information security basics.
  • Phishing and social engineering awareness.
  • Incident reporting procedures.
  • Proper handling of sensitive information.
• Ensure leadership understands their role in promoting security culture.
• Conduct regular refresher training and track participation.

Step 7: Conduct internal audits

Regular audits help ensure the ISMS is working as intended.

• Develop an audit program:
  • Define audit scope and frequency.
  • Select and train internal auditors.
  • Create audit checklists and procedures.
• During audits:
  • Review documentation and records.
  • Interview key personnel.
  • Observe processes in action.
  • Test the effectiveness of controls.
• Document findings and non-conformities.
• Develop and implement corrective action plans.
• Use audit results to drive continuous improvement.

Step 8: Management review

Regular reviews ensure that the ISMS remains effective and aligned with business goals.

• Frequency: At least annually, or more often for rapidly growing startups.
• Review inputs:
  • Results of audits and risk assessments.
  • Feedback from interested parties.
  • Status of actions from previous reviews.
  • Changes affecting the ISMS.
• Review outputs:
  • Decisions on ISMS changes and improvements.
  • Resource allocation.
  • Updates to risk assessment and treatment plans.
• Document review outcomes and track action items.

Step 9: External audit

This is conducted by an accredited certification body to verify ISMS compliance.

Stage 1 (documentation review)

• Prepare for the audit:
  • Conduct a pre-assessment to identify any last-minute issues.
  • Ensure all documentation is up-to-date and easily accessible.
  • Brief key personnel on the audit process.

Stage 2 (implementation review)

• During the audit:
  • Provide auditors with necessary access and information.
  • Be transparent about any known issues or non-conformities.
  • Take notes on auditor feedback for future improvements.
• After the audit:
  • Address any non-conformities promptly.
  • Implement suggested improvements.
  • Communicate audit results to relevant stakeholders.

Step 10: Achieve certification

Upon successful completion of the external audit, you'll receive ISO 27001 certification.

• The certificate is valid for three years.
• Maintain the certification:
  • Undergo annual surveillance audits to ensure ongoing compliance.
  • Continuously improve your ISMS based on audit findings and changing business needs.
  • Stay updated on changes to the ISO 27001 standard and adjust your ISMS accordingly.
• Use the certification as a competitive advantage:
  • Showcase your commitment to information security to clients and partners.
  • Include it in marketing materials and proposals.
  • Leverage it to build trust with stakeholders and potentially enter new markets.

Common mistakes to avoid when implementing ISO 27001

Startups often make preventable mistakes while implementing ISO 27001 that derail their certification efforts and drain resources. A clear understanding of these pitfalls can save time, money, and frustration.

1. Underestimating the time commitment

Viewing certification as a one-time project stands out as a major error. ISO 27001 isn't just a checkbox for startups—it requires continuous dedication to information security. While many companies celebrate their certification, security practices often slip as the business scales. The key to long-term success is establishing robust monitoring processes that ensure your security measures evolve alongside emerging threats.

2. Leadership team's lack of involvement

ISO 27001 initiatives often stall or fall short without strong executive support. Your leadership team needs to understand both the business value and security advantages of certification. ISO 27001 requires evidence of leadership commitment — including active participation in ISMS reviews and resourcing.

3. Missing scope definition

A narrow scope limits the certification's value, while an overambitious one becomes hard to manage. Business priorities and customer needs should guide your scope definition rather than trying to cover everything at once.

4. Overlooking documentation

Documentation is a common challenge in ISO 27001 implementations. Some companies generate too much paperwork that goes unread, while others don't document enough. The key is to develop practical, usable policies that match your actual practices. Use templates and automation tools to streamline documentation and keep your certification on track.

5. Poor risk assessment

Your controls won't protect against the most important risks without a complete picture of threats and vulnerabilities. Conduct a thorough, objective risk assessment, prioritizing risks to focus on the most critical areas.

6. Neglecting employee training and awareness

Even the best controls fail when employees don't understand their security responsibilities. Security awareness programs help keep these practices at the forefront of your organization's daily operations. Invest in thorough training so your team understands their role in maintaining ISO 27001 compliance.

7. Applying a one-size-fits-all approach to controls

Startups shouldn't blindly copy controls without adapting them to their specific context. This wastes resources on irrelevant measures. Despite its standardisation requirements, ISO 27001 offers flexibility to implement controls that match your risks specific to your organization. Build continuous improvement into your system by conducting regular audits, reassessing risks, and refining management practices.

Your startup can achieve meaningful ISO 27001 certification by avoiding these mistakes. This approach improves security measures instead of just meeting compliance requirements.

What does ISO 27001 certification cost for startups?

ISO 27001 certification costs anywhere from $10,000–$50,000 depending on several factors. A clear picture of these costs helps with proper budgeting and prevents surprises during the certification experience.
The total cost covers these key components:

• Pre-certification costs: Approximately $4,000–$13,000.
• Implementation costs: Approximately $10,000–$30,000+ (varies with scope).
• Certification audit costs: Approximately $5,000–$15,000.
• Annual surveillance audits: Approximately $3,000–$10,000 per year.
• Post-certification maintenance costs: Approximately $8,000–$35,000 annually
• Additional or hidden costs: Varies, typically from $1,000 to $15,000+ (one-time or recurring).

Cost ComponentDescriptionCost RangePre-Certification CostsGap analysis, training, and documentation development$4,000 – $13,000Implementation CostsExternal consultancy, technology investments, and internal resource allocation$10,000 – $30,000+ (varies by scope)Certification Audit CostsInitial certification audit fees; annual surveillance audits$5,000 – $15,000 (initial); $3,000 – $10,000/year (surveillance)Post-Certification MaintenanceOngoing monitoring, reviews, continuous training, and compliance platform subscriptions$8,000 – $35,000 annuallyAdditional/Hidden CostsRecertification audits, legal consultations, technology upgrades, and adjustments in insurance premiumsVaries ($1,000 – $15,000+ one-time or recurring)

How can Scrut help with ISO 27001 compliance?

Achieving ISO 27001 certification requires careful planning, from defining the scope of your Information Security Management System (ISMS) to conducting risk assessments and implementing strong security controls. Ensuring continuous compliance and preparing for internal and external audits is essential. Startups may feel overwhelmed by the complexities of this process, but with the right tools, it becomes much more manageable.
Scrut makes this process easier with its automated compliance solution. The platform works great for companies that need information security certification but have limited resources.

Here's how Scrut helps startups:

1. Continuous Control Monitoring:

Scrut continuously checks compliance artifacts and flags any discrepancies or vulnerabilities in real time, providing a visual dashboard highlighting which controls are functioning correctly and which need attention.

2. Risk Management:

Scrut offers efficient workflows to identify and populate risks, assess them, and track their mitigation to help you align with ISO 27001's risk management requirements. It automatically compiles risks, scores, mapped controls, and mitigation tasks, simplifying audit readiness.

3. Automated Evidence Collection:

The platform integrates with your existing tools and systems to automate evidence collection for controls, ensuring readiness for internal and external audits.

4. Access to ISO 27001 compliance experts:

Scrut connects organizations with a network of ISO 27001 consultants and auditors who provide personalized guidance. These experts assist in designing and implementing an ISMS that aligns with ISO 27001 standards, helping to address any compliance gaps along the way.

Learn how Scrut can be your go-to partner for ISO 27001 compliance by booking a demo today!

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