ISO 27001 Done Faster & Done Right

ISO 27001 Compliance

Integrating Agency with Vanta or Drata gets your ISO 27001 ISMS certification done 30%+ faster, with stronger controls, at a lower total cost.

Agency is the only company that is a top-tier partner at both Vanta and Drata, the two leading GRC platforms that support ISO 27001.

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What Is ISO 27001 Compliance?

ISO 27001 is the world's most recognized information security standard. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), it provides a systematic framework for managing sensitive company and customer information through an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

ISO 27001 certification demonstrates to customers, partners, and regulators that your organization takes a structured, risk-based approach to information security. It is increasingly required by enterprise buyers globally, government procurement processes, and regulatory frameworks that reference international standards.

Agency helps organizations achieve ISO 27001 certification faster than traditional consultancies. Because we are fully agnostic to both GRC platform and auditor, we help companies build an ISMS that actually fits their operations and scales with their business—not one that locks them into a single vendor.

ISO 27001 vs SOC 2

Understanding the differences between ISO 27001 and SOC 2 helps you determine which certification to pursue first—or whether you need both.

Aspect	ISO 27001	SOC 2
Origin	International (ISO/IEC)	United States (AICPA)
Type	Certification (pass/fail)	Attestation (opinion-based report)
Scope	Entire ISMS with 93 Annex A controls	Five Trust Service Criteria
Approach	Prescriptive—requires formal ISMS	Flexible—controls defined by organization
Deliverable	Certificate valid for 3 years	SOC 2 report valid for 12 months
Auditor	Accredited certification body	Licensed CPA firm
Best for	Global markets, EU/APAC customers	U.S. enterprise SaaS sales

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Core Components of ISO 27001

ISO 27001 is built around a structured ISMS framework with Annex A controls spanning four domains. Understanding these components is essential to planning your certification.

Information Security Management System (ISMS)

The foundational framework required by ISO 27001. The ISMS defines your organization's approach to managing information security risks through policies, procedures, and controls, following a Plan-Do-Check-Act continuous improvement cycle.

Annex A Controls (93 Controls)

ISO 27001:2022 specifies 93 controls across four themes: Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological. Controls are selected based on your risk assessment and documented in the Statement of Applicability.

Risk Assessment & Treatment

A formal, repeatable process for identifying information security risks, evaluating their likelihood and impact, and selecting appropriate treatment options—accept, mitigate, transfer, or avoid.

Statement of Applicability (SoA)

A required document that lists all 93 Annex A controls, states which are applicable to your organization, justifies any exclusions, and describes how each selected control is implemented.

Internal Audit

A mandatory process where the organization audits its own ISMS before the external certification audit. Internal audits identify nonconformities and drive corrective actions to ensure readiness.

Management Review

Senior leadership must periodically review the ISMS to ensure its continued suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness. Management review drives strategic decisions about security investment and risk appetite.

ISO 27001 Certification Checklist

Organizational Controls

Policies for information security
Information security roles and responsibilities
Segregation of duties
Management responsibilities
Contact with authorities and special interest groups

People Controls

Screening
Terms and conditions of employment
Information security awareness and training
Disciplinary process
Responsibilities after termination

Physical Controls

Physical security perimeters
Physical entry controls
Securing offices and facilities
Clear desk and clear screen policy

Technological Controls

User endpoint devices
Privileged access rights
Information access restriction
Secure authentication
Cryptography and key management

Risk Management

Formal risk assessment methodology
Risk treatment plan with ownership
Risk register maintained and reviewed
Residual risk acceptance by management

Documentation & Governance

ISMS scope definition document
Information security policy approved by management
Statement of Applicability
Internal audit program and records

600+

Companies trust Agency for compliance

3–4 mo

Average time to ISO 27001 certification readiness

80%

Reduction in compliance team workload

The ISO 27001 Certification Process

Gap Analysis & ScopingWeek 1–3

Assess your current security posture against ISO 27001 requirements. Identify control gaps, define the ISMS scope, and build a prioritized remediation roadmap.
ISMS Design & DocumentationWeek 3–6

Design the ISMS framework, draft required policies and procedures, define risk assessment methodology, and prepare the Statement of Applicability.
Control ImplementationWeek 6–12

Implement technical and administrative controls from Annex A. Configure monitoring, deploy access management, establish evidence collection, and conduct security awareness training.
Internal AuditWeek 10–14

Conduct a formal internal audit of the ISMS to identify nonconformities. Implement corrective actions and verify effectiveness before the external audit.
Stage 1 Audit (Documentation Review)Week 14–16

The certification body reviews your ISMS documentation, policies, Statement of Applicability, and risk assessment. They confirm readiness for the Stage 2 audit.
Stage 2 Audit (Certification Audit)Week 16–20

The certification body conducts an on-site (or remote) audit to verify that controls are implemented and operating effectively. Successful completion results in ISO 27001 certification.
Surveillance & Continual ImprovementOngoing (Annual)

Annual surveillance audits verify continued compliance. Full recertification audit occurs every three years. Agency maintains continuous audit readiness throughout the cycle.

What Does ISO 27001 Certification Cost?

ISO 27001 certification cost depends on several factors unique to your organization. Rather than publishing one-size-fits-all pricing, Agency scopes every engagement individually so you pay only for what you need.

Factors that determine cost:

Organization size & scope: The number of employees, locations, and systems within the ISMS boundary directly affects certification body fees and implementation effort.

Current security posture: Organizations with mature security programs require less remediation than those starting from scratch.

GRC platform: Platforms like Vanta and Drata automate evidence collection and control monitoring. Agency integrates natively with both.

Internal time: ISMS design, control implementation, documentation, and audit preparation represent the largest hidden cost—typically hundreds of engineering hours.

Ongoing maintenance: Annual surveillance audits, continuous evidence collection, and triennial recertification require sustained effort.

Agency replaces the internal time cost entirely. Our forward-deployed AI agents and engineers operate your compliance program so your team never context-switches into compliance work. Talk to our team for a custom quote based on your specific scope and requirements.

ISO 27001 for Your Company Stage

Whether you're pursuing your first ISO 27001 certification or managing an ISMS across multiple business units, Agency meets you where you are.

Startups

Pursuing your first ISO 27001 certification to win international deals. You need expertise and speed without building a compliance team.

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Mid-Market

Scaling your ISMS across teams, or adding frameworks like SOC 2 and HIPAA. You need operational efficiency and cross-framework leverage.

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Enterprise

Managing ISO 27001 across business units, subsidiaries, and geographies. You need unified governance and continuous audit readiness.

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How Agency Delivers ISO 27001 Compliance

Agency operates your entire ISO 27001 program end-to-end—from gap analysis through certification and continuous maintenance—without adding headcount. We integrate natively with leading GRC platforms like Vanta and Drata to maximize your existing compliance infrastructure.

Continuous Control Validation

Verse C2 orchestrates real-time validation across your GRC platform, cloud infrastructure, identity providers, and endpoint security. Drift is detected and remediated automatically.

Automated Evidence Collection

Umberto eliminates the manual screenshot-and-spreadsheet evidence cycle. Evidence is collected, organized, and maintained automatically—always current, always audit-grade.

AI-Powered Remediation

Rumi AI writes infrastructure-as-code fixes for cloud misconfigurations. Storm Shadow validates every evidence artifact before auditor submission.

Cross-Framework Mapping

Armada PSCO maps ISO 27001 Annex A controls to SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and other frameworks automatically. Work done for ISO 27001 carries forward to every additional certification.

GRC Platform Integration

Agency connects directly to your existing Vanta or Drata instance. We automate evidence collection, sync control status, and keep your GRC dashboard current—so your platform investment delivers maximum value with zero manual upkeep.

Automated Documentation

M79 generates system descriptions and management assertions. Caruso maintains network diagrams. Every artifact is documented and traceable.

Managed Detection & Response

Agency MDR covers all endpoints with compliance-grade incident documentation, investigation, and response—satisfying ISO 27001 incident management requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is an international standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Certification is issued by accredited certification bodies after a two-stage external audit, and is recognized globally as proof that an organization manages information security systematically.

What is the difference between ISO 27001 and SOC 2?

ISO 27001 is an international certification standard requiring a formal ISMS and covering 93 controls across 4 domains in Annex A. SOC 2 is a U.S.-based attestation framework issued by CPA firms evaluating controls across five Trust Service Criteria. ISO 27001 is more prescriptive and globally recognized, while SOC 2 is more common in U.S. enterprise sales. Many organizations pursue both.

How long does ISO 27001 certification take?

ISO 27001 certification typically takes 6 to 12 months for most organizations. This includes gap analysis, ISMS design and implementation, internal audit, and a two-stage external audit. With Agency, organizations can achieve certification readiness in as little as 3 to 4 months because our forward-deployed AI agents handle control implementation, evidence collection, and audit preparation.

How much does ISO 27001 certification cost?

ISO 27001 certification cost depends on organization size, ISMS scope, current security posture, and the certification body selected. Key cost factors include certification body audit fees, GRC platform licensing, internal implementation time, remediation, and ongoing surveillance audits. Agency replaces the internal time cost entirely by operating your compliance program for you.

Who needs ISO 27001 certification?

Any organization that handles sensitive information and wants to demonstrate systematic security management should pursue ISO 27001. It is particularly important for companies operating internationally, selling into European or Asian markets, working with government agencies, or needing to demonstrate compliance with multiple frameworks since ISO 27001 maps to many other standards.

What are the Annex A controls?

Annex A of ISO 27001:2022 contains 93 controls organized into four themes: Organizational (37 controls), People (8 controls), Physical (14 controls), and Technological (34 controls). Organizations select applicable controls through a risk assessment process and document their selections in a Statement of Applicability (SoA).

How often do you need to recertify for ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 certification is valid for three years. During this period, annual surveillance audits are conducted to verify continued compliance. At the end of the three-year cycle, a full recertification audit is required. Agency maintains continuous audit readiness so surveillance and recertification audits are routine, not disruptive.

What is an ISMS?

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) is the core requirement of ISO 27001. It is a systematic framework of policies, procedures, guidelines, and associated resources that an organization uses to protect its information assets. The ISMS follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle for continuous improvement of information security practices.

Related Frameworks

SOC 2 HIPAA GDPR CMMC HITRUST

Related Challenges

Audited Compliance Cross-Framework Complexity Fragmented Governance Policy & Access Trust & Transparency Questionnaire Fatigue

Platform Products

Verse C2

Command-and-control AI automation platform

Umberto

AI compliance evidence engine

Armada PSCO

Unified control ontology and mapping

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Get ISO 27001 Certified With Agency

From gap analysis to certification in months. Agency's forward-deployed AI agents operate your entire ISO 27001 compliance program so your team stays focused on building product.

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