Certification and compliance audit in the IT industry. Expert opinion shared by Kyrylo Proskurnya

In the modern world, IT companies face a plethora of requirements and standards that pertain to various aspects of their business. This can include information security, personal data protection, service quality, and more. Obtaining appropriate certification can help companies confirm their transparency, reliability, and compliance with the requirements of regulators and clients.

In an ever-changing environment, certification becomes especially vital for maintaining the stability and competitiveness of companies. It aids businesses in adapting to unforeseen circumstances, considering the increase in cyber threats, economic instability, and the risk of political changes.

Certification ensures compliance with international standards, enhancing the trust of clients, partners, and regulators in the enterprise. It also contributes to identifying and rectifying vulnerabilities in security systems, which could become potential targets for attacks.

Undergoing certification and compliance affects:

• Reputation Strengthening: Certification and audits validate a company’s professionalism and reliability, fostering a positive image internationally. This can attract new clients and partners and enhance the loyalty of existing ones.
• Business Process Improvement: The certification and audit process involves analyzing and optimizing a company’s business processes. Implementing recommendations and improvements can enhance work efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service quality.
• Easier Compliance: Certified IT companies often meet the compliance requirements of clients and partners, facilitating faster contract signings and project implementations.
• Transparency and Accountability: Certification and audits raise the level of transparency and responsibility within the company. This can improve inter-departmental communication and foster a better understanding of business processes and outcomes.
• Long-term Benefits: Implementing standards and undergoing audits can lay the foundation for a company’s long-term growth. They assist in forming a strategic plan and encourage continuous improvement.

BALTUM Company offers comprehensive support in obtaining the following certifications and conducting compliance audits: ISO 27001, ISO 27701, ISO 9001, SOC2, PCI DCC, ISO/IEC 20000-1, GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, TISAX, and C4 (CryptoCurrency Certification Consortium).

Here are the categories of certifications and audits for the IT industry:

Information Security:

• ISO 27001: An international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) that assists companies in protecting their data and assets. More details about the advantages of this standard can be found in the article.
• SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2): An audit report developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) that assesses an organization’s systems and services from the standpoint of security, availability, processing integrity, data privacy, and confidentiality. It’s intended for service organizations that provide information systems and related services to other companies. The SOC 2 report helps companies demonstrate compliance with high standards of security and control over information systems.
• PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard): A set of security requirements jointly developed by credit card companies to ensure the safe processing, storage, and transmission of cardholder data. This standard mandates companies working with payment card data to adhere to various technical and operational requirements to protect the personal information of card users and prevent potential security breaches.
• TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange): An information security assessment standard developed by the German automotive sector for companies operating in the automotive industry. TISAX facilitates interaction between organizations exchanging confidential information, ensuring adherence to mutual information security requirements. While TISAX is not an independent standard, it’s based on the ISO/IEC 27001 requirements and augments them with specific requirements of the automotive industry.
• CryptoCurrency Certification Consortium (C4): A certification for companies involved with cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. C4 certifications contribute to elevating professional standards and establishing trust between companies and consumers in the cryptocurrency space.

Protection of Personal Data:

• ISO 27701: This is an international standard that specifies requirements for a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS) within the framework of an Information Security Management System (ISMS). The standard aims to assist organizations in implementing and maintaining an effective privacy management system that protects personal data and complies with relevant legislative requirements, such as GDPR.
• GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation): This is the EU regulation concerning data protection. It establishes general principles and requirements for storing, processing, and transferring personal data. It also grants citizens several rights related to controlling their data. Non-compliance with GDPR can lead to hefty fines and reputational damage.
• CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act): This is a Californian law that sets rules regarding the collection and use of personal information of California residents.
• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act): This is a US federal law regulating the storage and transfer of patients’ medical information. The primary objectives of HIPAA include ensuring the confidentiality of patient medical records, limiting access to patient personal information, and establishing security standards for electronic medical records.

Quality and Service Management:

• ISO 9001: This is an international standard for Quality Management Systems (QMS) that helps companies enhance process efficiency and client satisfaction. It defines the requirements for an organization’s Quality Management System (QMS). It aims to support the assurance of product and service quality, improve internal processes, and ensure customer satisfaction.
• ISO/IEC 20000-1: This is an international standard that specifies requirements for an organization’s IT Service Management System (SMS). This standard is based on a process approach and is geared towards supporting the continuous improvement of IT services, meeting client needs, and efficiently managing resources.

How the Company Can Be Beneficial:

BALTUM is an expert company that collaborates with leading certification bodies such as Swiss Approval (Switzerland, American Accreditation IAS), UNICERT (German Accreditation DakkS), URS (Accreditation from the UK (UKAS)), and others. Thanks to a large portfolio of certification bodies and a global presence, BALTUM can offer clients various certification options and preparations at minimal costs.

The company boasts a large team of experts with diverse specializations in different standards, such as ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27701, ISO/IEC 20000-1, ISO 9001, etc. This allows them to satisfy any client’s needs, including specific ones. BALTUM also tailors to the needs of its clients, offering flexible certificate selection options and payment methods. Organizing certifications worldwide, the company meets the needs of clients regardless of the location or registration of their companies.

One of our leading experts is Kyrylo Proskurnya. He is an experienced auditor and consultant working in the certification and auditing field.

If you have doubts about which certification or audit will be most suitable for your company, we are ready to offer our expert assistance. Fill out an application on our website, and our qualified consultant, Kyrylo Proskurnya, will contact you to conduct a free consultation.

Certification and audits play a vital role in the development of IT companies. They confirm compliance with international standards and legislation, help implement effective management processes, and enhance the level of information security. BALTUM offers comprehensive services that will assist your business in meeting all requirements, obtaining the necessary certificates, and expanding in the global market. Collaborating with us, you’ll receive expert support and access to a vast network of leading certification bodies.