ISO 27001 consultancy costs: a comprehensive guide 

As an organisation, you know how important it is to secure your information and assets from security threats. As we discussed in our latest blog on ISO standards, implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS) is now essential for organisations of all sizes and industries.

If you’re considering ISO 27001 certification and need guidance from qualified ISO consultants, you may be wondering about the costs.

Many factors contribute to the varying costs of ISO 27001 certification. Some may be direct costs such as optional consultancy and mandatory certification audit costs. Some indirect costs where ISO 27001 requirements may drive you to invest in technology and other resources.

This blog offers expert guidance to help you make an informed decision that fits both your needs and budget.  

What does ISO 27001 consultancy include?

If you’re getting quotes for ISO 27001 consultancy, you probably know what ISO 27001 involves. For more details, check out our free Guide to ISO 27001 here.  

At this stage, it’s important to understand what ISO 27001 consultancy includes.

For more information, read our blogs on the role of your external consultant, what is an ISO 27001 Gap Analysis? What has changed in the new ISO 27001:2022 standard?  

Before engaging with an ISO consultancy, it helps to know where you stand in the process. Consider these questions:

• Do you need a gap analysis to identify areas for improvement in your compliance?
• Do you need an independent internal audit to verify if your efforts meet the standard’s requirements?
• Do you need help from start to finish with the entire implementation process, including certification?

 ISO 27001 consultancy costs

So, the crucial question. How much should you expect to spend on ISO 27001 implementation? In the UK, the cost ranges from £9,000 to £15,000 in 2024. However, several factors influence the cost, which we’ll explore in this blog.

What should you consider carefully?

Experience: Take your time choosing the right organisation, one with proven expertise in your industry.

Culture and values: It’s also important to choose a provider that’s a cultural fit since you’ll be working together for several months.

Certifications: Reputable ISO consultants should be Lead Auditors or Lead Implementers. They should also have experience with organisations similar to yours. Consider if knowledge of other relevant standards is important.

Factors that influence ISO 27001 costs

Many factors affect the cost of ISO 27001 certification. Let’s explore them.

Scope: The complexity and size of your organisation affect your ISO project’s scope, and this can influence your consultancy budget. If you’re already certified to ISO 27001:2013 you will need an upgrade to ISO 27001:2022.

Before providing you with a scope, a consultancy will want to know: 

• The industry within which you operate, 
• If you have any other relevant ISO certification. If you already hold an ISO certification, it may be appropriate to combine your management systems into an Integrated Management System (IMS), 
• The number of sites in scope, especially if their physical security requirements differ, 
• The number of locations in scope: an organisation with offices outside of the UK is likely to be subject to different laws and regulations, 
• The number of permanent staff and their geographical locations,
• Any time constraints, 
• Your use of cloud-based vs. on-premise services,
• Whether you develop software, 
• Whether your processes are centralised or local, like HR or finance,
• Your reliance on third parties for development and other business processes, 
• What level of involvement do you expect from the consultancy? Do you prefer guidance or a more hands-on approach where the consultant develops policies, processes, and provides training?

If you’re unsure about the level of consultancy you need, consider a company that offers different engagement options.

Choose a provider who is transparent about their costs. Honest discussions will help ensure the proposal aligns with your expectations.

At Evalian, we offer several ISO consultancy packages, including benchmark assessments, full ISO 27001 implementation, pre-certification assessments, internal auditing, and remote ISMS management.

Organisation Size: Larger organisations with multiple departments, locations, and systems often require more support, which leads to higher costs.

A good ISO 27001 service provider will understand your organization’s infrastructure, operations, and goals. This often involves workshops with key people from each department and business stakeholders.

This thorough approach increases project hours, but it’s necessary for success.

Current information security status: The stage of maturity your organisation is at with its information security can affect costs.

If you are starting from scratch, you may need a higher level of consultancy compared to an organisation that already has a mature security framework in place. Your existing security controls are therefore important for you to understand when engaging with a provider.

Internal experts: Some organisations may have in-house employees who know ISO 27001 to some extent, and who will help drive the ISMS project forward. However, if this level of in-house expertise is lacking, naturally you will lean more on the guidance from external consultants. This may, in turn, affect the hours spent on given tasks.

It’s also a good practice to measure the cost of implementing ISO 27001 fully in-house against externally outsourcing your ISMS project. A DIY approach can be extremely costly in the long run. This is because the person or people responsible would be required to have an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of the standard.

If you hire a person to do so, you have the long-term cost of a salary, benefits, NI and holiday and sick pay. You’d also need to consider a backup option if that person were to have an extended time off, which then pushes back the implementation process.

“AN ISMS should be seen as a living thing that needs to be fed and watered to keep it alive. Failing to stay on top of requirements is likely to lead to non-conformities being found in subsequent internal audits and certification may be lost.” – Daniel Djiann, Head of ISO Consultancy and Business Continuity at Evalian. 

Timeline: It’s important to understand how long a successful ISO 27001 implementation can take. You need to have realistic expectations of the process, approach and the amount of time needed to give to the project internally. You also need to ensure you have the resources to meet these expectations.

Be wary of organisations that can offer a full implementation of ISO 27001 within three months! Whilst not impossible, it is unrealistic for most sized organisations.  

ISO 27001 certification body costs

It’s important to note that whilst consultancies like ourselves, can support in choosing accredited certification bodies, the cost of the consultancy does not include costs of certification. ISO certification bodies have their own market focus and pricing strategies.

Cost differences between certification bodies may vary. You may want to check whether costs for travel, accommodation and admin fees are included.

As you would with any large purchase, we recommend you obtain quotes for certification from more than one certification body before making your choice.  

Types of ISO consultancy rates

ISO 27001 consultancy services can be found in various forms. It’s up to your organisation to which payment rate method would best suit your business needs and help towards saving money in the long term. Some organisations may prefer a retainer, but for many, a daily rate works well.  

It’s important to engage with an ISO services company that works on a fully transparent basis, no matter what types of payment options they offer. Having a timeline of workshops is helpful, and details of what is required from you at each stage of the process.  

Conclusion

We’ve covered the influencing factors of costs when it comes to implementing an ISMS. It’s important to think of the cost as a long-term investment in your organisation’s security posture.

It may seem like a daunting process to start, however selecting a reputable and accredited ISO services company that can demonstrate solid reviews and case studies, ensures the process is manageable and gives you confidence in the certification process.  

Whilst becoming ISO 27001 certified is an important step for your organisation in terms of winning new clients, there is also huge value in the implementation and continual improvement of your internal processes and procedures, for employees and stakeholders alike.  

Get a fast quote for IS 27001 consultancy

Whether you need a benchmark assessment or a full ISMS implementation, we can help. With fixed rates and affordable prices, our experienced ISO 27001 consultants can get you certified and help you remain compliant. View our ISO consultancy solutions here.

Already have ISO 27001 certification but need to upgrade to the new ISO 27001:2022 standard? We have supported several clients smoothly through this upgrade. In fact, if you already have a robust security framework of controls in place, the process should only take between 4-7 days. Contact us now to discuss the transition, and get peace of mind before certification bodies’ lead times are impacted by the 2025 deadline.

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