Building an ISO 27001 Business Case

How To Write An ISO 27001 Business Case

How do you prepare for ISO 27001 certification? Is there anything we should do first before we start implementing it?

Yes, plenty, but it depends on your organisation’s maturity and how you like to do things.

Here, I will explore some of the pre-implementation work that I consider valuable.

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Download ISO 27001 Business Case Template

Implementing ISO 27001 will provide significant benefits to your organisation. Getting senior management to recognise these benefits and obtain their buy-in is critical. 

A well-structured business case can effectively communicate the value of implementing ISO 27001. However, it won’t win any battles on its own. Nobody will read it and say, ‘Oh, my gosh, we need to do this now!’ This level of commitment is frankly won in meeting rooms and discussions between senior management. 

So, save yourself a lot of time and effort, and only proceed with the business case if you obtain indications from anyone in Senior Management that they are interested in Information Security and will sponsor it at least in principle.

If you’d like to download a template for a business case, then click on the link below.

How to Write an ISO 27001 Business Case (With Practical Suggestions and Examples)

Executive Summary

Start with a sharp, punchy summary of why ISO 27001 matters to your organisation right now.

• Highlight the critical need for robust information security in an era of escalating cyber threats.
• State the benefits of ISO 27001 certification — risk reduction, regulatory compliance (e.g., GDPR), commercial credibility, and operational resilience.
• Preview the anticipated outcomes – a stronger security posture, new business opportunities, lower risks of fines, and a demonstrable commitment to safeguarding client and staff data.
• Lead with killer arguments. E.g., “Implementing ISO 27001 is expected to reduce security incident costs by 40% within the first year, based on current exposure.”

Senior leadership will want to see impact and numbers at a glance — so make it count.

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Introduction

Explain what ISO 27001 is: the international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS).

• Mention that the current version is ISO/IEC 27001:2022, reflecting modern cybersecurity challenges like cloud adoption and remote working.
• Stress the increasing demand for certifications in client contracts, government tenders, and supply chain risk management.
• Example: “A 2023 Gartner report found that 64% of procurement teams require ISO 27001 certification when selecting new vendors.”

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Business Objectives

Link ISO 27001 implementation directly to your organisation’s wider goals.

Examples:

• Risk Mitigation: “ISO 27001 will establish formal controls to reduce the likelihood and impact of breaches, which are currently identified as a ‘high’ risk in our corporate risk register.”
• Regulatory Compliance: “Certification will help us comply with GDPR, PCI-DSS, and regional data protection laws, reducing our legal exposure.
• Winning Business: “Many tender opportunities in our pipeline (e.g., NHS frameworks, Tier 1 supplier lists) require ISO 27001 certification.”
• Reputation Management: “A security breach would jeopardise our standing in the market — ISO 27001 signals proactive governance.”
• Operational Efficiency: “A centralised risk and incident management process will reduce duplicated effort across departments.”

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Current Situation Analysis

Paint an honest picture of your current information security position.

Include:

• Risk Assessment Results: Highlight key vulnerabilities. E.g., “Recent assessments flagged unencrypted portable devices and uncontrolled access rights.”
• Incident History: “We experienced three low-level phishing incidents in the past 12 months, with one resulting in unauthorised system access costing £14,000 in response and mitigation.”
• Compliance Gaps: “Our current security framework only partially aligns with GDPR Article 32 (Security of Processing) and has no structured approach to risk treatment.”

Be specific. Senior management will act faster if they see tangible risks and costs.

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Benefits of ISO 27001 Implementation

Spell out the wins — backed with examples where possible.

• Enhanced Security Posture: “Systematic identification and mitigation of threats — reducing overall risk scores by at least 25% within 18 months.”
• Regulatory Compliance: “ISO 27001 aligns with GDPR’s requirements for risk-based security controls and accountability.”
• Competitive Advantage: “Certification can be a differentiator in close sales opportunities, particularly in financial services and healthcare sectors.”
• Cost Savings: “Reducing incident response costs and avoiding GDPR fines (£17.5m or 4% of turnover, whichever is greater).”
• Continuous Improvement: “The Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of ISO 27001 ensures ongoing evaluation and adjustment, keeping pace with evolving threats.”

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Implementation Plan

Provide a structured yet high-level plan:

• Phases
  • Gap Analysis
  • Initiation Phase
  • Planning Phase
  • Implementation Phase
  • Monitoring & Review Phase
  • Continuous Improvement Phase
  • Certification Audit
• Timeline
  • 6-12 months is typical for small-to-medium organisations.
  • Example milestone: “Complete risk treatment plan within 90 days of project start.”
• Resources Required
  • Project Manager
  • Part-time Information Security Lead
  • External consultant (optional)
  • Tools (e.g., risk management platform)
• Responsibilities
  • IT: Technical controls implementation
  • HR: Security awareness training
  • Legal/Compliance: Contractual updates and regulatory alignment

Include a realistic cost estimate and stress opportunity costs of delay (e.g., lost bids, increasing insurance premiums).

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Risk Management

Acknowledge risks to the project — and your plans to address them.

Examples:

• Resource Allocation: “We will ring-fence 10% of the IT budget for ISMS development and external audit fees.”
• Change Management: “Launch an internal communications campaign to explain ‘Why ISO 27001’ to all staff.”
• Ongoing Compliance: “Integrate ISMS maintenance into quarterly management reviews to avoid ‘tick-box’ certification syndrome.”

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Financial Analysis

Set out the expected costs and savings.

• Initial Costs:
  • Consultant fees: £10,000–£30,000 (depending on scope)
  • Staff training: £2,000
  • External certification: £5,000–£10,000
• Ongoing Costs:
  • Surveillance audits: £2,000 annually
  • Internal audits and refresher training: £1,000–£3,000 per year
• Return on Investment (ROI):
  • “Potential risk reduction saving of £50,000 annually by preventing at least one mid-level breach event.”
  • “Ability to access £250,000 in tendered business opportunities that mandate ISO 27001 certification.”

Use charts or simple tables if you can — visuals help decision-makers.

I’ve explored ISO 27001 costs in an article here > ISO 27001 Costs of Certification

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Conclusion

Reinforce the key messages:

• ISO 27001 enhances our ability to protect information assets, comply with regulations, and secure new business.
• The investment is proportionate to the risks avoided and opportunities gained.
• Implementation is achievable within 12 months with defined leadership and support.

Finish with a strong call to action: “We recommend approval to proceed to the gap analysis phase immediately.”

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Appendices

Provide supporting material:

Case study: “SME achieving ISO 27001 certification and boosting turnover by 20%.”

Recent risk assessment summary

Example of a competitor who has benefited from ISO 27001

Overview of regulatory penalties for non-compliance

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Explore > How To Perform an ISO 27001 Gap Analysis

Explore > How to write an ISO 27001 project plan