What is ISO 27001 and Why Gaming Organizations Should Have It

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The gaming industry is changing. As suppliers, you’re tasked with providing modern, engaging, digitally advanced games that your customers (and their customers) are asking for. With more and more information being stored digitally and in the cloud, and more and more gaming solutions living online as well, it’s no longer just the quality of your games that counts, it’s the security as well.

Cybercrime rates have skyrocketed across the globe in recent years. In fact, if it were measured as a country, then cybercrime would be the world's third-largest economy, after the US and China. In response to this rise and threat as well as consumer demand and increase consumer literacy about data privacy, more and more industries and jurisdictions are implementing stringent regulations and compliance standards. In today’s digital age, complying with these security protocols is not an option.

Cyberattacks have increased 400% compared to pre-Coronavirus time. Global cybercrime costs are expected to reach $10.5 trillion USD annually by 2025! This increase combined with the fact that many gaming organizations do not have salient cybersecurity plans or strategic roadmaps in place, means more gaps and vulnerabilities in their security — an entry point for cybercriminals. Experts predict that by 2030, cyberattacks will be attempted against a business, consumer, or device every two seconds.

Cybersecurity Stat

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What is ISO/IEC 27001?

The ISO/IEC 27001 standard is one of the most recognized IT security frameworks worldwide, creating trustworthiness across sectors, supporting companies seeking to thrive in the digital world while facing risks and threats fairly and with continuous improvement.

But do you need it? How can you get certified? Read on to learn what you need to know from an accredited certification body.

Who Needs ISO 27001 Certification?

In response to the vast amounts of data collected and stored by organizations today, and the drastic increase in cybercrime as hackers try to access that data, the International Standard Organization (ISO) developed a comprehensive framework for businesses across all industries and sizes to establish and implement information security systems and processes, called ISO/IEC 27001:2022 (informally, ISO 27001).

For startups or small companies, ISO 27001 is an ideal way to ensure information security in a digital landscape that has become increasingly complex and treacherous. Not only is the certification one of the most recognized around the world, the framework required to achieve certification helps Chief Security Officers and Compliance Officers to implement a tailored risk management process to control company risks.

For highly regulated industries like gaming, proving this level of commitment and strategy when it comes to cybersecurity is a gold star for your brand.

Across the UK and Europe, ISO 27001 is becoming a necessary indicator for privacy matters, joining GDPR and DPA2018. Jurisdictions such as United Kingdom, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland, and Norway are currently accepting this framework as a means of decreasing the burden of security audits. For some countries, companies are adhering to the ISO Standard as the key standard to be adopted.

Why Is ISO/IEC 27001 Important For You?

Above the recognition and trust gained with ISO certification, there are many reasons for organizations to consider undergoing the process.

Not only will you complete a multijurisdictional audit as part of your ISO 27001 Certification, which can be helpful in complying with other frameworks and standards such as NIST, COBIT, COSO, ISF, and CMMI, but the benefits to your organization also go beyond compliance. With a unified audit process, you’ll be able to reduce the related efforts, resources, cost, and ultimately the time to market.

With the ISO certification as proof that your organization takes data security seriously, your customers can be confident in your business. Not only that, employee training is featured within the ISO/IEC27001 framework so you and your employees can also be confident that a culture of security is firmly within place.

Key Benefits of the ISO/IEC 27001 Certification in the Gaming Industry

Your certification recognizes you globally as a gaming organization that prioritizes privacy and security, garnering trust across the industry and, most importantly, from your customers.

Simplify Your Compliance: Complete audits efficiently and effectively knowing you have access to security experts by your side.

Maximize Investment: Design your ISO scope by maximizing jurisdictional leverage.

Minimize Your Effort: Conduct a single yearly assessment that covers ISO and jurisdictional audits.

Protect Your Brand: Combining ISO and PCI audits results in better management of highly regulated industry risks.

Mitigate Risk: ISO is a good path to reduce the likelihood of a data breach.

External Review: Your main organizational processes will be reviewed objectively and regularly by an independent organization.

For several years, the ISO/IEC 27001 has been demonstrated worldwide as the key standard to help gaming companies to thrive and reduce cybersecurity gaps and risks. As a matter of fact, is simply required to achieve licensing in recently regulated markets such as Greece.

The ISO Certification Process

The process of adopting ISO/IEC 27001 is well structured and should be smooth and painless, especially if you work with a certification partner. The process to gain the ISO/IEC 27001 certification involves the fulfillment of the application form, a review period by a third-party certification body such as BULLETPROOF™, a GLI Company, and the initiation of three audit and review stages that will be scheduled for a three-year cycle.

Policy & Procedure Review

The initial stage of the process typically involves an offsite exercise to review policy and procedure documents.

Any issues or concerns will be identified and shared, and a plan made to address any vulnerabilities and inefficiencies.

Implementation Review

After a reasonable period of time to review and fix any of the issues detected, a second onsite exercise will be performed to evaluate the implementation—including effectiveness—of information security management systems (ISMS) and controls.

It is expected that the execution of the controls listed in the framework developed in Stage 1 will be completed by this stage.

Audit

Surveillance audits will then be conducted at least once a calendar year, except in recertification years. (The date of the first surveillance audit following initial certification cannot be more than 12 months from the certification date.)

Companies implementing the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 must pay special attention to policy design, and any mandatory requirements for their sector.

How Can You Ensure Success? We’ve Compiled Our Top Tips For A Seamless Application Process

Bulletproof's Top 3 ISO Certification Tips For Your Organization:

Make sure your policies and procedures are not only suited to your business but aligned with local regulatory and legal requirements.

Get a head start by preparing your staff with an appropriate Information Security Awareness Program. Then, separate and delegate duties so that application and certification is a team effort.

Get the support you need from Top Management at the outset and plan regular management review meetings.

Retaining Certification, Staying Secure

Once you’re ISO certified, you’ll be part of a recognized global community of businesses committed to information security. You’ll be committed to annual security audits by an experienced cybersecurity company like Bulletproof, and your employees will be empowered to be part of your information protection plan, not a potential threat for exposure.

You’ll also have a considered understanding of your organization’s risk tolerance, clear protocols and policies to keep the information you collect and store safe, and a framework for developing a business continuity strategy and incident/crisis management plans. Not to mention you’ll have peace of mind knowing that your gaming organization is saving time and money on compliance, licensing, and getting safer products and services to market, faster.

A Guide For How Gaming Organizations Can Tackle I.T. and Security Hurdles

Today’s digital landscape has changed how the gaming industry operates, introducing new platforms, devices, and even business models. With the rise of online gaming and the exponential popularity of smartphones, gaming organizations need to adapt, pivoting with consumer behaviors. But this technological shift has also opened the door to more cybercrime than ever.

Many key players in the industry aren’t fully aware of how cyber threats have grown, both in severity and frequency. They may have IT staff in place to respond to threats, but no way of knowing if their defenses are really able to handle new challenges.

Learn how to strengthen your defenses against modern cybercriminals with this eBook.

ISO/IEC 27001 Information Security Management System: Why Gaming Organizations Should Have It

Article Sections

What is ISO/IEC 27001?

Who Needs ISO 27001 Certification?

Why Is ISO/IEC 27001 Important For You?

Key Benefits of the ISO/IEC 27001 Certification in the Gaming Industry