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Combining ISO 27001 with other management systems provides organisations with an integrated approach to risk management, compliance and operational efficiency. By integrating systems such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001 or NEN 7510, you create synergy benefits and reduce the administrative burden. This combination ensures better processes, lower costs and a stronger organisational structure that supports multiple standards simultaneously.
What are the benefits of combining ISO 27001 with other management systems?
Integrated management systems provide Cost reduction, more efficient processes and reduced audit effort. You only need to prepare documentation, provide training and schedule audits once. This saves time and money and avoids overlap between different systems.
The practical benefits are immediately noticeable in your daily operations. Employees no longer have to delve into different procedures for quality, information security and other aspects. Everything comes together in one coherent system that they can easily follow.
An integrated system also significantly improves your compliance position. When auditors come for different certifications, they can assess multiple standards at the same time. This reduces disruption to your operations and ensures consistent findings between different audit trails.
The organisational structure becomes stronger as all management systems use the same governance structure. Risk management, management reviews and improvement processes are streamlined, leading to better decision-making at all levels of your organisation.
Which management systems are best combined with ISO 27001?
ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 45001 (safety) and NEN 7510 (healthcare) are the most compatible standards with ISO 27001. These systems share similar structures and principles, making integration feel natural and practical.
ISO 9001 combines excellently with ISO 27001 because both standards focus on risk management and process improvement. The quality processes support information security through better documentation and control. Many organisations start with this combination because the overlap is large.
For healthcare institutions, the combination of ISO 27001 with NEN 7510 is almost inevitable. Both standards address the protection of sensitive information, but from different perspectives. NEN 7510 focuses specifically on patient data, while ISO 27001 covers all business information.
ISO 45001 (occupational safety) and ISO 14001 (environmental) complement ISO 27001 by strengthening physical security aspects. Think access control to server rooms, secure destruction of data carriers and environmentally responsible IT disposition. BIO (Baseline Information Security Government) naturally integrates with ISO 27001 for government organisations.
How do you start integrating ISO 27001 into existing management systems?
Start with a gap analysis between your current systems and ISO 27001 requirements. Evaluate existing processes, documentation and controls to identify where overlap exists and where additions are needed. This analysis forms the basis for your integration plan.
Conduct a thorough process review to determine how information security can be naturally integrated into existing ways of working. Look at your current risk management, document management and auditing processes. These are often the backbone of your integrated system.
Harmonise your documentation by developing common procedures that serve multiple standards simultaneously. An integrated manual, combined risk registers and uniform operating procedures make the system clear and user-friendly for employees.
Plan phased training for your staff, emphasising the connection between different management systems. Employees need to understand how information security interacts with quality, safety and other aspects of their work. Implement the integration incrementally, so that everyone can get used to the new ways of working without becoming overwhelmed.
What challenges do you encounter when combining management systems and how do you solve them?
Documentation overlap, different audit cycles and limited staff capacity are the biggest obstacles in system integration. However, these challenges are quite solvable with the right approach and planning. Experienced guidance will help you avoid these pitfalls.
Documentation overlap occurs when different standards require similar procedures. Resolve this by creating master documents that refer to specific standard requirements. For example, a single incident management procedure can serve both ISO 27001 and ISO 9001 by highlighting different aspects.
Different audit cycles can be confusing, especially when certifications expire at different times. Plan your audits strategically by requesting combined audits whenever possible. Many audit institutions offer integrated audits that assess multiple standards at the same time.
Staff capacity is often underestimated in systems integration. Employees must be given time to learn and apply new procedures. Create realistic timelines and ensure adequate support during the transition phase. Consider using external expertise for complex integration issues.
At DigiTrust, we have extensive experience with ISO 27001 certification and integration with other management systems. Our context-oriented approach helps organisations develop practical, workable solutions. Take contact with us for professional guidance on your integration journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first steps to integrate ISO 27001 into an existing ISO 9001 system?
Start by identifying overlapping processes such as risk management, document management and management reviews. Then conduct a gap analysis to determine which information security-specific elements need to be added to your existing quality system.
How long does it take to fully implement an integrated management system?
A full integration usually takes 6-12 months, depending on your organisation size and existing systems. The timeline is influenced by factors such as staff capacity, complexity of processes and the degree of harmonisation between different standards.
Why do many organisations opt for combined audits in integrated systems?
Combined audits save time, costs and disruption to business operations as multiple standards are assessed simultaneously. Auditors can work more efficiently and organisations are less likely to need to host external parties for certification processes.
What costs can you save by combining ISO 27001 with other management systems?
Organisations save 20-40% on audit costs, training and documentation maintenance through system integration. In addition, staff costs are reduced as employees learn one integrated system instead of multiple separate procedures and practices.
