Having made the decision to implement an information security management system (ISMS), your first big decision is on whether you should do it yourself or work with external specialist consultants.
Key Takeaways
Yes, technically it is possible to tackle the ISO/IEC 27001 implementation on your own, there are a lot of resources available to do so. However, there are benefits to working with external consultants who are specialised in this field.
There is nothing wrong with using templates that you can find on the internet. However, these are often generic and may not be suitable to your specific business context. So if you use templates, make sure to make them applicable.
There are many benefits, but specifically, consultants working in this space are typically specialists and come with a wealth of knowledge and experience. This can help speed up implementation and support your team.
It is possible to do this alone, but don’t underestimate the effort required to do so. There are a lot of resources available online that can give you the “recipe” for success. But there are no guarantees as to how tried and tested these recipes are and they could just as easily be recipes for disaster!
You could also purchase pre-packaged templates and adapt them to your organisation’s context. Often these templates are valuable, but they are just that, templates. You will need to have a solid understanding of the requirements of the standards and how to marry these to your organisation’s objectives and goal. Without that, your ISMS may just be a bare minimum, checkbox exercise, which may earn you a certificate, but not necessarily provide all the business benefits for your hard work.
Here’s a balanced look at the two options:
DIY your ISMS
✅ Cost Saving: On paper, you will save cash. While you may be true, indirect costs include resource allocation, time to deliver, and potential lost opportunities.
✅ Internal Learning: Your team will develop knowledge which could prove a valuable long-term investment in your internal capacity.
✅ Complete Control: You remain in complete control of the project, the pace, the direction and tailor the implementation to your business culture and needs.
⚠️ Time Consuming: ISO 27001 is not just a checklist. It involves structure processes, risk assessments, documentation, audits and training. DIY means learning and doing – while still running your business.
⚠️ Steep Learning Curve: ISO 27001 comes with its own terminology and expectations. Misinterpreting requirements can lead to gaps in security or compliance.
⚠️ Limited Perspective: Without external input, it’s easy to overlook risks or miss opportunities to align the framework with your real-world operations. If treated as separate to your operations, your ISMS can be more of a burden than a benefit.
Get help with your ISMS
✅ Expertise on Tap: External consultants bring hands-on experience, practical guidance, and real-world insight to help you implement the framework correctly and efficiently.
✅ Faster results: With a consultant’s guidance, you avoid “analysis paralysis” and move quicker towards full integrated implementation.
✅ Tailored Support: A good consultant doesn’t just give you the requirements, they help you understand why the requirements are important and help you embed security practices into your daily activities.
⚠️ Direct Costs: While you may save on time and effort, consultants don’t come cheap. Many times, this requires an upfront investment.
⚠️ Potential Over-reliance: If you rely too heavily on a consultant, without internal engagement and learning, you may end up with policies and procedures that no one understands or follows.
⚠️ Organisational Fit: Not all consultants are created equal. A mismatch in approach or expectations can slow things down and lead to frustration. It’s important to find a consultant whose values align with those of your business.
Conclusion
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
If you have the time, interest, and a dedicated team, a DIY approach might work well for your business, especially for frameworks in early or exploratory phases. But if you want to get it right the first time, reduce risk, and focus on your core business, partnering with a consultant could be the smarter move.
In some cases, the sweet spot is a hybrid approach. You could start out with a consultant to get the groundwork in place, then manage the system in-house moving forward.
Whatever you choose, the important thing is to get started. Information security isn’t just for the big guys anymore. Your customers, partners, and even local regulations are raising the bar, and your reputation depends on it.
If you’re still not sure, get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your options and find the way that works for you.
