ISO 27001 Isn't Hard — If You're Already Managing IT Well
26 Feb 2026
"ISO 27001 sounds complicated."
That's what most CTOs think.
But if you're already managing IT well—backups, access control, updates—you're probably 70% there.
The gap isn't technical. It's documentation.
It's Not About New Tech—It's About Proving What You Do
ISO 27001 doesn't require expensive tools or infrastructure overhauls.
It checks if you:
Control access (who can access what)
Protect data (encryption, backups)
Manage changes (updates, patches)
Handle incidents (process when things break)
Train people (basic security awareness)
Reality check: If you're running a modern tech stack, you're already doing this.
Using Google Workspace with 2FA? That's access control.
Running automated backups in AWS? That's data protection.
You just need to document it.
You're Probably Already Compliant—You Just Don't Know It
Signs you're managing IT well:
✅ Using SSO/2FA on company tools
✅ Regular backups (and you test them)
✅ Access granted based on roles
✅ Software updates happen regularly
✅ Monitoring/logging enabled
✅ Offboarding removes access promptly
Truth bomb: This IS ISO 27001. You're just not calling it that.
What's missing? Documentation proving you do these things consistently.
Most startups fail audits not because they lack security. They fail because they can't show evidence.
The auditor asks "How do you manage access?" You say "We just handle it."
Not enough. You need process, policy, and proof.
The Only Thing Between You and Certification
What you need to document:
1. Policies (simple statements)
Not 50-page documents. Clear statements.
"We require 2FA on all systems"
"We back up data daily to AWS S3"
"We review user access every 90 days"
One or two sentences per control.
2. Evidence (proof you follow policies)
Screenshots of 2FA settings. Backup logs. Access review spreadsheets with dates.
Auditors want proof, not promises.
3. Ownership (who's responsible)
"IT Manager reviews access quarterly."
"CTO approves infrastructure changes."
"Security lead handles incidents."
Every control needs an owner.
Common mistake: Writing 12-page policies nobody reads.
Better approach: Short policies matching reality.
Bad: 12-page "Access Control Policy"
Good: "All users authenticate via SSO with 2FA. IT reviews access every 90 days."
One is impressive. The other is useful.
From Good IT to ISO 27001 in Weeks
Week 1: Audit what you have
List tools and security features. Google Workspace? Note SSO, 2FA, encryption. AWS? Note backups, encryption, access controls.
Document current practices. How do you handle access? Onboarding? Incidents?
You'll find you meet 40-60 controls already.
Weeks 2-3: Fill gaps
Enable missing features. Not using 2FA everywhere? Enable it. Not logging access? Turn it on.
Write simple policies. One paragraph per control.
Assign ownership. Who reviews access? Tests backups? Handles updates?
Weeks 4-5: Create evidence trail
Set up recurring reviews. Access review every 90 days. Backup test quarterly.
Document training. Simple spreadsheet of who completed training and when.
Keep logs and screenshots. A folder with screenshots and a spreadsheet is often enough.
Weeks 6-10: Get audited
Choose certification body. Submit documentation. They'll review and audit.
Address findings. They'll find a few gaps. Fix them. Normal.
Get certified. Pass the audit. Update website. Tell sales. Win deals.
Total timeline: 6-10 weeks if you're already managing IT well.
Key insight: You're not building from scratch. You're documenting what works.
ISO 27001 Isn't Hard If You're Already Doing the Work
Teams that struggle start from zero. No processes. No tools. No practices.
But if you're already managing IT well—modern cloud tools, access control, backups, updates—you're most of the way there.
Stop overthinking it.
Document what you do. Fill obvious gaps. Get certified. Win deals.
The certification isn't the hard part. Running good IT is. And you're already doing that.
