ISO 27001 Consultancy: From Gap Analysis to Certification Readiness
At A Glance
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Who it's for: Tech startups, university spin-outs, established firms needing certification
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Typical Timeline: 5–7 months from start to audit readiness.
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What you get: A management system that passes audits and satisfies enterprise buyers
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Starting point: Free 20 minute scoping call
ISO 27001 certification tells enterprise buyers and investors that you take information security seriously. But the certificate is not the goal—the goal is closing the deal, passing due diligence, or protecting the IP that makes your business valuable.
Based in the UK, I work with clients across EMEA.
Why organisations need ISO 27001
Compliance is rarely a choice and is driven by the market. Most clients seek ISO 27001 certification when external, commercial or regulatory pressure forces the decision.
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Enterprise Procurement — Large buyers mandate ISO 27001 for vendor approval. No certificate, no contract.
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Investor Due Diligence — Investors want a recognised framework for protecting IP and customer data.
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Regulatory Pressure — Sectors like FinTech, MedTech, and GovTech face rising expectations around security governance.
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Operational Resilience & Clarity — Certification forces you to document what you do, find gaps, and build repeatable processes.
What ISO 27001 implementation really involves
ISO 27001 requires an Information Security Management System (ISMS) covering people, processes, and technology. Certification has two stages:
Stage 1 Audit — Documentation review. Is your ISMS designed correctly?
Stage 2 Audit — Implementation assessment. Is it actually operating? This is where you earn the certificate.
My job is to get you ready for both:
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Scope, risks, and context.
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Risk assessment and treatment process.
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Documentation that reflects reality.
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Controls that address actual risks.
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Team preparation for auditor questions.
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Pre-audit review so there are no surprises.
Service Tiers
Bronze
Readiness & QuickStart Scoping workshops, gap analysis for ISO 27001 and ISO 42001, certification roadmap, 90-day quick wins, core policy suite, and starter risk register.
Silver
Assisted Implementation Everything in Bronze, plus: Statement of Applicability, full risk assessment, asset register, 20–30 tailored documents, implementation workshops, staff training (up to 25 people), pre-Stage 1 review, Stage 1 audit liaison.
Gold
Consultant-Led & Strategy Everything in Silver, plus: ISO 42001 integration, one full internal audit cycle, management review facilitation, investor/board summary pack, training (up to 60 people), supplier risk management setup, Stage 2 audit support, three months post-certification GRC support.
Who this is for
Post-Seed and Series A Startups — First enterprise deal or funding round. No GRC team. Need to move fast.
University Spin-Outs — Commercialising research IP. Academic governance doesn't map to procurement requirements.
Established Tech Firms — Informal practices that need formalising for a major contract.
FinTech, MedTech, Deep Tech, SaaS — High data sensitivity and regulatory scrutiny.
What I don't do
I build the governance framework. I don't run IT operations, write product code, provide 24/7 incident response, or issue ISO certificates. Certification comes from an accredited certification body.
Common questions before engaging
How long does implementation take?
For most startups, 5–7 months is a realistic timeline. For larger organisations or complex integrated systems, the timeline is longer and depends heavily on internal resource allocation, documentation maturity, and decision-making cycles. I'll cover this specifically during the scoping call.
Do you guarantee certification?
No consultant can guarantee that as the certification body decides on the result. I guarantee that your documentation, evidence, and team will be ready for final assessment.
Can you recommend a certification body?
Yes. I typically recommend UKAS-accredited bodies and can advise on selection.
What if i have some documentation already?
I'll use the initial Gap Analysis to assess maturity and leverage existing processes. I'll focus resources solely on closing critical compliance gaps to accelerate project completion.
Do you work outside the UK?
Yes, across EMEA where timezone and logistics are practical.
Next step
Book a 20 minute scoping call. Tell me about your situation, timeline, and what's at stake. I'll give you an honest view of what's involved and whether I'm the right fit.