What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS), setting out how an organisation protects the information it handles. It requires rigorous risk management practices to protect sensitive data.
Detailed description
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides a systematic framework for managing sensitive information, ensuring it remains confidential, maintains its integrity, and is available when needed. For translation service providers, ISO 27001 certification is particularly important because translation inherently involves handling clients' confidential content.
The standard requires organisations to identify information security risks across their operations, implement appropriate controls to mitigate those risks, monitor and review the effectiveness of those controls, and continuously improve their security posture. Controls span multiple domains including access management, encryption, physical security, human resource security, supplier relationships, incident management, and business continuity.
For translation providers, ISO 27001 addresses specific risks including unauthorised access to confidential documents during translation, data leakage through insecure file transfer or storage, exposure of sensitive content through machine translation engines that store or learn from input data, physical security of facilities where translation work is performed, security of remote working environments used by translators, and data retention and deletion policies.
ISO 27001 certification requires an independent audit by an accredited certification body and regular surveillance audits to maintain certification. This provides clients with externally verified assurance rather than self-declared security claims.
LEXIGO holds ISO 27001 certification, ensuring that all client content is handled within a certified information security management system. This is particularly important for clients in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, legal, and government where data protection is a compliance requirement.
Why it matters
Every document sent for translation potentially contains sensitive information, from trade secrets and financial data to patient records and legal communications. Without proper security management, translation creates an information security vulnerability in an organisation's supply chain.
ISO 27001 certification gives clients confidence that their translation provider manages information security systematically and is accountable to an external standard. For organisations subject to data protection regulations or handling sensitive information, working with an ISO 27001-certified translation provider is increasingly a procurement requirement rather than a preference.
Related questions about ISO 27001 certification
What does ISO 27001 mean for translation services?
It shows a translation provider manages information security through an audited system covering risks, access, suppliers and incidents. That matters because translation often involves personal and confidential documents.
Does ISO 27001 make a provider compliant with the Privacy Act?
Not by itself. ISO 27001 supports good security practice, but organisations still have separate obligations under the Privacy Act 1988 and any contract requirements.
What is the difference between ISO 27001 and ISO 9001?
ISO 27001 covers information security management, while ISO 9001 covers quality management. LEXIGO is certified to both, plus ISO 17100 for translation services.
Is ISO 27001 required for government translation work?
It depends on the agency and contract. Some government buyers require ISO 27001 or equivalent security controls in procurement, so check the tender or panel requirements.
What is the current version of ISO 27001?
The current version is ISO/IEC 27001:2022.