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Becoming an ISO 27001 external auditor requires a combination of training, professional experience and certification.

ISO 27001 is an international framework for information security management, providing guidelines for protecting sensitive corporate information against security risks.

External auditors play a very important role in ensuring that companies comply with the requirements of the standard.

Here are the steps and criteria to follow:

  1. Get ISO 27001 training: The first step to becoming an ISO 27001 external auditor is to get training in the standard you’ll be auditing. There are many online and in-person courses that can provide you with the knowledge you need to understand the requirements of the standard and the best practices for auditing an information security management system (ISMS). It’s important to choose training that is recognized and accredited to ensure that you receive quality training, otherwise your training may be rejected.
  2. **Obtain professional experience **: Having professional experience in implementing and managing information security management systems is crucial to becoming an ISO 27001 external auditor. Being able to demonstrate a solid understanding of the business domain and the implementation of an ISMS is required. This usually requires 5 or more years’ experience in either implementation or day-to-day management.
  3. Obtaining professional certification: There are several professional certifications that can help you become an ISO 27001 external auditor. The most widely recognized is the Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) certification. Other certifications are also valid. These certifications prove that you have the skills and knowledge required to carry out information security audits in an efficient and structured way.
  4. **Finding an accredited certification company **: Once you’ve obtained training, professional experience and certification, it’s time to find an accredited certification company that can certify you as an ISO 27001 external auditor. There are many accredited certification companies that can help you achieve this certification, but it’s important to choose a company that is recognized and accredited by the appropriate standards bodies. Also be sure to check the certification company’s specific requirements regarding the skills, experience and certifications required to become an ISO 27001 external auditor.
  5. **Put your skills and experience into practice by carrying out audits **: Once you are certified as an ISO 27001 external auditor, you can start putting your skills and experience into practice by carrying out audits for companies that have implemented an ISO 27001-compliant ISMS. Audits can include verifications of compliance with the standard’s requirements, information security risk assessments and control tests. It is important to keep up to date with the latest requirements of the standard and best practices to ensure that audits are carried out effectively and in compliance with the requirements of the standard.

Senior Auditor

Ultimately, once you have participated in enough audits as a member of an external auditing team, you will be recognized as a Lead Auditor, enabling you to carry out audits independently.

It is important to note that becoming an ISO 27001 external auditor is not an easy task, it requires determination and dedication to understand the requirements of the standard and the best practices for auditing an ISMS. It is also important to keep up to date with developments in the standard, and to participate in ongoing training courses to ensure that you are up to date with the latest requirements and best practices.

In addition to this, it should be noted that the ISO 27001 external audit not only verifies compliance with the standard’s requirements, but also aims to identify possible improvements in the information security management system to enhance the company’s overall security. That’s why an ISO 27001 external auditor needs to understand information security risks and security controls to identify areas for improvement.

Know-how and know-how

Finally, communication and interpersonal skills are also required to effectively communicate the audit results to the various levels of the company, and to build trusting relationships with the various players involved in the information security management system.

In addition to the technical and communication skills required to become an ISO 27001 external auditor, it is also important to have a professional attitude and to be impartial. External auditors are responsible for verifying the conformity of an information security management system with the requirements of ISO 27001, so it’s important not to be influenced by the interests of the company being audited, and to maintain a spirit of objectivity in order to carry out an effective audit.

ISO27001 Certification body

An ISO 27001 certification body is an organization accredited to certify ISO 27001-compliant information security management systems (ISMS).

These certification companies are responsible for checking whether an ISMS meets the requirements of ISO 27001, and for issuing certification accordingly.

Companies with an ISMS certified by an ISO 27001 certification body can use the standard’s logo to show that they have an information security management system that complies with international standards.

Certification bodies are accredited by standards bodies such as ANSI (American National Standards Institute) or UKAS (United Kingdom Accreditation Service) to certify information security management systems. It is important to choose an accredited and recognized certification body to ensure that the certification is valid and recognized in the marketplace.

It’s important to note that there are currently over 21,000 ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standards covering a variety of subjects, from quality management systems and information technology to building materials and chemicals. ISO standards are developed by technical and project committees which bring together experts from different countries and industries. Standards are then published by ISO and can be adopted by national standards bodies for use in different countries.

It is important to note that ISO does not certify companies or products, but develops standards that can be used to assess the conformity of management systems or products. Companies can choose to implement ISO-compliant management systems and have them certified by accredited certification bodies to demonstrate their conformity.

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