ISO 27001 is an international standard for information security management. It provides a systematic approach to establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS).
The framework places a strong emphasis on governance, risk management, and continuous improvement. Certification requires third-party audits and extensive documentation, making ISO 27001 a highly credible benchmark for security and compliance worldwide.
The standard was developed to provide organisations with a comprehensive, globally accepted model for protecting sensitive information. Unlike frameworks such as the Essential Eight, which are designed specifically for Australian businesses, ISO 27001 is internationally recognised and often required for:
Global enterprise contracts
SaaS providers working with international clients
Heavily regulated industries (finance, healthcare, government)
Businesses seeking to demonstrate the highest level of security maturity
ISO 27001 is best suited for businesses that:
Operate internationally – Clients across borders often require ISO certification.
Handle highly sensitive information – Particularly in finance, healthcare, and government.
Need enterprise-level credibility – ISO 27001 is one of the most trusted global standards.
Plan for long-term growth – Certification signals maturity and attracts larger clients.
Already meet or exceed local standards – ISO is the next step for scaling credibility globally.
ISO 27001 is structured around three key pillars:
Governance & Policy – Clear management responsibility and documented information security policies.
Risk Management – Identifying, assessing, and mitigating information security risks.
Controls & Continuous Improvement – Implementation of 114 controls across areas such as access control, incident response, business continuity, and system acquisition.
Certification requires third-party audits, demonstrating that the organisation’s ISMS is functioning effectively.
| Feature | ISO27001 | Essential Eight |
| Purpose | Global ISMS standard | Australian cyber defence baseline |
| Scope | Governance, policies, risk, and technical controls | 8 technical controls |
| Complexity | High (documentation-heavy, global scope) | 4 maturity levels (0-3) |
| Certification | Yes, via third-party audits | Yes (Bronze to Diamond) |
| Target Audience | Global enterprises, SaaS, and regulated industries | Any Australian business |
| Audit/Recognition | External audit | External Assessment (Emerging IT) |
Essential Eight is tactical and technical; ISO 27001 is strategic and global.
| Feature | ISO27001 | SMB1001 |
| Purpose | Global ISMS standard | Full Cyber Security maturity roadmap for SMBs |
| Scope | Governance, policies, risk, and technical controls | Technical, governance, training, policy, risk management |
| Complexity | High (documentation-heavy, global scope) | 5 certification tiers |
| Certification | Yes, via third-party audits | Yes (Bronze to Diamond) |
| Target Audience | Global enterprises, SaaS, and regulated industries | Small-to-medium businesses |
| Audit/Recognition | External audit | Self-attestation and external audit (Platinum & Diamond) |
ISO 27001 is global and comprehensive; SMB1001 is more accessible and SMB-friendly.
| Feature | ISO27001 | Right Fit for Risk |
| Purpose | Global ISMS standard | Baseline security for government suppliers |
| Scope | Governance, policies, risk, and technical controls | 114 security controls |
| Levels | High (documentation-heavy, global scope) | Pass or Fail |
| Certification | Yes, via third-party audits | Assurance requirement, not a framework |
| Target Audience | Global enterprises, SaaS, and regulated industries | Government contractors |
| Audit/Recognition | External audit | Assurance requirement |
RFFR is an Australian government-specific baseline, while ISO 27001 is the global benchmark.
Achieving ISO 27001 certification requires significant effort, but there are modern tools that streamline the process by automating evidence collection, monitoring, and reporting:
Vanta – Our preferred compliance automation tool. Vanta integrates seamlessly with platforms like AWS, Microsoft 365, GCP, GitHub, and more, automating security monitoring and compliance reporting. We recommend Vanta because we find it the most effective, scalable, and reliable product to work with.
Drata – Focuses on continuous compliance, providing automated control monitoring and audit readiness dashboards.
Delve – Offers risk and compliance management tailored to SMBs, helping simplify documentation and evidence gathering.
Scrut – Designed for scaling businesses, Scrut centralises compliance workflows and supports multiple frameworks beyond ISO 27001.
These platforms do not replace the need for implementation, but they make compliance management more efficient and audit-ready.
While tools like Vanta, Drata, Delve, and Scrut help automate documentation and evidence gathering, businesses still need to implement the technical controls required by ISO 27001. That’s where we come in.
We support businesses by:
Implementing access controls, firewalls, and encryption.
Ensuring patch management and vulnerability assessments.
Establishing incident response and business continuity measures.
Providing staff training and awareness programs.
Supporting policy and governance requirements.
By combining these hands-on services with compliance tools, businesses can achieve ISO 27001 certification faster and with greater confidence.
The ISO 27001 Cyber Security Framework is the global gold standard for information security management. It offers international recognition, enterprise credibility, and a structured approach to managing risk. While more complex and resource-intensive than frameworks like Essential Eight, SMB1001, or RFFR, ISO 27001 is unmatched in its ability to open doors to global opportunities.
With the right combination of automation tools and technical expertise, ISO 27001 certification becomes far more achievable for businesses of all sizes. Our team provides the practical implementation of technical controls, while tools like Vanta, Drata, Delve, and Scrut streamline compliance management.