ISO 27001

Overview

VikingCloud is committed to transparency and openness in all aspects of our ISO 27001 certification services. As an accredited certification body operating under ISO 17021-1, we recognize that trust in certification depends on clear communication about our processes, policies, and practices.

This comprehensive resource reflects our commitment to theopenness principles outlined in ISO 17021-1 (clauses 8.1 and 4.5.1), whichemphasize the importance of public access to information that builds confidencein certification integrity and credibility. We believe that informedstakeholders make better decisions, and transparency strengthens the entirecertification ecosystem.

What organizations can find in this guide:

• Our certification process - Step-by-step breakdown of how we conduct ISO 27001 audits from application through ongoing surveillance.
• Certification decisions - How we grant, maintain, suspend, restore, or withdraw certifications.
• Our expertise and approach - Information about our auditors, sector knowledge, and service offerings.
• Impartiality commitments - Our policies and practices that ensure independent, unbiased assessments.
• Certification mark usage - Guidelines for how certified organizations can use the VikingCloud name and certification mark.
• Complaints and appeals - Clear processes for addressing concerns or contesting decisions.
• Contact information - How to reach us for services, verification, or inquiries.

This information is readily accessible to support informed decision-making about certification across all geographical areas where we operate. Whether an organization is considering certification, seeking to verify a certificate, or simply wants to understand our operations, this guide contains the essential information needed to build confidence in our certification processes.

ISO/IEC 27001 Certification and Its Benefits

In today’s data-driven business environment, information security is paramount. ISO/IEC 27001 is the leading international standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), and achieving certification demonstrates an organization’s commitment to protecting data and managing risk.

Key benefits of pursuing ISO 27001 certification include:

• Stronger Security and Risk Management: Organizations implement a structured ISMS to reduce the likelihood of data breaches and improve resilience against cyber threats. By proactively identifying and mitigating risks, ISO 27001 helps safeguard sensitive information and maintain business continuity.
• Enhanced Customer & Partner Trust: An ISO 27001 certificate is a globally recognized badge of trustworthiness—a clear signal to clients, partners, and stakeholders that an organization takes information security seriously. This credibility strengthens relationships and assures customers that their data is in safe hands.
• Competitive Advantage & Market Access: Many industries and clients now require ISO 27001 certification from their vendors. Being certified helps organizations meet customer and regulatory requirements, stand out from competitors, and unlock new business opportunities where high security standards are mandated. It positions organizations as leaders in security and compliance.
• Regulatory Compliance & Efficiency: ISO 27001’s comprehensive framework ensures organizations address relevant legal, regulatory, and contractual security obligations. The certification process often streamlines internal security policies and processes, leading to clearer responsibilities, improved incident response, and a culture of continuous improvement in security practices.

By attaining ISO 27001 certification, organizations protect their data assets while gaining marketing advantages and operational benefits from adhering to an internationally recognized standard for information security.

Expert Auditors and Sector Expertise

A key advantage of choosing VikingCloud is the quality and expertise of our people. Our ISO 27001 audit team consists of seasoned professionals who meet stringent international qualifications. Each lead auditor has robust information security experience and undergoes continuous professional development to stay current with evolving threats and standards.

VikingCloud takes care to assign auditors who understand each organization's industry. During our application review, we identify the relevant sector and ensure that at least one auditor on the team has experience or training in that industry’s risks and norms. This means our auditors not only audit against the ISO checklist but also bring contextual insight and practical knowledge of the business environment.

Throughout every engagement, VikingCloud’s auditors and certification staff are professional, approachable, and focused on helping organizations succeed while maintaining the highest standards of impartiality and rigor.

VikingCloud’s ISO 27001 Certification Services

VikingCloud is a trusted, accredited certification body specializing in ISO/IEC 27001 audits and certification. We offer end-to-end ISO 27001 certification services – guiding you through the initial audit stages, the certification decision, and ongoing compliance monitoring throughout the certification cycle. Our approach is professional, impartial, and aligned with international requirements (we operate in conformity with ISO/IEC 17021-1 and ISO/IEC 27006, the standards for certification bodies). When organizations partner with VikingCloud, they benefit from our deep sector expertise and commitment to quality at every step.

Our ISO 27001 Certification Process

Our certification process follows a proven multi-stage approach:

1. Application & Scope Definition: The process begins with an application where organizations provide information about their structure, ISMS scope, and readiness. VikingCloud reviews each application to ensure we have the competence and capacity to audit the relevant industry and needs. We clarify the desired certification scope and prepare a proposal outlining the audit plan (including Stage 1, Stage 2, annual surveillance, and recertification timelines) and costs. Once the organization agrees, we formalize the plan and schedule the audits.
2. Stage 1 Audit (Readiness Review): In Stage 1, our auditors perform a preliminary assessment of the organization's ISMS to evaluate your readiness for the full certification audit. This involves reviewing ISMS documentation (policies, procedures, risk assessments, etc.) and checking that key requirements are in place. Essentially, it’s a gap analysis to identify critical issues before proceeding. We typically conduct Stage 1 onsite (or remotely by agreement) and provide feedback on areas to improve if needed. If the Stage 1 audit finds significant gaps indicating the organization is not ready, we report these findings so they can be addressed before moving to Stage 2.
3. Stage 2 Audit (Certification Audit): Stage 2 is the main certification audit – a comprehensive, in-depth evaluation of ISMS implementation and effectiveness. VikingCloud’s audit team visits the organization's site(s) to interview personnel, observe processes, and review evidence that security controls and practices meet all ISO/IEC 27001 requirements in practice. The team samples various controls across the organization’s departments and locations within the agreed scope. At the end of the Stage 2 audit, the team discusses any findings with the organization and issues an audit report detailing any non-conformities or observations. Organizations can correct any non-conformities (especially any major issues) before the certification decision is made.
4. Certification Decision & Issuance: After the audits, VikingCloud conducts an independent certification decision process. The audit team submits its report and recommendations but does not decide on certification. Instead, a Certification Committee—led by our Certification Manager and senior experts who were not part of the audit—reviews the evidence objectively. This separation ensures an impartial decision based solely on the audit findings and ISO 27001 compliance. If the organization has successfully met the standards (and addressed any findings), VikingCloud grants certification. The organization receives its ISO/IEC 27001 certificate, formally recognizing its ISMS as compliant. (If there are outstanding major non-conformities, certification is deferred until resolved.)
5. Ongoing Surveillance Audits: Certification is not a one-time event—it’s a continuous commitment. VikingCloud works with organizations through the three-year certification cycle. Typically, we conduct annual surveillance audits in the years following initial certification (e.g., at 12 and 24 months) to verify that the ISMS remains in place and effective. Each surveillance audit checks key elements like internal audits, security objectives, previous issue remediation, and samples different controls to ensure the organization is maintaining and improving its ISMS. We provide a Surveillance Audit Report after each visit, with conclusions on whether certification remains valid. As long as the ISMS continues to meet ISO 27001 requirements and any minor issues are corrected, certification is maintained. (If a serious lapse or major non-conformity is found in a surveillance audit, we give prompt notice and guidance on corrective action; failure to address serious issues can lead to suspension of certification until resolved, per ISO rules.)
6. Recertification (Year 3): ISO 27001 certificates are valid for three years. Before a certificate expires, VikingCloud performs a recertification audit (usually in the third year) to renew certification for the next cycle. A recertification audit is essentially a full audit (similar to a Stage 2) of the entire ISMS, reviewing all requirements and how the system has matured over the past cycle. If this audit is successful, meaning the ISMS still conforms to ISO 27001 and any findings are minor and corrected, a new certificate is issued for another three years. This ensures continuous certification with no gaps, demonstrating ongoing commitment to information security. (If the recertification audit were to find significant problems that are not resolved, the certification lapses, but the organization has the opportunity to fix issues and pursue recertification.)

Certification Decisions and Outcomes

• Granting Certification: After a successful audit confirms that an organization meets all ISO/IEC 27001 requirements, we formally grant certification. VikingCloud then issues the certificate and adds the organization to our register of certified clients.
• Refusing Certification: If the audit finds that the requirements are not fully met (for example, if major issues remain unresolved), we do not grant certification until those issues are addressed. The organization is informed of what needs to be corrected before moving forward.
• Maintaining Certification: Once certified, organizations undergo regular surveillance audits (typically annually) to ensure they continue to meet the standard’s requirements. As long as these ongoing audits are successful and compliance is maintained, the certification remains valid throughout its three-year cycle.
• Renewing Certification: Our ISO/IEC 27001 certifications are valid for three years. Before a certificate expires, VikingCloud conducts a recertification audit to confirm continued compliance and renew the certification for another cycle. This keeps the certification active without any lapse, assuming the organization still meets all requirements.
• Suspending Certification: We may suspend the certification if a serious compliance issue arises (such as a major security lapse or failure to address critical audit findings). Suspension is a temporary hold on the certification—the certificate is not valid during this period, giving the organization a defined time to resolve the issues.
• Restoring Certification: If an organization resolves the issues that led to a suspension, VikingCloud verifies the corrective actions (for example, through a follow-up audit or document review). Once we confirm everything is back in order, we lift the suspension and fully restore the certification to “active” status.
• Withdrawing Certification: Certification is withdrawn (permanently revoked) if serious problems cannot be resolved or the organization cannot meet essential certification requirements within the given timeframe. In cases of withdrawal, the certification is terminated—the organization’s certificate is canceled, and they must cease all promotion or use of the certification.

Our Commitment to Impartiality

Impartiality is at the heart of VikingCloud’s certification services. We understand that the integrity and credibility of ISO 27001 certification depend on independent, unbiased evaluations. VikingCloud has a formal Impartiality Policy that ensures all certification decisions are based solely on objective evidence of conformity, never influenced by commercial, financial, or other pressures. We proactively identify and address any potential conflicts of interest in our activities, and we maintain robust governance to safeguard impartiality:

• Independent Decision-Making: Certification decisions at VikingCloud are made by an independent Certification Committee, separate from the audit team. While our auditors conduct the assessments and provide reports, they do not decide whether certification is granted. That authority lies with senior personnel (the Certification Manager and Certification Committee) not involved in the audit, ensuring an unbiased review.
• No Conflicts of Interest: VikingCloud does not provide ISO 27001 consulting or internal ISMS implementation services to the clients we certify. Our personnel must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, and auditors must be independent of the client’s ISMS design or maintenance (we do not assign an auditor who has previously worked for or advised an organization in developing the ISMS). By refraining from consulting and carefully managing relationships, we ensure our only interest is in objectively assessing your compliance.
• Impartiality Oversight: VikingCloud’s executive leadership has endorsed our Impartiality Policy at the highest level. Our internal Impartiality Committee—a team of stakeholders not involved in daily certification operations—meets regularly to review our practices and advise on impartiality matters. The committee conducts risk assessments to identify any threats to impartiality and confirms that we effectively mitigate them. Additionally, we maintain transparency by openly communicating our impartiality commitments (our Impartiality Policy is public and available to clients).

By rigorously enforcing impartiality, VikingCloud provides trustworthy, third-party certification. Organizations can be confident that our audit findings and certification decisions are completely objective, focused only on whether their ISMS meets ISO 27001 requirements, with no other agenda. This impartial stance is a cornerstone of our accreditation and ethics, ensuring an ISO 27001 certificate from VikingCloud is respected and credible in the marketplace.

Use of the VikingCloud Name and Certification Mark

With reference to ISO 17021-1:2015, https://www.inab.ie/inab-documents/mandatory-international-standard/inab-regulations.pdf, and our policies, we maintain a Policy for Use of VikingCloud Certification Mark and Name by Certified Clients which includes the following:

• Permitted Uses of the VikingCloud Certification Mark
• Prohibited Uses of the Mark and Name
• Use of VikingCloud Name and Certificate Information
• Suspension or Withdrawal of Certification (i.e., Certified organizations must be aware that the right to use the certification mark and to claim certification is conditional on a valid, up-to-date certificate. If for any reason an organization's ISO/IEC 27001 certification is suspended, withdrawn, or otherwise no longer valid, the organization must immediately cease all use of the VikingCloud mark and any references to VikingCloud certification).
• Compliance and Enforcement

Complaints and Appeals Process

VikingCloud is committed to fairness and accountability in all our certification services. We have established a clear Complaints and Appeals Process for organizations or other interested parties to voice concerns or contest decisions. If an organization has an issue—whether it’s dissatisfaction with an audit outcome, a decision to deny or suspend certification, or any aspect of our conduct—we encourage them to utilize this process, which is available on request.

Contact Us

Organizations ready to achieve ISO/IEC 27001 certification with a partner they can trust can contact VikingCloud’s Compliance & Risk Services team. We help organizations every step of the way—from initial gap assessments to successful certification and beyond. Our team is available to discuss specific needs or provide quotes tailored to each organization. We also invite organizations to schedule a consultation for a one-on-one discussion about how ISO 27001 compliance can strengthen their business.

VikingCloud serves as a guide in navigating the certification journey, so organizations can focus on reaping the rewards of a certified, secure, and confident enterprise.

For further details about our Impartiality Policy or Complaints and Appeals Process:

ImpartialityCommittee@vikingcloud.com

To verify the certification status of an organization:

CertCommittee@vikingcloud.com