By Chinmay Kulkarni

Are you tired of hearing the same old story about IT audit, risk, and compliance? Well, let me tell you something you might not have heard before!

Did you know that ISO 27001 has a clause on understanding the needs and expectations of interested stakeholders? But wait, don’t click away just yet! This isn’t your typical boring paragraph about stakeholders.

Let’s dive deeper. Interested parties in ISO 27001 include employees, customers, suppliers, partners, regulators, and other relevant stakeholders. But what about the not-so-friendly stakeholders like hackers and malicious attackers?

Here’s where it gets interesting. It’s crucial to identify and understand the needs and expectations of all interested parties to manage information security risks and ensure ongoing alignment with stakeholder requirements. That means considering not only the friendly stakeholders but also the not-so-friendly ones who may be looking to exploit weaknesses in your information security practices.

But wait, there’s more! As an IT auditor, risk, or compliance professional, you can use a variety of tools and policies to communicate the importance of implementing an information security management system (ISMS) to your stakeholders. This is where the power of persuasion comes in.

Think about it, if a stakeholder is high power and low interest, they may not be as invested in your ISMS as other stakeholders. However, their power within the organization makes them an important stakeholder to consider.

So, how can you convince them of the importance of your ISMS?

Here’s where storytelling comes in. Use real-world examples of companies that have suffered a data breach due to weak information security practices. Show them the consequences of not having an effective ISMS in place, and how it can impact not only the organization but also its stakeholders.

Regular stakeholder engagement and feedback are also essential for effective information security risk management. For example, you might conduct a survey to gather feedback on your organization’s information security practices and use this feedback to identify areas for improvement.

Regular risk assessments and audits are also crucial for effective information security risk management. For example, you might conduct a vulnerability assessment to identify vulnerabilities in your organization’s information systems and take proactive measures to mitigate these risks.

In conclusion, don’t underestimate the power of understanding and effectively communicating with all interested parties, even the not-so-friendly ones. Use storytelling and real-world examples to persuade stakeholders of the importance of implementing an effective ISMS. Remember, the consequences of weak information security practices can be devastating, but the rewards of a robust ISMS are immeasurable.