What are ISO 27001 and ISO 27017? And why should application users care?

Business today is built in the cloud where applications, data, infrastructures, and daily operations come together in one digital ecosystem. This means that more than ever, digital security is not just a technicality, but rather a critical part of business.

For companies like us at EasyLife 365, a Cloud Service Provider (CSP), ensuring sensitive information from customers, partners, as well as employees is safe and protected from unauthorized access, and preventing it from being manipulated or lost, is a core business imperative. On the other hand, in order to conduct our daily operations, we are also a Cloud Service Consumer (CSC), as we rely on third-party cloud platforms. Therefore, in our environment, adhering to globally recognized standards is more than meeting compliance requirements, it is a way for us to safeguard our operations and demonstrate transparency in our security practices to our stakeholders. Two of the standards that are relevant for us are ISO 27001 and ISO 27017. While one provides us the basis for a comprehensive framework to manage security risks, the other builds on it with best practices for using cloud services, ensuring our team is equipped to handle security aspects in both providing and consuming cloud services.

WHAT ARE ISO 27001 AND ISO 27017?

ISO 27001 is the globally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) that lays out the foundation of an effective framework to identify, manage, and reduce security risks, ensuring sensitive information is protected through a structured, continuous improvement process. Four key elements of ISO 27001 are:

• Plan: Define resources, policies, roles, and responsibilities for information security.
• Do: Assess information security risks and threats.
• Check: Conduct regular audits, assessments, and continuous monitoring.
• Act: Take corrective actions for continuous improvement.

For EasyLife 365, adopting this framework means that our clients, partners, and team members can be assured that our security governance is not ad hoc, but based on a structured and continuous improvement process that keeps all parts safe while our cloud services are being used, as well as while they are being developed. In which all employees are not only aware of their responsibilities for information security, but are capable of identifying potential threats and react to them in an adequate manner.

In addition to this framework, EasyLife 365 also adopts the security standard ISO 27017 which provides guidelines that extend cloud security. It addresses the challenges of keeping data stored in the cloud safe, specifying guidelines for information security controls applicable to providing and using cloud services. Key elements of ISO 27017 include:

• Recommendations for the implementation of shared responsibility models, under which team members know who is responsible for what in a cloud setup.
• Additional controls for cloud specific information security, admin operations, identity and access management, and others.
• Advocacy for contractual transparency between CSPs and CSCs for accessing, eliminating, and recovering data.
• Best practices for the use and the implementation of cloud services.

Essentially, by adopting this standard, EasyLife 365 creates a safer cloud environment by being able to better implement security measures in the development of our cloud services and reduced security risks associated with the use or third-party cloud services.

Nonetheless, adhering to ISO 27001 and ISO 27017 means not only adhering to frameworks, but also adhering to a continuous process of improvement of security standards that is verified on a yearly basis by comprehensive external audits. At EasyLife 365 we emphasize that information security goes beyond the implementation of technical controls, it is also a matter or individual responsibility, where every team member works as a firewall by adhering to security policies and taking part in trainings that increase user awareness and help maintain a secure environment. We are dedicated in ensuring security and privacy are at the core of our daily operations so that the data of our clients, partners, and team members is safe, and earlier this year our efforts were recognized when we passed our first ISO surveillance audience after achieving our ISO 27001 and ISO 27017 certifications. An achievement that reinforced our dedication for continuous improvement in security measures for our clients, partners, and our team. You can read more about it in our official update .

Why ISO 27001 and 27017 Matter for End Users?

But why are these certifications so important for application users? For users it may be difficult to assess how their sensitive information and data is managed or what security measures are taken, which heavily impacts trust among CSPs and their clients. But when choosing a CSP that has ISO 27001 and ISO 27017 certifications, they can be assured that:

• Data is safe because rigorous security protocols are adopted
• Security is not just a word, it is an intrinsic part of daily operations
• All team members take responsibility and are accountable for the organization’s overall information security
• There is transparency in how data is handled and how the organization responds to security threats
• Security processes and policies are formally monitored, and externally audited on a yearly basis

For decision makers of CSCs this means reduced ambiguity in security management of the applications their organization is using, mitigation of reputational and operational risks from breaches, a decrease in vulnerabilities in their environments, less down-time in case of outages due to structured response plans that accelerate incident response and ensure business continuity, simplified compliance to industry regulations (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, NIS2), reinforced brand integrity and increased stakeholder assurance which strengthen the security posture of the entire value chain, and other operational benefits.

Ultimately, ISO 27001 and ISO 27017 are about secure growth in the cloud, not only for us as a CSP, to elevate our security posture and improve customer confidence while building our applications, but also for application users and decision makers who can rely on certified providers that offer clarity and assurance for business continuity.

Conclusion: Trust, Transparency, and Cloud Confidence with EasyLife 365

At EasyLife 365, we believe that security is not a feature, it is a foundation. By adopting ISO 27001 and ISO 27017, we are committed to building and delivering cloud services that put user trust and data protection first. These certifications reflect our proactive approach to managing risks, fostering transparency, and ensuring everyone, including team members, partners, and customers, plays a role in keeping the digital workspace secure. If you would like to explore more about our certification journey and what it means for you, check out our updates:

• Ensuring Trust and Security with ISO 27001 and 27017
• ISO Surveillance Audit Success: Reinforcing Security & Compliance

Whether you are using our applications or partnering with us to grow your Microsoft 365 environment, you can count on EasyLife 365 to protect what matters most: your people, your data, and your peace of mind. When your apps are secure by design, you can focus on what really matters. Connect with us to learn more.