What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is the international standard for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It provides a structured framework to manage risks to your data — covering people, processes, and technology. Unlike a one-off audit or software tool, ISO 27001 embeds continual improvement: identify risks, implement controls, measure effectiveness, and improve.
💡 Plain-English take:
It's your practice-wide playbook for keeping sensitive client information safe — policies your team follows, processes they use, and the technology that supports them. Think of it as a comprehensive security blueprint that grows with your accounting practice.
Why ISO 27001 Matters for Accounting Practices
Accounting practices are frequent targets of cyber-attacks due to the sensitive financial data they handle. ISO 27001 helps you win trust, reduce risk, and meet client/insurer expectations, without disrupting your day-to-day operations.
Why Accountants Are Prime Targets — And How ISO 27001 Helps
Accounting firms hold highly sensitive information: payroll data, tax returns, audit files, bank details, and Companies House credentials. Threat actors exploit email chains, shared credentials, weak MFA, and unmanaged devices to access this valuable financial information.
- ✓ Strengthen access controls for cloud accounting tools (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage)
- ✓ Secure file transfer and client portals with encryption
- ✓ Encrypt data at rest and in transit to protect sensitive financial information
- ✓ Formalise incident response and breach handling procedures
- ✓ Demonstrate robust practice security to clients, regulators, and professional indemnity insurers
- ✓ Protect against phishing attacks disguised as HMRC or client communications
Our 6-Step ISO 27001 Approach
Discovery & Gap Analysis
Baselining your practice against ISO requirements with a prioritised readiness report showing exactly where you stand.
Scope Definition
Agree boundaries: teams, systems, locations, cloud accounting platforms, and client data types within your ISMS scope.
Risk Assessment & Treatment
Identify assets, threats, vulnerabilities specific to accounting practices, and controls; publish comprehensive risk treatment plan.
ISMS Policies & Documentation
Create policies (Access, Incident, Business Continuity, Supplier, Client Data Protection) aligned to ISO standards and accounting practices.
Implementation & Training
Deploy technical and organisational controls; train your accounting staff; prove effectiveness with evidence.
Internal Audit & Improvement
Pre-audit checks, management review, corrective actions, and full audit readiness preparation for your practice.
What Our ISO 27001 Support Covers
- ✅ Gap analysis and roadmap to certification with clear milestones for accounting practices
- ✅ Policy suite: Information Security, Access Control, Incident Response, Business Continuity, Client Data Protection, Supplier Security
- ✅ Risk assessment & treatment (asset register, risk register, Statement of Applicability) tailored to accountancy
- ✅ Technical controls: MFA, encryption, secure backups for client data, patching, EDR, logging & monitoring
- ✅ Staff awareness training and phishing resilience programmes designed for accounting teams
- ✅ Internal audits and management reviews for continual improvement
- ✅ Certification body liaison and audit preparation support
- ✅ Ongoing compliance support (surveillance audits, improvements, updates)
ISO 27001 + Cyber Essentials: Stronger Together
Cyber Essentials addresses core technical safeguards (patching, firewalls, secure configuration, access control, malware protection). ISO 27001 adds governance, documentation, risk treatment, and continual improvement for your accounting practice. We streamline both into one practical programme to avoid duplication and maximise efficiency.
🛡️ Explore Cyber Essentials certificationKey Areas Covered by ISO 27001 (Annex A)
Choose Your Path to ISO 27001
ISO 27001 Readiness
Ideal when your practice needs clarity and momentum before committing to full certification.
- Gap analysis & prioritised roadmap for your practice
- Policy starter pack customised to accounting workflows
- Quick wins for immediate risk reduction
- Cost-effective entry point for smaller practices
Full Implementation & Certification
End-to-end support for your accounting practice, including audit preparation and post-certification maintenance.
- Complete ISMS build-out and documentation
- Internal audit & management review
- Certification body liaison and audit support
- Ongoing maintenance and surveillance audit prep
Common Challenges We Solve for Accounting Practices
12-Person Accountancy Practice: From Vulnerable to Certified
In six months, PPCS delivered a comprehensive readiness assessment, tailored policy suite specifically for accountancy, access control uplift for practice management systems, incident response plan for client data breaches, and staff training focused on accountancy-specific threats. The firm reduced phishing incidents by 85% and successfully prepared for ISO 27001 certification.
What we delivered:
- ✓ Gap analysis with priority roadmap and timeline tailored to accounting practices
- ✓ Secure cloud storage implementation and MFA rollout across all practice management systems
- ✓ Incident response playbook for client data breaches and tabletop exercises
- ✓ Quarterly awareness training and simulated phishing campaigns (HMRC-themed)
- ✓ Risk register and Statement of Applicability specific to accountancy
- ✓ Pre-certification internal audit
Why Accounting Practices Choose PPCS
Local expertise
Based in Fleet, serving accounting practices in Farnborough, Aldershot, Farnham, Guildford, and across Hampshire, Surrey & Berkshire.
Practical & affordable
Accounting practice-friendly delivery focused on tangible outcomes, not unnecessary bureaucracy or paperwork.
Full-service provider
Cyber Essentials, ISO 27001, ISO 42001 for accounting practices, plus ongoing IT support and managed security services.
Trusted by accountants
Security with business sense – we understand the unique challenges facing accounting practices, from busy season to client confidentiality.
FAQ: ISO 27001 for Accounting Practices
⏱️ How long does certification take?
Typically 3–6 months for accounting practices, depending on your scope, current security maturity, and practice size.
⚖️ Is ISO 27001 mandatory for accountants?
No, but it's increasingly expected by clients, partners, professional indemnity insurers, and required for many supply chains.
🛡️ Do we need Cyber Essentials first?
Not required — but achieving Cyber Essentials first significantly accelerates your technical control baseline for ISO 27001.
👥 We have no internal IT team?
Perfect – we act as your virtual security team and manage the entire project from start to finish for your practice.
📋 Does ISO 27001 help with GDPR?
Yes. ISO 27001 maps closely to GDPR's data protection principles and demonstrates accountability for client data protection.
💷 What's the investment required?
Costs vary by practice size and complexity. Contact us for a free consultation and tailored quote for your accounting practice.
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