Test Labs Successfully Completed ISO 27001 Continuing Assessment Audit

Our Commitment to Safeguarding Client Information

With information flowing more freely than ever, safeguarding sensitive data is non-negotiable, especially within a medical device testing environment like Test Labs. We are thrilled to announce that Test Labs has successfully completed its continuing assessment for ISO/IEC 27001:2022, the international standard for information security management. This achievement reaffirms that our Information Security Management System (ISMS) meets globally recognised criteria for managing information security risks and protecting valuable information assets.

ISO 27001: The Standard for Trust

What does this mean for our stakeholders?
ISO 27001 requires organisations to systematically examine their information security risks, implement robust controls, and maintain a management process that keeps these controls effective over time. It is the benchmark for organisations seeking to uphold the highest standards of information security.

For Test Labs, this certification validates our disciplined approach to maintaining the core principles of data security: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA). These principles are essential in maintaining the trust of clients who rely on us with their most sensitive data.

Inside the Audit

Achieving and maintaining compliance is a long-term commitment woven into our daily operations. Over the period of two days, an independent auditor conducted a comprehensive review of our ISMS, assessing our policies, operational practices, and their effectiveness through evidence checks and interviews.

Key areas examined during the audit included:
• Access Control – defines access privileges that can be granted to different user groups ensuring only authorised individuals can access information and facilities.
• Risk Management – identifying, analysing, evaluating, and treating information security risks, threat and vulnerabilities to the company’s information and other associated assets.
• Internal Audit, Management Review, and Continuous Improvement – monitoring, reviewing, and enhancing the ISMS
• IT Management – including secure operations, patch management, backups, and system monitoring.
• Supplier Management – managing risks introduced by external partners and vendors.
• Training and Awareness – ensuring personnel understand security responsibilities and are regularly updated.

The auditor reviewed our policies, standard operating procedures, and supporting evidence, and verified awareness and competence through interviews, especially with new starters.

The audit experience can be nerve-wracking, but our adherence to documented policies and our diligence in daily practice allowed us to clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of our ISMS. According to the auditor, we have a practical and proportionate approach to compliance, with staff who uphold information security while managing day-to-day responsibilities.

Key Strengths

The audit highlighted several strengths:
• Strong, well-structured policies.
• Consistent, effective implementation of processes.
• A practical management system suitable for a lean organisation.
• Clear staff awareness of procedures – particularly incident handling and day-to-day security responsibilities.

The auditor also identified a few minor opportunities for improvement, such as ensuring dates are consistently applied to risk updates and aligning password formats to the sensitivity of the stored information.

Moving Forward: Strengthening Our Security Posture

Certification is the foundation for continuous improvement. Completing this surveillance audit confirms the maturity of our ISMS while guiding future enhancements.

Rolling out a more scalable and targeted security awareness training module will help ensure everyone remains aligned with policies and procedures. Due diligence and monitoring procedures for third-party suppliers will also be strengthened to ensure vendors handling sensitive information meet our stringent controls.

Successfully navigating this continuing assessment is a testament to the dedication of every member of our organisation. This certification is a clear demonstration of our commitment to protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our information assets.