Introduction: The Critical Importance of Information Security
In today’s digital world, information security is critical to a company’s long-term success and resilience. With the rise in cyber threats like hacking and phishing attempts, the risks associated with inadequate information security are higher than ever. A single security incident can disrupt operations, cause significant financial loss, and damage a company’s reputation. For businesses to thrive and maintain resilience in this landscape, implementing robust security measures is no longer optional - it’s essential.
For this very reason, clients and business partners have become more demanding when it comes to the security practices of the companies they work with. Protecting sensitive and valuable company information isn't just a requirement for internal safety - it’s also a key factor in building and maintaining relationships with customers who expect a company to protect their data and, in turn, their business.
Why ISO 27001 Matters:
Business Resilience: By adopting ISO 27001, companies can identify vulnerabilities and establish processes that reduce the risk of security incidents and operational disruptions.
Customer Confidence: Clients and partners want to ensure that the companies they engage with have strong, proven security measures in place to protect their data.
Regulatory Compliance: ISO 27001 helps businesses meet not only industry expectations but also legal requirements for information security, ensuring compliance with various data protection laws.
Trust and Reputation: By demonstrating a commitment to information security, businesses can build stronger relationships with customers and partners, enhancing their reputation in the market.
In short, ISO 27001 is a key driver of both business resilience and customer satisfaction. It provides a structured framework for companies to manage and protect their information assets, helping them meet both internal and external security expectations.
Strengthened Security & Business Growth
Key Results:
Achieving ISO 27001 certification has enabled MGID to meet the evolving security and compliance expectations of the modern ad tech industry. The certification demonstrates their commitment to safeguarding data and operating within globally recognized standards, helping them build trust and streamline conversations with leading brands.
The implementation of ISO 27001 security controls has also ensured compliance with GDPR Article 32, which mandates appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of data processing. This alignment with GDPR has strengthened MGID's ability to manage data securely, meeting both legal and client expectations.
Through our collaboration, we helped MGID build a more structured and cohesive security framework, significantly improving internal efficiency and strengthening the company's ability to respond to security and regulatory challenges.
Moreover, regular vulnerability scans have played a critical role in identifying potential risks early within MGID’s products and infrastructure. This proactive approach has allowed the internal team to address vulnerabilities swiftly, preventing issues from escalating into security incidents. Combined with ongoing employee awareness sessions on information security, these efforts have minimized the risk of successful intrusions into MGID’s systems.
Problem Overview:
Evolving Security Needs for MGID
As a global leader in the AdTech industry, MGID operates in a competitive environment where proving a robust security posture is crucial for maintaining relationships with enterprise clients and partners.
Partnership
Chosen by Trusted Global and Local Brands
Leading Media Brands Rely on MGID's Platform for Monetization and Ausience Development
As MGID grows, the potential impact of a security compromise has never been higher, with the risk of affecting millions of users worldwide. To stay ahead of these challenges, MGID must meet stringent information security requirements.
MGID faces several key challenges in this regard:
Extensive Security Questionnaires: Potential business partners, particularly enterprise clients, frequently require MGID to complete detailed security questionnaires that outline how the company protects sensitive data, ensures regulatory compliance, and manages security risks. These assessments can be both time-consuming and demanding, as they often require the submission of comprehensive documented evidence, such as security policies, certifications, penetration testing reports, and other relevant documentation to demonstrate compliance and security measures.
Evidence of Compliance with Regulations: In addition to meeting the demands of enterprise clients, MGID must demonstrate compliance with a range of regulatory requirements, including GDPR, industry-specific regulations like AdTech frameworks, and other national data protection laws. This requires producing clear, verifiable evidence that their systems and practices align with these standards, which can be resource-intensive and administratively challenging.
Increased Data Breach Risks: Due to MGID’s global scale and reach, the potential impact of a data breach is substantial. A lack of adequate security measures could expose millions of users’ data, leading to reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and significant financial losses. Strengthening its security controls is not just about compliance—it’s also about protecting the business from operational and legal consequences that could arise from a breach.
MGID engaged us to help ensure it meets all necessary information security requirements and builds the infrastructure needed to support its growth. Enhancing its security posture is key to maintaining trust, satisfying regulatory obligations, and supporting long-term partnerships in the AdTech industry.
Solution: Security Beyond Compliance—Building Real Security
To address these challenges, Sekurno partnered with MGID to help them achieve full compliance with ISO 27001:2013 and later transition to ISO 27001:2022. This effort went beyond compliance by focusing on building security through structured risk management, enabling MGID to not only meet security requirements but also gain a deeper understanding of its risks.
Gap Analysis
The first critical step in MGID’s journey toward ISO 27001 compliance was conducting a comprehensive analysis against the standard’s requirements. This process provided valuable insights into compliance alignment and opportunities to strengthen the existing security posture. By evaluating current practices against ISO 27001 controls, we identified areas for improvement to further align MGID’s security program with the standard.
Risk Assessment
Following the Initial Analysis, we moved to the Risk Assessment - a crucial phase that not only identifies risks but also shapes the entire security strategy. Effective risk management is key to creating a resilient security framework, and it is where Sekurno excels as a cybersecurity company. The Risk Assessment was comprehensive and went beyond identifying external threats; it focused on a deep understanding of MGID’s organizational and business context.
Key steps in the Risk Assessment included:
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Identification and classification of company assets: We thoroughly mapped out MGID’s information systems, data assets, and critical infrastructure, ensuring that every asset's value and sensitivity were recognized.
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Evaluating potential risks and vulnerabilities: This involved assessing both internal and external threats, whether technological, procedural, or human-related.
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Business impact analysis: By understanding the consequences of each risk materializing, we aligned the security priorities with MGID’s business goals.
This structured approach to risk management guided the entire organization, ensuring that the security strategy was not only focused on protecting assets but also on creating long-term business resilience. By understanding how risks directly impact MGID’s operations and reputation, we helped craft a security framework that’s deeply embedded into their overall business strategy.
The result was a tailored risk mitigation plan, which provided clear recommendations to close any security gaps, reinforce MGID’s defences, and implement controls that align with both regulatory standards and the company’s operational needs. This risk-driven security strategy became the backbone of MGID’s ISO 27001 compliance journey.
Development of Policies & Establishment of Processes
Following the assessments, our team of two dedicated Information Security Officers began the critical task of developing the required documentation and implementing necessary processes to align MGID with ISO 27001 requirements. Key policies and procedures included:
- ISMS Policy
- Information Security Policy
- Information Classification Policy
- Asset Management Policy
- Secure Software Development Policy
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- Risk Management Policy
- Encryption Policy
- Network Security Policy
- Incident Management Policy
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy
- Supplier Relationships Management Policy
- Vulnerability Management Policy, etc.
Integration of Technical Solutions
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Malware Protection Solutions to defend against malicious software.
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A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) System for real-time logging and monitoring of suspicious activities.
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Mobile Device Management (MDM) Systems to safeguard mobile devices and maintain control over endpoint security.
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Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Systems to ensure sensitive information remains protected and secure.
To further strengthen MGID’s security framework, we helped implement a range of advanced technical controls designed to safeguard their infrastructure. These measures included:
Additionally, a dedicated Sekurno team conducted regular vulnerability scans to proactively identify and address potential weaknesses in MGID’s internal and external systems, ensuring continuous improvement of their security posture.
Employee Awareness & Training
To ensure the entire organization was aligned with the new security measures, we conducted comprehensive internal training sessions focused on information security rules, data protection guidelines, proper usage of corporate assets, and incident response procedures. These sessions provided MGID employees with crucial knowledge on how to protect sensitive data and respond swiftly to security incidents. After the training, an interactive quiz was administered to evaluate each employee's understanding of these key policies and practices. This approach ensured full engagement, strengthened compliance, and instilled a proactive security culture throughout the company.
Internal Audit
In the final phase, we performed a comprehensive Internal Audit to verify that every ISO 27001 requirement had been properly implemented, ensuring all necessary evidence was documented in the Statement of Applicability. This thorough audit was essential in confirming that MGID had fully met the rigorous ISO 27001 requirements and was ready for the External Audit.
ISO27001 Certification Audit
Additionally, we guided MGID in selecting the right Certification Body and provided hands-on support throughout the External Audit process. This collaborative effort resulted in MGID’s successful ISO 27001 certification.
he impact of this engagement on our business has been profound. With Sekurno's help, we were able to implement a structured approach to security, which enhanced our internal processes.
Maksym Romanchuk - Information Security Architect at MGID Inc.
Conclusion: ISO 27001 as a Cornerstone for Long-Term Success
MGID’s successful implementation of ISO 27001 has been a transformative milestone, showcasing the company’s proactive commitment to information security and regulatory compliance. Through an organized and dedicated approach, MGID not only achieved compliance but also enhanced its operational efficiency and strengthened its standing in the industry. The company’s ability to handle complex security tasks with speed and precision - thanks to its well-structured, cohesive team and prompt communication - was crucial to achieving this certification without delays.