Complete Guide 2026: ISO 27001 Certification and How to Obtain It

Information security is now a strategic pillar for companies of all sizes and industries. Protecting sensitive data—and proving it's done in an organized, measurable, and reliable way—has gone from being optional to becoming a key requirement that directly impacts the trust of clients, partners, and investors.

In this context, ISO 27001 Certification stands out as the most recognized international standard for managing and securing information within a company. In this guide, we explain what ISO 27001 is, why it matters, its main benefits, how it is structured, and the steps you need to follow to get certified in 2026.

What is ISO 27001 Certification?

ISO 27001 certification is the international reference standard that helps companies manage their information security in an organized and effective way. It defines the requirements for designing, implementing, and improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS) that truly works in the day-to-day operations of the business.

In a world where security incidents are increasingly common, having ISO 27001 goes far beyond using technological tools. It means having a clear strategy to protect critical information, ensure data confidentiality, maintain integrity, and guarantee availability when the business needs it. In other words, it's about controlling risks rather than reacting when it's too late.

Why is ISO 27001 important for a company?

Adopting ISO 27001 is not a trend—it's a direct response to the growing risks and the need to protect key assets. Some data makes this clear:

1. According to IBM, only 32% of companies use security solutions based on automation and artificial intelligence. However, those that do significantly reduce the impact of incidents, with average savings of up to $1.8 million in costs associated with security breaches.

2. The number of companies certified in ISO 27001 has steadily increased in recent years, confirming a clear trend toward adopting this standard as a foundation for trust and compliance.

3. Every year, hundreds of billions of attempted data thefts or leaks are recorded, highlighting the urgency of protecting sensitive information and technological assets. (Source: Fortinet)

These numbers reflect a concrete reality: companies need to take information security seriously. And one of the most solid and recognized ways to do so is through ISO 27001 certification, which allows organizations to manage the protection of critical data in a professional, structured way aligned with international best practices.

How to Obtain ISO 27001 Certification in Mexico: Step-by-Step Guide

Obtaining ISO 27001 certification is not just a technical matter. It’s a structured process that requires commitment, strategic vision, and alignment with business objectives. For companies in Mexico and LATAM, following a phased approach helps meet both local requirements and international information security standards.

Phase 1: Gap Analysis

It all begins with understanding your current position. In this stage, the company’s current information security level is assessed against the ISO 27001 standard requirements.

1. Defining the scope: Determine which areas, processes, and assets will be covered by the ISMS.

2. Identifying gaps: Compare current practices with the standard’s controls to identify what’s missing and where to start.

3. Initial risk assessment: Analyze threats and vulnerabilities that could affect the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information.

Phase 2: ISMS Implementation and Annex A Controls

With the gaps identified, it’s time to take action and build the security system.

1. Policy documentation: Define the rules of the game regarding information security.

2. Control implementation: Deploy technical and administrative measures, such as access management, network protection, and asset control.

3. Staff training: Security doesn’t rely solely on technology. Awareness and best practices among employees are key for the system to function effectively.

Phase 3: Internal Audit and Management Review

Before undergoing the external audit, it’s essential to ensure everything is working as intended.

1. Internal audit: Review the effectiveness of the implemented controls and processes.

2. Identifying nonconformities: Address any issues before they are evaluated by the certifying body.

3. Management review: Senior management reviews results, validates the ISMS’s performance, and ensures resources are available for ongoing improvement.

Phase 4: External Certification Audit

In this final stage, an accredited body formally assesses compliance with the standard.

1. Stage 1 – Documentation review: Verify that ISMS documentation meets ISO 27001 requirements.

2. Stage 2 – Implementation audit: Check, either on-site or remotely, that the documented processes are actually being followed in daily operations.

3. Certificate issuance: If no major nonconformities are found, the organization is granted certification, which must be maintained and periodically renewed.

At TecnetOne, we've seen that companies that complement their ISMS with continuous monitoring—such as a managed SOC—tend to pass audits more easily. ISO 27001 not only requires policies and processes; it also demands clear evidence that incidents are detected and managed in a timely manner.

Getting certified is like building a safe: certification defines the structure, but ongoing monitoring ensures the door stays locked against any intrusion attempts.

ISO 27001:2022 vs. the Challenges of 2026

The ISO 27001:2022 version marked a significant step forward in information security management, especially in areas like cloud usage and data protection. However, by 2026, the landscape has become far more demanding. Artificial intelligence is now an integral part of business processes and has also transformed how attacks are launched and countered.

That’s why ISO 27001 should not be seen as a rigid document, but as a living framework that must adapt to the evolving pace of data, automation, and emerging threats.

Key Security Controls in AI-Driven Environments

The widespread adoption of language models, automation, and AI-based tools requires a reassessment of how Annex A controls are applied in a new context:

1. Data privacy and quality: When corporate data is used to train AI models, it’s essential to ensure that the data is protected and properly managed to prevent information leaks or the loss of intellectual property.

2. Secure development: Using AI to generate code speeds up development, but also demands stricter reviews. Auditing AI-generated code helps prevent the automatic introduction of vulnerabilities into business applications.

3. Identity and Access Management (IAM): Many security breaches are still tied to weak or reused credentials. With increasingly automated attacks, using multi-factor authentication and strong access controls has become a top priority.

From Traditional Protection to Cyber Resilience

Today’s focus is no longer just on preventing incidents at all costs—but on being prepared to respond and recover quickly when they do occur. This is where cyber resilience becomes central to ISO 27001.

1. Increased security investment: Companies are allocating more resources to strengthen their response capabilities and operational continuity in the face of more complex attacks.

2. More proactive detection: Techniques like phishing have evolved, now using deepfakes and more sophisticated campaigns, making it necessary to enhance both user awareness and technical detection controls.

3. Growth of SOC as a service: To meet the response times required by the standard, many organizations are turning to 24/7 monitoring services that allow for incident detection and containment without the need to operate a complex internal infrastructure.

For many companies, one of the biggest challenges in implementing and maintaining ISO 27001 is demonstrating real capabilities in detection, response, and continuous monitoring. At TecnetOne, we support organizations at this critical point with our managed SOC, which provides 24/7 monitoring, proactive threat detection, and incident response aligned with ISO 27001 controls.

This approach enables organizations to strengthen their cyber resilience posture, meet certification requirements, and face audits with greater confidence—without the complexity of running an internal security center.

Having a managed SOC not only simplifies ISO 27001 compliance, it also helps maintain the certification over time and ensures effective response to increasingly sophisticated threats.