Achieving triple certification in record time to boost tender success

The Challenge

JM Security Systems was already certified to ISO 9001 but needed UKAS-accredited certification after their previous supplier ceased to be accredited. At the same time, they saw increasing demand from tenders for ISO 14001 and ISO 27001, the international standards for environmental management and information security, the latter of which was entirely new to them.

“We had an environmental management system in place but hadn’t been certified, so we had a lot of foundation work there, but ISO 27001 was completely new to us.”

Mary Vadaie Compliance Manager, JM Security Systems

The Solution

Using ISMS.online, JM Security Systems built and implemented an ISO 27001-compliant information security management system (ISMS) from the ground up, using the platform’s in-built guidance.

“ISO 27001 would have been a big ask of us without the ISMS.online platform.”

Mary Vadaie Compliance Manager, JM Security Systems

During the process, the business worked with its existing external IT service provider to ascertain areas of responsibility, review information management workflows and ensure the required documentation was being logged. Using the ISMS.online platform, JM Security Systems centralised its evidence management and information security documentation in line with ISO 27001 requirements.

“For ISO 27001, the ISMS.online platform is brilliant because it’s such a step-by-step process, and there’s hints, guides and notes. It was brilliant, particularly starting from a point of having never done ISO 27001 before.”

Mary Vadaie Compliance Manager, JM Security Systems

The business also transferred its existing ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 documentation into projects within the ISMS.online platform, quickly establishing its quality management system (QMS) and environmental management system (EMS) alongside its ISMS.

“For each standard, it’s great how you can just go in and start populating and reading the information, and the support team has been really good.”

Mary Vadaie Compliance Manager, JM Security Systems

The Result

“From initially starting with ISMS.online to getting certified to the three standards, we did it in nine months.”

Mary Vadaie Compliance Manager, JM Security Systems

JM Security Systems achieved certification to all three standards in just nine months, with successful Stage 2 external audits undertaken by ISMS.online partner and UKAS-accredited auditor, ISOQAR.

“Having the platform has been handy because when the auditors come in, I can say “this is on the platform, you’ll find it here.”

Mary Vadaie Compliance Manager, JM Security Systems

What’s Next?

Having an ISMS, EMS, and QMS certified by a UKAS-accredited auditing body enables JM Security Systems to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to quality, integrity, sustainability, and security at the highest level. This unlocks new competitive advantages for the team, such as standing out against competitors when tendering for new business.

“There will be very few companies of similar size to us that will have ISO 27001. They might have 9001 and they probably don’t have 14001. So, it really is going to make us stand out.”

Mary Vadaie Compliance Manager, JM Security Systems