Financial Software Ltd (FSL) is proud to share that we have officially achieved ISO 27001 accreditation, a globally recognised standard for information security management.
This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to protecting the data entrusted to us by our clients and ensuring our systems, processes and services operate to the highest level of security.
Reaching this standard is the result of collective effort across our organisation. It demonstrates the strength of our internal practices, the dedication of our team, and our unwavering focus on delivering a secure and trusted experiences for every client we serve.
What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is an international standard created by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), an independent, non-governmental organisation that develops standards for a range of industries based on contributions by expert representatives.
This standard sets out extensive and robust frameworks for managing information security management systems, including specific requirements around data security and accessibility. By adopting the ISO 27001 standard in their day-to-day operations, businesses can reduce the risk of data breaches, data loss and other incidents.
Accreditation is a continuous process therefore businesses that want to be compliant with the standard must undergo repeated, independent third-party audits.
What are the Core Principles of ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is built on three foundational pillars: confidentiality, integrity and availability. These principles guide how organisations protect information, manage risk and ensure resilience across all areas of their operations.
Confidentiality: Information must be protected against unauthorised access, disclosure or misuse. This includes ensuring that only approved individuals, systems or processes can view or handle specific information.
Integrity: Information should remain accurate, complete and trustworthy throughout its lifecycle. Integrity involves safeguarding information from unauthorised changes, whether intentional or accidental, and ensuring data is consistent and reliable.
Availability: Information must be accessible and usable when authorised users need it. Maintaining availability means implementing measures that prevent disruptions or downtime, such as resilient infrastructure, disaster recovery plans and proactive monitoring.
ISO 27001 requires organisations to embed these principles across four key domains: organisation, people, physical environment and technology. Together, these domains ensure that information security is not just a set of controls, but a holistic, organisation‑wide approach to information security management.
“ISO 27001 accreditation reflects the hard work of the FSL team and our dedication to operating securely and transparently. It gives our clients added assurance that their data is protected to the highest international standards, every single day.”
Joe Hughes, Head of Technology & Information Security at FSL
Why We Pursued ISO 27001 Certification
Achieving ISO 27001 accreditation wasn’t just about earning a badge for FSL, it was about strengthening the way we operate and ensuring we remain a dependable partner for our clients.
Cyber-crime is unfortunately on the rise. According to UK government data, 43% of UK businesses were impacted by a cyber-attack in 2024. In an environment where cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, we recognised the importance of adopting a rigorous, internationally accepted framework to guide how we manage and protect information.
Our decision to pursue ISO 27001 was driven by three key priorities:
Building deeper trust through transparency
ISO 27001 certification demonstrates that our internal security controls and processes have been independently assessed and verified, giving clients added confidence in how we operate.
Strengthening operational resilience
ISO 27001 encourages consistency, discipline and continuous improvement. By embedding these principles, we’ve enhanced our ability to respond to challenges, minimise disruptions and maintain business continuity.
Supporting our clients’ own compliance journeys
Many of our clients operate in regulated industries or are pursuing their own security certifications. By achieving ISO 27001, we help remove barriers, streamline collaboration and align ourselves more closely with their compliance needs.
How We Achieved ISO 27001 Accreditation
ISO 27001 requires organisations to systematically examine their security risks and then create and implement a set of information security and risk controls that align with an overarching information security system management strategy.
The standard demands that businesses not only put robust security controls in place but also demonstrate – through evidence and independent assessment – that these controls are effective and consistently applied. This is proved via a two-stage audit process.
Stage 1: Documentation and Readiness Review
Auditors examined our ISMS documentation, including policies, risk assessments, incident management processes and control frameworks, to confirm that everything met the requirements of the ISO 27001 standard.
This stage assessed whether we were ready to proceed to the next step.
Stage 2: Practical Assessment of Controls
Once our documentation was approved, auditors conducted a detailed, hands‑on evaluation of how our controls operate in practice. This included reviewing procedures, interviewing staff, observing processes, and assessing how our security measures run day‑to‑day.
This stage confirmed that we not only understood the ISO 27001 requirements but were actively applying them. After six months, FSL successfully completed both audit stages and demonstrated that our ISMS is comprehensive, effective and fully aligned with the ISO 27001 standard.
“ISO 27001 accreditation validates the rigorous security controls we’ve built into every layer of our systems at FSL. For clients, it means their data is protected by robust, independently verified practices designed to keep pace with evolving threats.”
Daniel Millward, Security Officer at FSL
Our Ongoing Commitment to ISO 27001
Earning ISO 27001 accreditation is an important milestone, but it marks the beginning of an ongoing journey. The standard requires continuous monitoring, regular review and a commitment to improvement. Our ongoing commitment includes:
Continuous improvement of our information security management system
We will regularly assess and update our controls, policies and processes to stay aligned with emerging risks, industry developments and client needs.
Annual surveillance audits
Independent auditors will conduct periodic reviews to ensure we maintain compliance and uphold the high standards required by the certification.
Active risk monitoring and assessment
We will keep evaluating potential threats and vulnerabilities, ensuring we remain proactive in strengthening our security.
Embedding a security culture
Security awareness will continue to be part of our everyday operations, with ongoing training, communication and alignment across the organisation.