[ad_1]

Preparing yourself is undeniably one of the best ways to facilitate your ISO 27001 and BS 25999-2 implementation. With a growing variety of courses available, I’ll delve into their benefits and distinctions.

The first category is in-person courses, which still dominate but are gradually losing ground to online alternatives (which I’ll explain later).

ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2 Lead Auditor Course

Undoubtedly, this is the most popular course for either ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2. Spanning 5 days, it culminates with a challenging written exam. Passing this exam signifies that you have completed the pinnacle course for these two standards. While it does qualify you to become an auditor for a certification body, its primary advantage lies in providing a comprehensive overview of the standards and offering detailed explanations of what certification auditors will demand during the certification audit. Consequently, it is beneficial to both auditors and implementers.

This course is designed for professionals with moderate or significant experience in information security, business continuity, auditing, or IT. Accredited courses (e.g. by IRCA) should be your sole choice.

ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2 Lead Implementer Course

This course bears some resemblance to the ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2 Lead Auditor Course, but it is not as popular. The key distinction lies in its focus on implementation techniques rather than auditing techniques. Therefore, if certification is not your primary concern, this course may be more suitable for you.

The target audience is similar – professionals with moderate or significant experience in information security, business continuity, or IT.

ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2 Internal Auditor Course

This course serves as a “light” version of the ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2 Lead Auditor Course. Typically lasting 2 or 3 days, it may or may not include an exam, and presents a condensed version of the Lead Auditor Course. The main difference is that this course will not enable you to pursue a career as an auditor in a certification body. Nonetheless, if you seek a systematic introduction to the realm of ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2, or plan to be an internal auditor in your organization, this course is the perfect choice for you.

The target audience is professionals with little or moderate experience in information security, business continuity, or IT.

ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2 Foundation Course / Introduction Course

Typically lasting one or two days, these courses aim to provide an overview of the requirements and implementation issues rather than teaching auditing or implementation techniques. If you are pressed for time but still want to understand what your company will undergo during implementation, consider one of these courses.

The target audience consists of management members or professionals with no experience in information security or business continuity.

Other information security / business continuity courses

You may have come across courses such as Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Certified Information Security Manager (CISM), or Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). While these courses are highly beneficial for your information security or business continuity career, they are not directly relevant to ISO 27001 or BS 25999-2. Therefore, it is advisable to attend CISA, CISM, and/or CISSP after completing courses that are directly associated with these two standards.

Online courses

In addition to the in-person courses mentioned above, online courses in the form of e-learning or live webinars are gaining popularity, partly due to their lower costs—no travel expenses or time away from the office. On the internet, there is a growing number of vendors offering quality content (including our Information Security & Business Continuity Academy). You can find courses ranging from 1-hour free webinars to several weeks of e-learning.

The primary benefit of online courses is that they provide more relevant knowledge in a shorter duration and at a lower cost, although the question of their actual effectiveness remains unanswered.

Regardless of the format or type of course you choose, one thing is certain—the return on investment will become evident quickly.

[ad_2]

Ihab Salloum