ISO 27001: Peace of Mind Around Translation Services

So what does ISO 27001, a data security standard, have to do with translation quality?

Translation quality has many faces. It can look like correct terminology and syntax.

Or how about the appropriate style for the given audience? And, let’s not forget all-around excellent customer service!

And it can also look like the secure handling of information assets.

For some time now, our clients have been telling us about the importance of data security for them and their stakeholders.

Continuous improvement has been the way of life for us here at Teneo ever since we achieved our first ISO certification (9001) back in 2013. This year, amidst numerous “work from home” scenarios, data security became even more important to us and our clients.

That is why, faithful to our improvement culture, reached for another ISO certification.

What is ISO 27001?

ISO/IEC 27001:2013 is the international standard for information management systems. Similar to other ISO standards, it represents an extensive framework for “establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system”.

In essence, by applying the ISO 27001, we make sure we handle information securely, that we pay attention to existing and potential risks through periodic risk assessments, and take action to mitigate them.

For us at Teneo, this achievement translates into a commitment to the security of our client’s data and systems.

What Information Security Controls are covered?

Examples of the areas covered by ISO 27001:

• Access Control
• Antivirus and backup
• Communication security
• Classification of information
• Handling of media
• Physical security
• Human Resource security (including work from home and mobile devices)

To become certified, Teneo has improved and expanded upon the existing documentation and processes in the area of information security. In addition, the Teneo Team also had to prove that the processes and guidelines are actually used in the course of managing and processing our work. Finally, Teneo received its certification from ISO Quality Services, Ltd. on November 2nd, 2020.

Moving forward, we will undergo an internal audit as well as an external audit each year.

Benefits for Teneo’s Clients

Our clients already know we provide high-quality translation services. And now they can also have the peace of mind of knowing that we have processes, systems, and technology in place to provide for the highest possible level of data security out there. Data security is even more important now when people might be either working remotely or in a hybrid scenario.

There are only a few Language Services Providers who have achieved this certification and who operate according to the best standards available today. We are proud that our team is among those who have made the conscious decision to invest in data security. We show our clients that we are a worthy partner supporting their own data security efforts.

What is Next?

As we celebrate this major milestone, we are already working toward the next goal of our incremental improvement. For us, this is the NIST CSF (Cyber Security Framework) assessment. Because we are always taking our efforts to the next level, we are working on deepening both our processes and systems to comply with the more technical controls of the NIST assessment.

Stay tuned for our progress!