Cost & effort
ISO 27001 consulting costs
The cost of ISO 27001 consulting depends heavily on the organization’s starting point. Companies with a mature ISMS and solid documentation need significantly less external support than those starting from scratch.
The following assessment is based on a broad range of ISO 27001 projects in small and mid-sized companies — from first-time certifications to audit readiness for existing ISMS.
Key cost drivers
Existing processes, policies, asset and risk management, and evidence in line with ISO/IEC 27001 and Annex A.
Number of locations, IT systems, critical business processes, and external dependencies.
Availability of internal stakeholders, management buy-in, and decision speed.
Preparation for Stage 1/Stage 2, internal audits, and external audit support.
Typical cost drivers
- missing or outdated policies and documentation
- unclear responsibilities and process ownership
- high dependency on third parties or cloud services
- tight audit deadlines
- many locations or complex IT landscapes
Typical effort by starting point
Exact pricing cannot be stated responsibly without understanding the scope. Experience shows clear differences depending on the starting situation:
Existing ISMS, audit preparation: low to medium consulting effort
Partially documented processes: moderate project and coordination effort
Starting without an ISMS: higher initial effort to build structure, documentation, and processes
How to keep costs under control
Define scope clearly:
Which organizational units, locations, and systems are in scope?
Prioritize documentation:
Risk analysis, policies, Statement of Applicability (SoA), and evidence first.
Secure internal resources:
clear roles, dedicated owners, management commitment.
Plan the audit timeline realistically:
no shortcuts without a solid baseline.
What a good proposal should include
- clear assessment of the current state and target state
- defined scope of services (gap analysis, implementation, audit support)
- transparent timeline including internal contributions
- concrete deliverables (policies, SoA, reports, templates)
Note: Very low fixed-price offers without clear boundaries often lead to rework or audit delays.
Common questions about ISO 27001 costs
Why do costs vary so much?
Because scope, ISMS maturity, and available internal resources are decisive.
Are certification bodies included in the consulting costs?
Usually not — they are contracted separately.
Are there grants or subsidies?
Depending on region, company size, and program, funding may be available.
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