When you hear certification and accreditation (C & A) you might immediately think of heaps of documents, long meetings, and ticking boxes.
Honestly yes, it can feel like a chore, and just something you do to keep the executives and auditors happy.
But if that is all C & A is to your organisation, then you’re missing the real point.
At its core, C & A is about knowing your risks and making sure the security controls you rely on work in real life.
It should be less about paperwork and ticking boxes and more about answering the questions that really matter:
- Do we actually understand what our risks are?
- Are our security controls doing what they are supposed to do, and don’t just look good on paper?
- Can we confidently say we are operating securely?
Treating C & A like a tick box exercise can be risky. Sure, you might pass the audit, but if you then find controls are not effective in real life, a security incident could still catch you off guard. And let’s be honest, sometimes organisations even forget when the recertification is due until the auditor shows up at the door.
For New Zealand government agencies, this process is often guided by the NZISM. For private organisations, international standards such as ISO/IEC 27001 or frameworks such as the NIST Cybersecurity Framework come into play. Regardless of the method being followed, the intent is the same.
So how can you make your next C & A useful?
- Build security in early : Don’t leave security considerations to the last minute. Think about them when designing systems, buying software, or planning new projects. A bit of foresight goes a long way
- Focus on effectiveness : It’s not just enough to say a security control is “there”, you need to be able to show that it is. Evidence that controls actually work is what counts.
- Get the right people involved: Security is not just an IT problem. Make sure business owners and subject matter experts know their responsibilities in managing risks and the ongoing maintenance needed when implementing any controls.
- Keep it alive: C & A is not a ‘once every few years’ thing. Keep monitoring, reviewing, and improving your security controls regularly. Continuous assurance makes the process genuinely valuable and helps you never get caught out when recertification is due. 😉
At the end of the day, a signed off C & A might look good and get you some praise, however it is real assurance that matters most. Done right, C & A is not another bureaucratic pain point but a practical way to stay on top of the risks to your business – and sleep a bit easier at night.
Do you know when your system recertifications are falling due? Or maybe you have a new system that needs a C & A done?
Get in touch with the team at Axenic, we will guide you through the C&A process and give you confidence you are not just compliant, but secure as well.