How to engage non-technical teams with ISO 27001

When non-technical teams have very little to do with IT and cybersecurity, engaging them with ISO 27001 compliance can be…challenging. But the fact remains that small missteps, even out of habit, or convenience or ignorance, can put your organisation at risk of regulatory non-compliance, so it’s essential everyone is onboard and understands the significance.  

1. What are the risks when staff aren’t engaged?

If employees have gaps in knowledge, or aren’t clear on ISO 27001 best practices, they may not adhere to them. Understanding where the risks might come from is an important starting point.

Lack of understanding of ISO 27001 can result in risks such as:

• Sharing passwords or using weak ones - undermines access controls and makes systems easier to compromise.
• Allowing unknown people into secure areas without challenge - creates opportunities for physical breaches and insider threats.
• Clicking phishing links or falling for social engineering - exposes credentials and sensitive data, resulting in theft and other malicious attacks.
• Improperly disposing of sensitive information - can cause data leaks, breaches, and regulatory fines.
• Using unsanctioned tools or cloud apps (shadow IT) - introduces unmonitored vulnerabilities that attackers can exploit.

These may seem like small mistakes, but they can create real vulnerabilities that put your organisation at risk of non-compliance, financial implications, and a range of sanctions by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

2. Quick wins to get your team engaged with ISO 27001

You don’t need to re-write your procedures or overhaul your systems overnight. Small, practical measures, including technical and non-technical controls, can improve security and raise awareness to keep your team engaged.

Some quick wins that can make a big difference include:

• Running awareness campaigns using posters, videos, email reminders or intranet articles.
• Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Single Sign-on (SSO) to enhance security controls.
• Encouraging the locking of idle screens and restricting USB use to prevent data leaks.
• Appointing security champions across departments to promote best practices.  

Combining small technical measures with smart communication can help to encourage a more mindful security-first culture without overwhelming team members with major process changes.

An ISO 27001 gap analysis can help you to identify and address any gaps in your existing processes or controls.

3. Creating a security-first culture

Culture change doesn’t happen overnight. Embedding a security-first culture takes consistent effort and reinforcement. Here are some of the key elements to a successful change:

• Planning ongoing awareness campaigns (think “Phishing December” or “Secure Password Month”).
• Designing clear, friendly messaging (not overly technical).
• Using gamification to encourage participation (leaderboards, small rewards, etc.).
• Setting up feedback loops so employees feel heard and involved.

We support organisations with embedding security into everyday work life. Our goal is to help you shift the mindset from seeing security as “IT's Problem” to something everyone takes ownership of.

How PGI can support with training

When it comes to ISO 27001, generic off-the-shelf training is rarely effective. That’s why at PGI, our training is custom built to suit the needs of your business. We start by understanding your organisation’s culture, risks, and roles. From there, we design interactive sessions that are relevant to each team. Our training is delivered in clear, relatable language free of jargon, and aligned with your operational and strategic goals.

By making ISO 27001 accessible and relatable, organisations can turn non-technical teams into active and engaged participants. You’ll not only strengthen compliance but also have confidence that information security is embedded across the business.  

Get in touch with our team today to get started.