In today’s digital world,
information security is critical to a company’s long-term success and resilience. With the rise in cyber threats like hacking and phishing attempts, the risks associated with inadequate information security are higher than ever. A single security incident can disrupt operations, cause significant financial loss, and damage a company’s reputation. For businesses to thrive and maintain resilience in this landscape, implementing robust security measures is no longer optional—it’s essential.
For this very reason, clients and business partners have become more demanding when it comes to the security practices of the companies they work with. Protecting sensitive and valuable company information isn't just a requirement for internal safety—it’s also a key factor in building and maintaining relationships with customers who expect a company to protect their data and, in turn, their business.
Why ISO 27001 Matters:
Business Resilience: By adopting ISO 27001, companies can identify vulnerabilities and establish processes that reduce the risk of security incidents and operational disruptions.
Customer Confidence: Clients and partners want to ensure that the companies they engage with have strong, proven security measures in place to protect their data.
Regulatory Compliance: ISO 27001 helps businesses meet not only industry expectations but also legal requirements for information security, ensuring compliance with various data protection laws.
Trust and Reputation: By demonstrating a commitment to information security, businesses can build stronger relationships with customers and partners, enhancing their reputation in the market.
In short, ISO 27001 is a key driver of both business resilience and customer satisfaction. It provides a structured framework for companies to manage and protect their information assets, helping them meet both internal and external security expectations.
About the client
Headquarters:
City, country
Industry:
Business
Project duration:
December 2024 - Ongoing
Technologies and Tools:
tools
Strengthened Security & Business Growth
Key Results:
Achieving ISO 27001 certification has significantly elevated MGID’s business opportunities by addressing the primary concerns of potential clients. With the certification in place, MGID has been able to demonstrate a robust security posture, facilitating smoother negotiations and enabling the company to secure partnerships with some of the world’s most reputable brands.
The implementation of ISO 27001 security controls has also ensured compliance with GDPR Article 32, which mandates appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure the security of data processing. This alignment with GDPR has strengthened MGID's ability to manage data securely, meeting both legal and client expectations.
Before this structured approach, MGID's internal processes were not fully optimized. Through our collaboration, we helped MGID build a more structured and cohesive security framework, significantly improving internal efficiency and strengthening the company's ability to respond to security and regulatory challenges.
Moreover, regular vulnerability scans have played a critical role in identifying potential risks early within MGID’s products and infrastructure. This proactive approach has allowed the internal team to address vulnerabilities swiftly, preventing issues from escalating into security incidents. Combined with ongoing employee awareness sessions on information security, these efforts have minimized the risk of successful intrusions into MGID’s systems.
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Problem Overview: Evolving Security Needs for MGID
As a global leader in the AdTech industry, MGID operates in a competitive environment where proving a robust security posture is crucial for maintaining relationships with enterprise clients and partners.
Partnership
MGID's native monetization platform is chosen by the world's premier publishers
As MGID grows, its risk appetite increases, meaning the consequences of a security compromise could affect millions of people worldwide. To stay ahead of these challenges, MGID must meet stringent information security requirements.
MGID faces several key challenges in this regard:
Extensive Security Questionnaires: Potential business partners, particularly enterprise clients, frequently require MGID to complete detailed security questionnaires that outline how the company protects sensitive data, ensures regulatory compliance, and manages security risks. These assessments can be both time-consuming and demanding, as they often require the submission of comprehensive documented evidence, such as security policies, certifications, penetration testing reports, and other relevant documentation to demonstrate compliance and security measures.
Risk of Losing Business: Without the ability to demonstrate robust security measures, MGID risks losing business opportunities. Partners and clients are becoming increasingly stringent about their security requirements, and MGID must meet these expectations or risk falling behind competitors who can provide these assurances. Failing to address these expectations could result in delays or the inability to sign contracts, affecting business growth.
Evidence of Compliance with Regulations: In addition to meeting the demands of enterprise clients, MGID must demonstrate compliance with a range of regulatory requirements, including GDPR, industry-specific regulations like AdTech frameworks, and other national data protection laws. This requires producing clear, verifiable evidence that their systems and practices align with these standards, which can be resource-intensive and administratively challenging.
Increased Data Breach Risks: Due to MGID’s global scale and reach, the potential impact of a data breach is substantial. A lack of adequate security measures could expose millions of users’ data, leading to reputational damage, regulatory penalties, and significant financial losses. Strengthening its security controls is not just about compliance—it’s also about protecting the business from operational and legal consequences that could arise from a breach.
To remain competitive, MGID must ensure that its security practices not only comply with regulations but are transparent and verifiable, enabling the company to meet the rising expectations of enterprise clients and regulators. Strengthening its security posture is essential for maintaining trust and building long-term partnerships in the AdTech industry.
Solution: Security Beyond Compliance—Building Real Security
To address these challenges, Sekurno partnered with MGID to help them achieve full compliance with ISO 27001:2013 and later transition to ISO 27001:2022. This effort went beyond compliance by focusing on building real security through structured risk management, enabling MGID to not only meet security requirements but also gain a deeper understanding of its risks.
Gap Analysis
The first critical step in MGID’s journey toward ISO 27001 compliance was conducting a comprehensive Gap Analysis against the standard’s requirements. This process enabled us to uncover areas of non-compliance and pinpoint weaknesses in their existing security posture. By evaluating current practices against ISO 27001 controls, we identified gaps that needed to be addressed to ensure full alignment with the standard. This assessment laid the foundation for developing a security roadmap that would address deficiencies and prepare the organization for certification.
Risk Assessment
Following the Gap Analysis, we moved to the Risk Assessment—a crucial phase that not only identifies risks but also shapes the entire security strategy. Effective risk management is key to creating a resilient security framework, and it is where Sekurno excels as a cybersecurity company. The Risk Assessment was comprehensive and went beyond identifying external threats; it focused on a deep understanding of MGID’s organizational and business context.
Key steps in the Risk Assessment included:
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Identification and classification of company assets: We thoroughly mapped out MGID’s information systems, data assets, and critical infrastructure, ensuring that every asset's value and sensitivity were recognized.
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Evaluating potential risks and vulnerabilities: This involved assessing both internal and external threats, whether technological, procedural, or human-related.
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Business impact analysis: By understanding the consequences of each risk materializing, we aligned the security priorities with MGID’s business goals.
This structured approach to risk management guided the entire organization, ensuring that the security strategy was not only focused on protecting assets but also on creating long-term business resilience. By understanding how risks directly impact MGID’s operations and reputation, we helped craft a security framework that’s deeply embedded into their overall business strategy.
The result was a tailored risk mitigation plan, which provided clear recommendations to close any security gaps, reinforce MGID’s defences, and implement controls that align with both regulatory standards and the company’s operational needs. This risk-driven security strategy became the backbone of MGID’s ISO 27001 compliance journey.
Development of Policies & Establishment of Processes
Following the assessments, our team of two dedicated Information Security Officers began the critical task of developing the required documentation and implementing necessary processes to align MGID with ISO 27001 requirements. Key policies and procedures included:
- ISMS Policy
- Information Security Policy
- Information Classification Policy
- Asset Management Policy
- Secure Software Development Policy
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- Risk Management Policy
- Encryption Policy
- Network Security Policy
- Incident Management Policy
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Policy
- Supplier Relationships Management Policy
- Vulnerability Management Policy, etc.
Integration of Technical Solutions
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Malware Protection Solutions to defend against malicious software.
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A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) System for real-time logging and monitoring of suspicious activities.
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Mobile Device Management (MDM) Systems to safeguard mobile devices and maintain control over endpoint security.
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Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Systems to ensure sensitive information remains protected and secure.
To further strengthen MGID’s security framework, we helped implement a range of advanced technical controls designed to safeguard their infrastructure. These measures included:
Additionally, a dedicated Sekurno team conducted regular vulnerability scans to proactively identify and address potential weaknesses in MGID’s internal and external systems, ensuring continuous improvement of their security posture.
Employee Awareness & Training
To ensure the entire organization was aligned with the new security measures, we conducted comprehensive internal training sessions focused on information security rules, data protection guidelines, proper usage of corporate assets, and incident response procedures. These sessions provided MGID employees with crucial knowledge on how to protect sensitive data and respond swiftly to security incidents. After the training, an interactive quiz was administered to evaluate each employee's understanding of these key policies and practices. This approach ensured full engagement, strengthened compliance, and instilled a proactive security culture throughout the company.
Internal Audit
In the final phase, we performed a comprehensive Internal Audit to verify that every ISO 27001 requirement had been properly implemented, ensuring all necessary evidence was documented in the Statement of Applicability. This thorough audit was essential in confirming that MGID had fully met the rigorous ISO 27001 requirements and was ready for the External Audit.
ISO27001 Certification Audit
Additionally, we guided MGID in selecting the right Certification Body and provided hands-on support throughout the External Audit process. This collaborative effort resulted in MGID’s successful ISO 27001 certification, marking a significant milestone in their security journey and solidifying their commitment to information security and compliance.
The impact of this engagement on our business has been profound. With Sekurno's help, we were able to implement a structured approach to security, which not only enhanced our internal processes but also significantly improved our market position. Notably, we signed agreements with world-known brands, something that wouldn't have been possible without the security measures and certifications we achieved through this collaboration.
Maksym Romanchuk - Deputy of CTO at MGID Inc.
Conclusion: ISO 27001 as a Cornerstone for Long-Term Success
MGID’s successful implementation of ISO 27001 has been a transformative milestone, showcasing the company’s proactive commitment to information security and regulatory compliance. Through an organized and dedicated approach, MGID not only achieved compliance but also enhanced its operational efficiency and strengthened its standing in the industry. The company’s ability to handle complex security tasks with speed and precision—thanks to its well-structured, cohesive team and prompt communication—was crucial to achieving this certification without delays.
This journey highlights MGID’s dedication to building a resilient security infrastructure that goes beyond mere compliance. By embedding robust, risk-based processes and investing in employee awareness and proactive measures like regular vulnerability scanning, MGID has created a foundation for continuous improvement. This proactive commitment to security has fortified its partnerships with top-tier brands, reinforcing trust and creating new business opportunities as a result of its verified security posture.
ISO 27001 has become a cornerstone of MGID’s long-term strategy in the AdTech industry, enabling it to confidently navigate regulatory landscapes and client demands. The certification not only mitigates operational and reputational risks but also serves as a testament to MGID’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of data protection and operational resilience in a highly competitive market.