Your data is only as secure as the vendors you trust. Often in business, we take extensive measures to protect data within our own organizations, but what happens when sensitive information passes through our doors and into the hands of a third-party vendor? If a vendor mishandles your information, your organization could still face consequences.
Take what happened to Morgan Stanley as the ultimate warning: they were fined over $160 million by various regulators after hiring a moving and storage company with no data-destruction experience to decommission thousands of hard drives and servers. Instead of doing as instructed, they sold the devices, so unencrypted customer data ended up on online auction sites for anyone to exploit.
Had Morgan Stanley instead done their due diligence and engaged a company with proper experience and certification, such as ISO 27001, the entire fiasco could have been avoided. So, to prevent you from ending up as they did, we want to introduce you to the ISO 27001 certification and explain why it matters for your business.
What Is ISO 27001 Certification?
To put it simply, the ISO 27001certification is an international standard for how an organization protects sensitive information. It is a trusted way to ensure that a business keeps data secure, covering everything from training to physical security.
To go into more detail, ISO 27001 is a globally recognized Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in partnership with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), this standard addresses every aspect of data security, including technology, processes, and the people involved.
Built into the framework, the requirements for obtaining ISO 27001 certification include risk assessment and management, policies and procedures, and compliance. Overall, it is an elaborate and extensive standard that, should a business achieve this certification, acts as a badge of trustworthiness to those who hire them.
Why Vendor Security Matters More Than Ever
The cautionary tale of Morgan Stanley is not a standalone event. Every day, companies across the U.S. are experiencing data breaches, and the cleanup is not cheap. The global average cost of a data breach in 2025, according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report, was $4.4 million.
As a business, you are responsible for your own compliance, which includes ensuring that your vendors are an extension of your security procedures. Should you fail to properly vet your vendors, you are putting your business at risk of data breaches, compliance violations, and all of the reputational damage that comes with them.
How ISO 27001 Certification Benefits CI Information Management Customers
When you entrust a vendor with sensitive information, you are also placing your trust in their processes, people, and security practices. That’s why at CI Information Management, we have undertaken the rigorous auditing process to obtain ISO 27001 certification. Our ISO 27001 certification benefits our customers in numerous ways.
First, this certification demonstrates strong internal controls. From employee responsibilities and training requirements to documented policies and operational procedures, our ISO 27001 certification demonstrates the consistency across our organization. We have standardized processes in place to ensure information is handled securely every step of the way, allowing our customers to trust in the fact that their information is being safely managed the exact same way every time.
Second, our certification is not a one-time achievement. It requires ongoing reviews, assessments, and continual improvement. That means we’re constantly looking for ways to strengthen our security practices and better serve our clients.
Additionally, our certification is a powerful differentiator. If your business is subject to strict controls on data destruction as a prerequisite, this certification meets those regulations.
Essentially, the ISO 27001 certification strengthens every stage of the destruction process, from collection to final destruction, to support your own security, compliance, and business continuity goals.
How CI Information Management Can Help
CI Information Management provides secure document shredding and media destruction for organizations of all sizes throughout the Tri-Cities, Yakima, Wenatchee, and the greater Central Washington and Northeastern Oregon region.
Whether you’re a small business looking to shred a few boxes of documents or a massive company managing a large-scale records destruction project, you can trust that your information is being handled within a structured security framework.
If you have been looking for a third-party company to handle your document or media end-of-life cycle, look no further. Contact CI Information Management to learn more about our secure shredding and media destruction services.
