Your enterprise generates massive volumes of data every day — customer information, transaction records, internal documents… Where is this data stored? Who safeguards it against leakage, tampering or loss?

Data breaches occur frequently. A single storage‑security vulnerability can ruin an enterprise’s reputation built over years.

What is the Data Storage Security Management System?

ISO/IEC 27040 is a key component of the ISO 27000‑series standards. It delivers a comprehensive security protection framework for data stored within information and communication technology systems, as well as data transmitted over storage‑related communication links.

Simply put, it governs the "persisted" data in your enterprise — covering the full lifecycle from data writing to devices, day‑to‑day storage administration, through to secure erasure upon equipment decommissioning.

Why should enterprises obtain this certification?

There are three core reasons:

1️⃣ Secure data baseline. Lost storage media, improperly wiped hard drives before disposal, poorly‑managed cloud‑storage permissions… These seemingly trivial points often become breach entry points. Systematic management closes these vulnerabilities one by one.

2️⃣ Reassure customers. Your customers entrust you with their data. Can you prove it is well‑protected? A third‑party certification certificate carries more weight than a hundred claims of "we are secure".

3️⃣ Mandatory compliance requirement. With the enactment of the Data Security Law and the Personal Information Protection Law, regulatory oversight over data security has intensified. Obtaining certification in advance means completing compliance "homework" ahead of time.

What does the certification process involve?

The overall procedure is straightforward:

✅ Application submission: Submit enterprise qualifications, ISO 27001 certificate (or concurrent application), system documentation and other materials;

✅ Application review: The certification body assesses submitted documents to confirm acceptance;

✅ Contract signing: Both parties confirm certification scope, fees and other terms;

✅ Stage‑1 audit: Focuses on verifying completeness of system documentation and readiness for the Stage‑2 audit;

✅ Stage‑2 audit: On‑site audit to verify real‑world system implementation performance;

✅ Certification decision: Certificate is issued upon successful review, valid for 3 years;

✅ Annual surveillance: At least one surveillance audit per year to maintain ongoing validity.

Note: Prior to application, the management system must have operated for a minimum of three months, with completed internal audit and management review.