Risilience - ISO Audit

Ballards worked with Risilience to conduct an internal ISO27001 Audit.

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Key challenge

Risilience are a growing technology business specialising in sustainability, their mission is to help global businesses transition to the net-positive economy. Their award-winning platform and advisory services drive actionable decision making, connecting climate and nature, to deliver better disclosures, better risk insights and better transition strategy. 

Risilience, an organisation faced with the challenge of maintaining compliance with ISO27001 across its growing operations. With multiple teams, systems, and suppliers handling sensitive information, the business recognised the need for a robust Information Security Management System (ISMS) to protect data and meet regulatory obligations.

However, conducting an internal ISO27001 audit presented several obstacles:

• A lack of specialist internal expertise in information security and compliance auditing.
• Limited internal capacity to perform a fully independent and objective review.
• The need to identify gaps and risks before undergoing external certification.

To overcome these challenges, Risilience appointed Ballards IT and Digital Transformation department to conduct an internal ISO27001 audit to provide an impartial assessment of their existing controls, highlight areas for improvement, and ensure the organisation was fully prepared for external audit and recertification

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Work completed

Ballards IT and Digital Transformation department appointed one of their experienced ISO27001 consultants to carry out a comprehensive ISO27001 internal audit.

The audit was conducted in line with ISO27001:2022 requirements and covered the full scope of Risilience’s ISMS. 

The engagement included:

• Audit Planning & Preparation – Scoping the audit in line with ISO27001:2022, defining objectives, and developing an audit plan tailored to Risilience’s operations.
• Policy & Control Review – Examining documented policies, procedures, and security controls for compliance with ISO27001 standards.
• Evidence Gathering & Validation – Reviewing records, logs, and evidence across departments to confirm that security practices were effectively implemented.
• Risk & Gap Analysis – Identifying non-conformities, weaknesses, and areas requiring improvement within the Information Security Management System (ISMS).
• Audit Reporting – Producing a comprehensive internal audit report outlining findings, risks, and recommended corrective actions.
• Best Practice Recommendations – Providing practical, actionable advice to enhance information security processes and align with recognised industry standards.
• Certification Readiness – Ensuring the organisation was well-prepared for external ISO27001 certification.

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Results

The engagement delivered significant value to Risilience, including:

• Expertise on demand – Access to an experienced ISO27001 internal auditor with deep knowledge of compliance, security frameworks, and industry best practice.
• Independent and objective assurance – An impartial assessment that provided leadership with confidence in their ISMS and external audit readiness.
• Risk identification and mitigation – Clear identification of gaps and risks, with structured recommendations to improve security posture.
• Efficiency and cost savings – Avoided the cost and lead time of hiring a permanent compliance resource or building internal audit capability in-house.
• Audit readiness – Ensured the organisation was fully prepared for its upcoming external certification audit, reducing the risk of delays or non-conformities.