Estimating ISO 27001 Certification Costs

One of the most common questions about ISO 27001 certification is:
How much will it cost?

The answer depends on several factors, but most organizations can expect to invest between $10,000 and $50,000 for initial certification, plus ongoing costs for surveillance audits and ISMS maintenance.

Key cost drivers include:

• Size and complexity of the organization

• Scope of the ISMS

• Level of readiness before certification

• Choice of certification body

• Internal resources required for preparation and ongoing compliance

While certification is an investment, it delivers significant returns—increased customer trust, competitive differentiation, and stronger operational resilience.

Many organizations also align ISO 27001 efforts with parallel frameworks like SOC 2 and PCI DSS to optimize cost efficiency.