Cost Guide

ISO Certification Costs

Complete breakdown of what ISO certification actually costs, from audit fees to tools to ongoing maintenance.

Cost Breakdown by Category

Certification Audit Fees

Stage 1 Audit (Documentation Review)$5,000 - $15,000
Stage 2 Audit (On-site Assessment)$10,000 - $30,000
Annual Surveillance Audits$5,000 - $15,000/year
Recertification (Every 3 years)$10,000 - $25,000

Costs vary based on company size, scope, and auditor location.

Automation & Tools

GRC/Compliance Platform$10,000 - $50,000/year
Security Tools (SIEM, EDR, etc.)$5,000 - $30,000/year
Access Management Tools$3,000 - $15,000/year
Vulnerability Scanning$2,000 - $10,000/year

Many startups use LowerPlane for all-in-one compliance automation.

Personnel & Training

Internal Project Lead (Time)200-400 hours
Security Awareness Training$2,000 - $10,000
Specialized Training (Auditor, etc.)$1,500 - $5,000
Consultant/vCISO (Optional)$150 - $400/hour

Factor in opportunity cost of internal team time.

Ongoing Maintenance

Annual Surveillance Audits$5,000 - $15,000
Continuous Monitoring$5,000 - $20,000/year
Policy Updates & Reviews40-80 hours/year
Employee Training (Annual)$2,000 - $5,000/year

Budget for ongoing compliance, not just initial certification.

Cost by Company Size

Estimated total costs based on company size and complexity.

Startup (10-50 employees)

First Year

$25,000 - $60,000

Ongoing/Year

$15,000 - $30,000/year

Timeline

8-12 weeks

Smaller scope = lower audit feesLeverage cloud-native toolsConsider automation platform

Mid-Market (51-200 employees)

First Year

$50,000 - $120,000

Ongoing/Year

$30,000 - $60,000/year

Timeline

12-16 weeks

Multiple departments in scopeMay need dedicated compliance roleConsider vCISO services

Enterprise (200+ employees)

First Year

$100,000 - $300,000+

Ongoing/Year

$60,000 - $150,000/year

Timeline

16-24 weeks

Complex infrastructureMultiple locations/regionsFull-time compliance team

Cost Saving Tips

Smart strategies to reduce your total cost of certification.

20-40%

Start with a Smaller Scope

Certify a single product or business unit first, then expand. Smaller scope means lower audit fees and faster timeline.

30-50%

Use Automation Platforms

Platforms like LowerPlane reduce consultant costs and accelerate timeline by automating evidence collection and policy generation.

15-25%

Bundle Multiple Standards

Get ISO 27001 and 27018 audited together. Many auditors offer discounts for integrated audits.

10-20%

Train Internal Auditors

Having trained internal auditors reduces reliance on external consultants for ongoing maintenance.

25-35%

Leverage Existing Frameworks

If you have SOC 2 or other certifications, significant control overlap can reduce implementation time.

The ROI of ISO Certification

While certification has costs, the business value often outweighs the investment:

  • Win enterprise deals: Many enterprises require ISO 27001 for vendor selection
  • Reduce sales cycles: Pre-certified vendors close deals 30-50% faster
  • Lower insurance costs: Many cyber insurers offer discounts for certified companies
  • Reduce breach risk: Structured security programs prevent costly incidents

Start Planning Your Budget

Our free course helps you understand exactly what you need for your specific situation.

Related Guides

Planning Guide →Timeline Guide →Auditor FAQ →