As the only Tennessee-based ISO 27001-certified provider for I.T. solutions and services, Cook Systems International understands a key to the success of state governments and corporate clients is Information Security. Our commitments to quality and security are demonstrated by our continuously improving processes and procedures already in place that enable us to continue our capability of maintaining and surpassing the stringent quality requirements and time sensitive nature of the project schedules of many of our clients.

In 2008, Cook Systems International received the ISO 27001 certification (International Standards Organization). Cook Systems International’s delivery centers for technology solutions were awarded the ISO 27001 certification by the British Standards Institute (BSI), earning one of the highest certifications from one of the world’s leading management systems registrars.

According to a recent report, there were 5,797 companies certified for ISO 27001 in 64 countries. While a majority of companies are certified for work outside of the United States, less than 75 companies in the U.S. had been awarded the critical, leading-edge ISO 27001 certification.

The International Standards Organization (ISO) creates stringent and rigorous standards that specify worldwide requirements for products, services, processes, materials, and systems. ISO 27001 is the new international standard created specifically for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).

Many companies hold a much earlier version of the standard, ISO 9000, which speaks only to the quality of information management systems. However, the ISO 27001 standard also speaks to data integrity, especially as it pertains to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Providers outside of the U.S., for instance, may be less interested in it. The ISO 27001 certification, however, is currently the only internationally accepted certificate of information security.

Cook Systems International takes great pride in being the first company to receive the ISO 27001 certification in Memphis and the first in the U.S. to receive the ISO 27001 certification in its industry sector. This certification demonstrates how Cook Systems International has put priority in Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) so as to protect their customers’ business information.

Cook Systems International’s clients, the majority of whom are large corporations and governments, require ongoing assurance that their data is not at risk in order to help comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires companies to develop an information security management system that is integrated, comprehensive, and incorporates widely recognized best practices. ISO 27001 is a step toward effecting and demonstrating compliance with this legislation.

“As an acknowledged leading solutions company and a premier provider of technology services, Cook Systems International has a longstanding commitment to applying the best standards and practices for safeguarding the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of our clients’ data,” said Wayne Cook, CEO of Cook Systems International. “Achieving the ISO 27001 certification serves as confirmation that Cook Systems International continues to meet the industry’s most stringent security standards for the benefit of our client partners and surpass the standards and capabilities of our competition both on and offshore.”

Cook Systems International is also proud to announce that it just recently passed an annual audit for maintaining its ISO 27001 certification. Being recommended in 2009 for continued ISO 27001 certification demonstrates a priority on protecting customers’ business information. As Cook Systems International continues to position itself on the leading edge of technology solutions, its recent recertification recognizes the company’s adoption of an effective information security system standard that complies with and exceeds established international standards. Having a solid foundation of best practices in data protection for 2009 and beyond, Cook Systems International will leverage stringent risk management strategies in the design, implementation, and maintenance of advanced information security management systems for our clients.