ISO 27001 Certification Cost: What to Expect (2026)
March 28, 2026
20 min read
Cybersecurity
ISO 27001 certification cost typically ranges from EUR 15,000 to EUR 100,000+ depending on organisation size, scope complexity, and whether you use external consultants. The total includes consultant/implementation costs, certification body audit fees, internal staff time, tooling, and annual surveillance audits to maintain the certificate.
Key Takeaways
Total ISO 27001 certification cost for a small company (10-50 employees) ranges from EUR 15,000 to EUR 35,000, including consultant fees, audit costs, and tooling
Mid-size organisations (50-250 employees) should budget EUR 35,000 to EUR 75,000 for end-to-end certification
Certification body audit fees alone cost EUR 4,000 to EUR 25,000+ depending on organisation size, and are based on auditor days (non-negotiable)
Internal resource costs are the hidden expense most companies underestimate, typically adding EUR 8,000 to EUR 40,000 in staff time
Annual maintenance runs EUR 8,000 to EUR 35,000 per year for surveillance audits, internal audits, and continuous improvement
Eastern EU consultants (including Croatia-based firms like Vision Compliance) deliver the same certification outcome at 40-60% lower fees than Western European providers
The ROI is clear: certification costs are a fraction of the EUR 4.88 million average data breach cost in Europe, and most organisations recover the investment within 12-18 months through won deals alone
Every ISO 27001 certification project has five distinct cost buckets. Most online estimates only mention one or two, which is why organisations are consistently surprised by the final number. Here is the full picture:
Component
What It Covers
Typical Range
1. Consultant/implementation
Gap analysis, risk assessment, policy writing, ISMS build-out, pre-audit preparation
EUR 5,000-80,000
2. Certification body audit
Stage 1 (documentation review) + Stage 2 (implementation audit) by an accredited body
EUR 4,000-25,000+
3. Internal resources
Staff time for project management, IT implementation, policy reviews, training
The sections below break down each component with detailed pricing by company size. Every figure is in EUR and reflects 2026 market rates across the EU.
Component 1: Consultant and Implementation Costs
This is usually the largest single line item. An ISO 27001 consultant handles the heavy lifting: gap analysis, risk assessment methodology, policy and procedure drafting, Statement of Applicability, internal audit, and pre-certification preparation.
Consultant fees by company size
Company Size
Employees
Typical Scope
Consultant Cost (Western EU)
Consultant Cost (Eastern EU/Croatia)
Startup/Small
10-50
Single office, SaaS product, 1-2 locations
EUR 12,000-25,000
EUR 5,000-12,000
Mid-market
50-250
Multiple departments, some legacy systems, 2-5 locations
EUR 25,000-55,000
EUR 12,000-28,000
Large
250-1,000
Complex IT environment, multiple business units, international operations
A reputable consultant engagement typically covers:
Gap analysis (2-5 days): Comparing your current security posture against all ISO 27001 requirements and Annex A controls
Risk assessment (3-10 days): Identifying information assets, threats, vulnerabilities, and calculating risk levels
Documentation (10-30 days): Writing the ISMS policy, information security policy, risk treatment plan, Statement of Applicability, and 15-30 supporting procedures
Implementation support (5-20 days): Helping your team deploy controls, configure tools, and embed processes
Internal audit (2-5 days): Conducting a full internal audit before the certification body arrives
Pre-certification review (1-3 days): Final readiness check and mock audit
Why Eastern EU consultants cost less (without quality compromise)
The 40-60% savings from Eastern EU providers like Vision Compliance are driven by lower operating costs in countries like Croatia, Poland, and Romania, not by reduced expertise. The consultants hold identical certifications (ISO 27001 Lead Implementer, Lead Auditor, CISSP, CISM), work to the same standard, and deliver the same certification outcome. Croatia joined the eurozone in 2023, eliminating currency risk for EU clients.
Component 2: Certification Body Audit Fees
The certification audit is conducted by an accredited certification body (CB), completely independent from your consultant. Audit fees are based on auditor days, which are determined by your organisation's size, number of sites, and scope complexity. These fees are largely non-negotiable because they follow the IAF MD 5 mandatory document for audit time calculations.
Certification audit fees by company size
Company Size
Employees
Stage 1 (Days)
Stage 1 Cost
Stage 2 (Days)
Stage 2 Cost
Total Audit Cost
Small
10-50
1-2
EUR 1,500-3,000
2-4
EUR 3,000-6,000
EUR 4,500-9,000
Mid-market
50-250
2-3
EUR 3,000-5,000
4-7
EUR 6,000-11,000
EUR 9,000-16,000
Large
250-1,000
3-5
EUR 4,500-8,000
6-10
EUR 9,000-16,000
EUR 13,500-24,000
Enterprise
1,000+
4-7+
EUR 6,000-12,000+
8-15+
EUR 12,000-25,000+
EUR 18,000-37,000+
Major certification bodies and indicative pricing
Certification Body
Headquarters
Reputation
Price Level
BSI (British Standards Institution)
London, UK
Premium, widely recognised
High (EUR 1,500-2,000/auditor day)
TUV (various entities: SUD, Nord, Rheinland)
Germany
Very strong in DACH region and manufacturing
High (EUR 1,400-1,800/auditor day)
DNV (Det Norske Veritas)
Oslo, Norway
Strong in energy, maritime, technology
Mid-high (EUR 1,200-1,600/auditor day)
Bureau Veritas
Paris, France
Global reach, broad industry coverage
Mid (EUR 1,100-1,500/auditor day)
SGS
Geneva, Switzerland
Largest inspection company globally
Mid (EUR 1,100-1,500/auditor day)
LRQA (Lloyd's Register)
London, UK
Strong in maritime, energy, technology
Mid-high (EUR 1,200-1,600/auditor day)
National/regional bodies
Various
Local market strength, often more affordable
Low-mid (EUR 800-1,200/auditor day)
Key points about audit fees
Stage 1 is the documentation review: the auditor checks your ISMS documentation, risk assessment, Statement of Applicability, and key policies. It can be conducted remotely for smaller organisations.
Stage 2 is the implementation audit: the auditor verifies that your ISMS operates as documented, interviews staff, examines evidence, and checks controls in practice. This is always on-site (or on-site plus remote for multi-location scopes).
Multi-site sampling can reduce total audit days if you have many similar locations, but the CB must follow IAF MD 1 rules.
Travel and accommodation for auditors are typically extra (EUR 500-1,500 depending on location).
Component 3: Internal Resource Costs
This is the cost most organisations underestimate. Your people spend significant time on the ISO 27001 project, even when you hire a consultant. The consultant builds the system, but your team must operate it, provide input, attend meetings, review documents, and participate in training.
Internal time investment by role
Role
Hours Required (Small Company)
Hours Required (Mid-Size)
Hours Required (Enterprise)
Avg. EU Hourly Cost
Cost Range
Project manager / ISMS owner
150-250 hours
300-500 hours
500-1,000 hours
EUR 45-65/hr
EUR 6,750-65,000
IT/Security team
80-150 hours
150-300 hours
300-600 hours
EUR 50-70/hr
EUR 4,000-42,000
Senior management
20-40 hours
40-80 hours
80-150 hours
EUR 75-120/hr
EUR 1,500-18,000
Department heads
15-30 hours
30-60 hours
60-120 hours
EUR 55-80/hr
EUR 825-9,600
All staff (training)
4-8 hours/person
4-8 hours/person
4-8 hours/person
EUR 30-50/hr
EUR 1,200-40,000+
Total internal resource cost by company size
Company Size
Estimated Internal Hours
Estimated Internal Cost
Small (10-50)
350-600 hours
EUR 8,000-18,000
Mid-size (50-250)
700-1,200 hours
EUR 18,000-35,000
Enterprise (250-1,000+)
1,500-3,000+ hours
EUR 35,000-80,000+
Why this matters
Internal resource costs do not appear on any invoice, which is precisely why they catch organisations off guard. A mid-size company dedicating a project manager at 60% for eight months is absorbing roughly EUR 25,000-30,000 in salary costs that never shows up in the "ISO 27001 budget." Build these into your business case from the start.
Component 4: Technology and Tooling
ISO 27001 requires technical controls, monitoring, and documented evidence. Most organisations already have some tools in place. The gap determines your additional spending.
You do not need every enterprise tool on day one. ISO 27001 is risk-based: the standard requires controls "appropriate to the risk," not the most expensive tools on the market. Many small and mid-size organisations achieve certification with spreadsheets for the risk register, existing Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace for document management, open-source vulnerability scanners, and a modest GRC platform. Scale your tooling as your ISMS matures.
Component 5: Ongoing Maintenance Costs
ISO 27001 is not a one-time project. The certificate is valid for three years, with mandatory surveillance audits in year 2 and year 3, followed by a recertification audit. Between audits, you must run internal audits, management reviews, and continuous improvement activities.
Year-by-year cost breakdown
Cost Item
Year 1 (Certification)
Year 2 (Surveillance)
Year 3 (Recertification)
Surveillance audit
N/A (included in initial certification)
EUR 3,000-10,000
EUR 3,000-10,000
Recertification audit
N/A
N/A
EUR 6,000-18,000 (replaces surveillance)
Internal audit
EUR 2,000-8,000 (included in project)
EUR 2,000-8,000
EUR 2,000-8,000
Management review
Included in project
EUR 500-2,000
EUR 500-2,000
Corrective actions
Included in project
EUR 1,000-5,000
EUR 1,000-5,000
Consultant support (optional)
Included in project
EUR 2,000-10,000
EUR 2,000-10,000
Tooling
Included above
EUR 5,000-30,000
EUR 5,000-30,000
Staff training refresh
Included in project
EUR 500-3,000
EUR 500-3,000
Total (small company)
See initial costs
EUR 8,000-15,000
EUR 12,000-20,000
Total (mid-size)
See initial costs
EUR 15,000-25,000
EUR 20,000-35,000
Total (enterprise)
See initial costs
EUR 25,000-50,000
EUR 35,000-70,000
Three-year total cost of ownership
When budgeting, calculate the full three-year cycle, not just the initial certification:
Company Size
Year 1 (Certification)
Year 2 (Maintenance)
Year 3 (Recertification)
3-Year Total
Small
EUR 15,000-35,000
EUR 8,000-15,000
EUR 12,000-20,000
EUR 35,000-70,000
Mid-size
EUR 35,000-75,000
EUR 15,000-25,000
EUR 20,000-35,000
EUR 70,000-135,000
Enterprise
EUR 75,000-150,000+
EUR 25,000-50,000
EUR 35,000-70,000
EUR 135,000-270,000+
Total Cost by Company Size
This is the comprehensive view, summing all five components for the initial certification year. This is the table to use when building your business case.
With consultant
Component
Small (10-50 emp.)
Mid-Size (50-250 emp.)
Enterprise (250-1,000+ emp.)
Consultant/implementation
EUR 5,000-15,000
EUR 15,000-35,000
EUR 35,000-80,000
Certification body audit
EUR 4,500-9,000
EUR 9,000-16,000
EUR 13,500-30,000+
Internal resources
EUR 3,000-8,000
EUR 8,000-18,000
EUR 18,000-40,000
Technology/tooling
EUR 1,000-5,000
EUR 5,000-12,000
EUR 12,000-30,000
Project contingency (10%)
EUR 1,500-3,500
EUR 3,500-7,500
EUR 7,500-15,000
Total
EUR 15,000-35,000
EUR 35,000-75,000
EUR 75,000-150,000+
DIY (no external consultant)
Component
Small (10-50 emp.)
Mid-Size (50-250 emp.)
Enterprise (250-1,000+ emp.)
Consultant/implementation
EUR 0
EUR 0
EUR 0
Certification body audit
EUR 4,500-9,000
EUR 9,000-16,000
EUR 13,500-30,000+
Internal resources
EUR 8,000-18,000
EUR 18,000-40,000
EUR 40,000-80,000+
Technology/tooling
EUR 1,000-5,000
EUR 5,000-12,000
EUR 12,000-30,000
Standards purchase (ISO 27001 + 27002)
EUR 300-400
EUR 300-400
EUR 300-400
Total
EUR 9,000-20,000
EUR 20,000-45,000
EUR 45,000-90,000+
Important note on DIY: The internal resource cost increases substantially when you remove the consultant, because your team must learn the standard, build the ISMS from scratch, and navigate the certification process without expert guidance. The apparent savings are often consumed by longer timelines (which means more staff hours) and a higher risk of audit non-conformities that require re-work.
Cost by Region
The same ISO 27001 certification, same standard, same accredited audit, but the consultant and implementation costs vary dramatically based on where your advisory firm is located. Audit body fees are more consistent because they follow IAF guidelines, though local bodies in smaller markets may charge less.
Region
Consultant Cost (Mid-Size Company)
Audit Cost (Mid-Size)
Total Estimate
Cost Index
United Kingdom
EUR 30,000-60,000
EUR 10,000-18,000
EUR 55,000-95,000
130
Western EU (Germany, France, Netherlands, Nordics)
EUR 25,000-55,000
EUR 9,000-16,000
EUR 50,000-85,000
120
Southern EU (Spain, Italy, Portugal)
EUR 18,000-40,000
EUR 8,000-14,000
EUR 38,000-68,000
95
Eastern EU (Croatia, Poland, Romania, Czechia)
EUR 12,000-28,000
EUR 7,000-13,000
EUR 30,000-55,000
70
United States
EUR 35,000-75,000
EUR 12,000-22,000
EUR 65,000-115,000
145
Asia Pacific (India, Philippines)
EUR 8,000-20,000
EUR 5,000-10,000
EUR 20,000-40,000
50
Cost index = 100 represents the EU average. Values above 100 are more expensive; below 100 are more affordable.
The Eastern EU value proposition
Choosing a consultant in Eastern Europe does not mean compromising on quality. Firms in Croatia, Poland, and Czechia serve clients across the EU, employ consultants with international certifications, and operate under the same EU regulatory framework. The cost difference is structural (lower office rent, lower cost of living) rather than qualitative.
Vision Compliance, based in Zagreb, Croatia, is an example: the team holds CISSP, CIPP/E, and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications, serves clients across the EU, and delivers at Eastern EU rates while working in English, German, and Croatian.
How to Reduce ISO 27001 Certification Costs
1. Start with a limited scope
You do not need to certify your entire organisation on day one. Define a narrow scope (one product, one business unit, one department) and expand after the initial certification. A SaaS company might certify only its cloud platform and the team that manages it, leaving corporate functions outside the initial scope.
Potential savings: 30-50% on consultant and audit fees
2. Leverage existing GDPR and NIS2 work
If you have already completed GDPR compliance or NIS2 implementation, you likely have risk assessments, policies, incident response plans, and awareness training in place. A skilled consultant will map your existing work to ISO 27001 requirements and fill only the gaps.
Potential savings: 20-40% on implementation time
3. Choose the right certification body
Do not automatically pick the most prestigious (and expensive) CB. National accredited bodies often charge 30-40% less than BSI or TUV, and the certificate carries the same weight. The ISO 27001 certificate does not display the CB's name prominently, and clients care about the certification, not who issued it.
Potential savings: EUR 2,000-8,000 on audit fees
4. Use an Eastern EU consultant
As detailed in the cost-by-region table above, a Croatia-based or Poland-based consultancy delivers the same outcome at 40-60% lower rates.
Potential savings: EUR 8,000-30,000 on consultant fees
5. Take a staged approach
Spread the investment across two budget cycles. Phase 1 (months 1-3): gap analysis, risk assessment, documentation. Phase 2 (months 4-8): implementation, internal audit, certification. This avoids a large upfront capital expenditure.
6. Invest in a GRC platform early
A mid-range GRC tool (EUR 200-500/month) can cut documentation time by 40-60% through templates, automated evidence collection, and pre-built control frameworks. The subscription pays for itself in reduced consultant hours.
7. Appoint a strong internal project manager
The single biggest driver of consultant cost overruns is poor internal coordination. Assign a competent project manager with authority to make decisions, schedule meetings, and enforce deadlines. This keeps the consultant's billable hours within estimate.
8. Combine with other certifications
If you need SOC 2 or ISO 27701, running the projects in parallel with ISO 27001 shares the foundational work (risk assessment, policies, controls) across multiple certifications, reducing the incremental cost of each additional framework.
Potential savings: 25-35% per additional certification
ISO 27001 Cost vs. Cost of NOT Certifying
The question is not whether you can afford ISO 27001. The question is whether you can afford to operate without it.
Risk Category
Potential Cost Without Certification
ISO 27001 Mitigation
Data breach
EUR 4.88 million average cost in Europe (IBM 2025 Cost of a Data Breach Report)
ISMS reduces breach likelihood by 30-50% through systematic risk management
Lost enterprise deals
EUR 50,000-500,000+ per lost contract
ISO 27001 certificate eliminates the #1 security objection in enterprise sales
Control deployment, process changes, tool configuration
Internal audit
1-2 weeks
2-3 weeks
3-5 weeks
Full ISMS audit against ISO 27001 requirements
Management review
1 week
1-2 weeks
2-3 weeks
Formal review of ISMS performance and audit findings
Certification audit
1-2 weeks
2-3 weeks
3-5 weeks
Stage 1 + Stage 2 by certification body
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does ISO 27001 cost for a small company?
A small company with 10-50 employees should budget EUR 15,000 to EUR 35,000 for initial certification when using an external consultant. This includes consultant fees (EUR 5,000-15,000), certification body audit (EUR 4,500-9,000), internal resource costs (EUR 3,000-8,000), and tooling (EUR 1,000-5,000). Going DIY reduces this to EUR 9,000-20,000, but significantly increases internal time commitment and risk of audit non-conformities.
What is the cheapest way to get ISO 27001 certified?
The most cost-effective path combines three strategies: limit your initial scope to one product or business unit, use an Eastern EU consultant (EUR 5,000-12,000 vs. EUR 12,000-25,000 in Western Europe), and choose a national or regional certification body over premium brands like BSI or TUV. A small company using this approach can achieve certification for EUR 12,000-20,000.
How much do certification audits cost?
Certification body audit fees for the initial certification (Stage 1 + Stage 2) range from EUR 4,500-9,000 for small companies to EUR 18,000-37,000+ for large enterprises. Fees are based on auditor days, calculated according to IAF MD 5 guidelines using factors like employee count, number of sites, and scope complexity. Annual surveillance audits cost approximately 30-40% of the initial audit fee.
Is ISO 27001 worth the investment?
For any organisation selling to enterprise clients or operating in regulated industries, the ROI is unambiguous. The certification typically pays for itself within 12 months through won deals alone. Beyond sales, it reduces breach risk (the average European breach costs EUR 4.88 million), lowers cyber insurance premiums by 20-40%, and pre-satisfies 70-80% of NIS2 compliance requirements. For a detailed breakdown of ISO 27001 benefits and requirements, see our complete ISO 27001 implementation guide.
How much does annual ISO 27001 maintenance cost?
Annual maintenance costs range from EUR 8,000-15,000 for small companies to EUR 25,000-50,000+ for enterprises. This covers surveillance audits (EUR 3,000-10,000), internal audits (EUR 2,000-8,000), management reviews, corrective actions, staff training refreshers, and ongoing consultant support if retained. The recertification audit in year 3 costs more (EUR 6,000-18,000) because it is a comprehensive re-audit.
Can I do ISO 27001 without a consultant?
Yes, but it is only practical for organisations with in-house information security expertise. You will need someone who understands the standard deeply enough to build a compliant ISMS, conduct a proper risk assessment, and prepare for the certification audit. DIY saves on consultant fees (EUR 5,000-80,000) but increases internal hours by 40-60% and extends the timeline by 2-4 months on average. The risk of audit non-conformities also rises, potentially adding EUR 3,000-10,000 in re-audit costs.
How does NIS2 affect ISO 27001 costs?
NIS2 has been a net positive for ISO 27001 cost efficiency. Organisations that need both NIS2 compliance and ISO 27001 certification can share 70-80% of the implementation work: risk assessments, incident response plans, business continuity plans, supply chain security assessments, and security awareness training all serve both requirements. Running NIS2 and ISO 27001 together typically costs 25-35% less than implementing them separately.
What is the ROI of ISO 27001?
For a mid-size company investing EUR 50,000 in certification plus EUR 20,000/year in maintenance, the annual returns include 2-3 additional enterprise deals worth EUR 100,000-300,000, insurance premium reductions of EUR 5,000-15,000, and probability-adjusted breach cost avoidance of EUR 25,000-50,000. The payback period is typically 3-6 months. Over the three-year certification cycle, the net benefit ranges from EUR 250,000 to EUR 900,000.
Need a transparent ISO 27001 cost estimate for your organisation? Vision Compliance provides fixed-price ISO 27001 implementation packages from Zagreb, Croatia, combining Lead Auditor expertise with Eastern EU value. Schedule a free consultation to get a detailed, no-obligation cost breakdown tailored to your scope and company size.
Robert Lozo, mag. iur., is a Partner at Vision Compliance specializing in EU regulatory compliance. He advises organizations on GDPR, NIS2, AI Act, and financial regulation, delivering audit-ready documentation and compliance roadmaps across regulated industries.
