How we ensure data security and privacy for clients
The successful outcome comes at a time when cyber security remains firmly in the spotlight. Hardly a week goes by without another headline about a cyber attack, data breach or organisation dealing with the fallout of compromised information. It is no surprise that businesses are asking more questions about how their data is stored and protected.
Recent examples, such as the ASOS breach, show that cyber security isn’t always about sophisticated technology failures. In this case, attackers gained access by impersonating a trusted contact and obtaining login credentials from an employee account, a reminder that people are often the first line of defence when it comes to keeping information secure.
Data security is core to how we operate at Travel Places. As a travel management company, we handle personal and business information every day, and we believe our clients should have complete confidence that their data is being protected responsibly.
That’s why we’ve invested heavily in our systems, processes and people, and why we are proud to have achieved ISO 27001 certification.
What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 certification is the internationally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS).
This ISO is the global benchmark for managing information security. It provides organisations with a framework for identifying risks, protecting sensitive information and continually improving security practices.
Achieving certification means that our systems, policies and procedures have been independently audited and verified against internationally recognised standards.
Importantly, ISO 27001 isn’t a one-time achievement. We undergo annual audits to ensure our processes continue to meet the required standards and that we’re consistently improving how we manage information security.
The three principles at the heart of ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is built around three key principles:
Confidentiality
Making sure only the right people have access to the right information.
Integrity
Keeping data accurate and preventing unauthorised changes.
Availability
Ensuring systems and information are accessible when they’re needed.
Together, these principles help organisations protect information throughout its entire lifecycle, whether it’s stored digitally, physically or being shared between trusted parties.
Why it matters for our clients
Data security is particularly important in travel management, where personal information, travel itineraries, passport details and business-critical information are often exchanged to support journeys.
Our ISO 27001 certification gives clients confidence that:
- Your data is protected against unauthorised access and security threats.
- Our processes are secure, compliant and regularly reviewed.
- We proactively identify and manage risks rather than waiting for issues to arise.
- Information security is embedded into the way we work every day.
At a time when cyber threats are becoming more sophisticated, having robust security measures in place is incredibly important.
Data security is about more than certification
While ISO 27001 provides a strong framework, protecting information goes beyond achieving a certification.
It’s about maintaining good habits, following clear processes and creating a culture where security is everyone’s responsibility.
Ongoing staff training
Technology plays an important role in keeping information secure, but people are often the first line of defence. In fact, many of the major cyber attacks that make the news don’t start with sophisticated hacking techniques.
They start with a single employee clicking a malicious link, opening a fraudulent attachment or falling victim to a phishing email. It often only takes one mistake to create a significant security incident.
That’s why staff awareness is such an important part of our approach to data security. Our team receives regular training on cyber security, phishing threats, password security and data protection best practices.
This helps employees recognise potential risks, understand how cyber criminals operate and know what action to take if something doesn’t look right.
Access controls and permissions
Not everyone needs access to every piece of information.
We apply access controls to ensure employees only have access to the information required to perform their role, helping reduce the risk of unauthorised access.
Regular monitoring
A key part of ISO 27001 is identifying and managing risks before they become problems.
We regularly review potential security risks, assess their impact, and implement controls designed to minimise exposure and protect client information.
Monitoring and continuous improvement
We continually review our systems, policies and security practices to ensure they remain effective and aligned with evolving threats, technology and industry expectations.
Supplier due diligence
Protecting data doesn’t stop with our own systems.
We carefully assess suppliers and technology partners where appropriate to ensure they meet the standards required to support secure handling of information.
An ongoing commitment to security
Achieving certification is an important milestone, but maintaining it is just as important.
ISO 27001 requires regular reviews, continual improvement and annual independent audits to ensure standards are consistently upheld and improved. It’s a framework that encourages organisations to stay vigilant and adapt to changing threats.
Cyber security remains one of the biggest challenges facing organisations today. For our clients, our commitment is simple, we’ll continue investing in our people, processes and technology to protect the information entrusted to us.
