The certification covers three core Countrywide business divisions; Countrywide Surveying Services, Countrywide Conveyancing Services and Countrywide Corporate Property Services, and ensures that the confidential data of its customers and their lender clients are handled in a secure manner.
Countrywide is one of only around 550 organisations in the UK to achieve this accreditation to date.
The ISO /IEC 27001:2005 certification formally brings information management and, in particular, information security, under explicit management control.
Paul Creffield, corporate operations director at Countrywide, said: “Countrywide has undertaken a committed programme of data protection and information security activity with the goal of being the first company in our sector to achieve this international standard.
“Through proactive risk management and collaborative processes, our clients have the reassurance that Countrywide is legally compliant and fully accountable. While we are pleased that our risk management and data security processes have been recognised formally, we plan to continue to develop our risk management practices, and we are committed to enhancing the security of our client’s information and setting a high standard for the industry.”
Countrywide added that firms could better their positions to improve information security with staff awareness campaigning.
“Staff should lock their screen when their not at their work station and clear paperwork from their desks. These are simple things firms can do to give them a step forward.”
Countrywide added: “This certification we’ve received is step one in our bid to boost information security. We want to make sure we have a really strong grip on our data security and risk management in general. And because its evolving with new technologies, it’s something which we will continously focus on.”
