CzechInvest works securely with data

14 Apr. 2009 | CzechInvest | The only investment agency in the world to have certification for working with information.

CzechInvest has become the world’s first investment agency to successfully complete a certification audit of its information security management system (ISMS) according to ISO/IEC 27001 norms. The internationally recognised certificate is a guarantee of high-quality security and protection of the data and information entrusted to CzechInvest by investors and applicants for aid from European Union structural funds.

The international company CIS – Certification & Information Security Services mapped the scope of information and data handled by the agency, including the extent of related risks. The results of the audit confirmed that data are secured effectively. “We have fulfilled the requirements of the security norms and have thus demonstrated that we safely and reliably handle information entrusted to us by foreign investors and Czech companies applying for state and European aid,” said Alexandra Rudyšarová, acting CEO of CzechInvest.

CzechInvest now manages risks according to European standards in the areas of information security, use of information and communication technologies, and data back-up and storage. Introduction of the information security management system is one of the important steps taken by the agency in fulfilling its strategy of continually improving the quality of provided information and services. The certificate is valid for the entire agency, including its foreign offices.

More than half of the holders of this certificate are based in Japan (4,896 in total). CzechInvest is in frequent contact with Japanese investors. “We consider having this certificate, which is very well known by Japanese companies, to be an enormous advantage. Japanese investors now have certainty that provided information will be secure at CzechInvest,” said Rudyšarová. With CzechInvest’s assistance, Japanese firms have implemented 93 investment projects in the Czech Republic in the total value of more than CZK 100 billion since 1993.

“By fulfilling the criteria and subsequently obtaining the certificate, we now rank among eight thousand companies in 76 countries that have fulfilled these stringent criteria. The certificate is held by commercial entities as well as by state organisations, though until now there were no institutions involved in attracting investors. CzechInvest has thus gained global primacy in this regard,” adds Rudyšarová.