by Katia Ernst | Apr 28, 2026 | Articles
Information security rarely makes it to the top of the priority list for awards programs. Understandably so.
Submission deadlines, jury coordination, participant experience. Those are the things that fill the calendar first. Yet anyone managing sensitive applicant data, confidential project submissions and personal information from hundreds of participants carries a responsibility that cannot simply be pushed to “later”.
This is precisely where an information security management system, or ISMS, comes in. And with it, the internationally recognised standard ISO 27001.
An information security management system is not a single software tool but a systematic framework. Think of it like a garden: turning the soil and planting seeds once is not enough. Anyone who wants something to grow and thrive must water, fertilise and stay alert to pests. Information security works on the same principle. An ISMS describes how an organisation identifies, assesses and continuously manages security risks through policies, processes, responsibilities and technical controls.
The most widely recognised standard for this is ISO/IEC 27001. It defines what an ISMS must demonstrate to achieve certification, committing organisations to a structured process: from risk analysis and the implementation of security measures through to review by independent auditors. That is precisely what annual audits examine: is the garden still being tended or has it been left to run wild?
For program managers, the implication is straightforward: a technology provider holding ISO 27001 certification has demonstrated that they treat information security not as an afterthought but as a core business discipline.
Awards programs are often more complex than they appear at first glance. Dozens to hundreds of submissions, external jury members from different countries, multiple program rounds, varying levels of access. All of this creates a wide range of potential vulnerabilities.
Unauthorised access to submission data is a common risk. Jury members may see content outside their remit, whether through a technical oversight or an unclear permissions structure. Insecure communication is another issue: submission materials get shared via email rather than through a secured platform. And there is often a lack of transparency towards participants. Applicants simply do not know who can view their data or how long it will be retained.
These risks rarely stem from malicious intent. They arise from the absence of proper structures. That is precisely what a well-implemented ISMS addresses.
An ISMS brings order to this complexity. Rather than reacting to security incidents after the fact, risks are assessed proactively and mitigated through clear, defined measures.
In practice, for awards programs, this means asking: who is allowed to see what? Through role-based access controls, jury members only gain access to the categories they have been assigned to. Administrators can manage permissions centrally and adjust them at any time. Every data access or change is recorded through audit logs, a fundamental element of any serious ISMS. And secure data storage means encryption, protected connections and clear retention periods, all measurable and documented.
Award Force has built exactly these requirements into its product. The platform is ISO 27001-certified and offers program managers a configurable infrastructure that supports security requirements natively, from access control to GDPR-compliant data management. Security is not an optional add-on here but rather a core part of the architecture.
You do not need to be an information security expert to run your awards program at a solid security standard. These questions will help you assess where things currently stand and take focused action.
Scrutinise your providers. Ask your technology partners directly: Are you ISO 27001-certified? How does your ISO 27001 certification process work, and when was your last assessment conducted? Reputable providers will answer these questions without hesitation and share their certificates on request. Our SaaS security checklist walks you through exactly what to ask.
Review access permissions regularly. Long-running programs tend to accumulate unnecessary access rights over time. An annual permissions review is a simple but effective step.
Clarify data storage and deletion. Where is submission data held? How long is it retained? Is there a process for deleting data once a program concludes? These questions matter internally, and many participants are now asking them directly.
Brief jury members and staff. A security-compliant system only works if the people using it understand the basics. A short onboarding note covering password hygiene and data handling is a straightforward first step.
Document your security measures. Even without formal certification, a clear overview of existing measures creates internal clarity and builds external trust.
The ISO 27001 certification process is demanding. It involves a current-state analysis, the development of a risk treatment plan, the implementation of controls and ultimately an independent audit by an accredited certification body. Annual surveillance audits follow, along with full recertification every three years. ISO 27001 is not the only standard that matters — SOC 2 follows a similar principle and is widely used across the SaaS industry.
For your own organisation, achieving certification may not be the goal. The more important question is this: are you working with partners and platforms that have already made that commitment, providing you with a security-oriented foundation without requiring you to become an ISO expert yourself?
Outstanding awards programs are defined by fairness, transparency and professionalism. All of that depends on participants, jury members and sponsors being able to trust that their data is handled securely and responsibly.
An ISMS, and working with ISO 27001-certified providers such as Award Force, is a strategic commitment for programs built to last. Because how you protect your program says as much about your standards as how you run it.
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