Egypt's Social Housing Fund and Real Estate Finance Support has obtained the international ISO 27001 accreditation for its information security management system. This makes it the first entity under the Ministry of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities to receive this prestigious international accreditation. The fund's CEO, Mi Abd El-Hamid, received the certificate. The accreditation reflects the fund's commitment to applying the highest standards of quality and efficiency in its operations.
The Egyptian Minister of Housing, Utilities and Urban Communities, Engineer Randa El-Manshawey, congratulated the Social Housing Fund on achieving this accreditation. She emphasized that obtaining the ISO 27001 certificate demonstrates the fund's dedication to implementing international standards in its activities and procedures. This, in turn, enhances the fund's performance and develops the level of services provided to citizens, aligning with the state's efforts to transition to digitalization.
According to Mi Abd El-Hamid, the fund's pursuit of international accreditation is part of Egypt's 2030 vision, which focuses on modernizing the state's administrative apparatus. The fund has digitized its services to facilitate citizens' access and prevent direct interaction between service providers and recipients. This move promotes transparency and ensures the continuity of services. However, digitization requires ensuring the highest level of information security to protect clients' data and privacy.
To achieve this, the fund updated and reviewed its electronic policies and procedures to ensure readiness and control over citizens' data. The fund collaborated with CAS CERT International to verify the availability of security and operational controls through a comprehensive on-site inspection. This led to updating the fund's information security systems to address emerging digital threats and strengthen access procedures for sensitive data.
The fund also implemented a sophisticated encryption system for data transfer and storage, conducting regular internal audits to ensure ongoing compliance with these standards. Mi Abd El-Hamid highlighted that the fund has raised awareness among its employees regarding cybersecurity and their role in achieving it. This ensures that employees are vigilant in protecting their devices from potential external breaches or information leaks.
Nader Shadid Abd El-Alim, Regional Manager of CAS CERT International, expressed his satisfaction with the continued cooperation with the Social Housing Fund. He noted that the fund's management has demonstrated a strong commitment to applying international standards in information security. This is evident in the fund's possession of four international ISO accreditation certificates, indicating its dedication to achieving the highest level of discipline and compliance with global standards.
The Social Housing Fund has previously obtained three international ISO accreditation certificates: ISO 9001 for quality management, ISO 14001 for environmental management, and ISO 45001 for occupational health and safety management. The fund's efforts to obtain additional accreditations demonstrate its commitment to excellence and continuous improvement in its operations and services.
Key points
- The Social Housing Fund has obtained the ISO 27001 accreditation for information security management.
- The accreditation reflects the fund's commitment to applying international standards in its activities and procedures.
- The fund has digitized its services to promote transparency and ensure the continuity of services.
