Cochlear is the first hearing implant manufacturer to receive ISO/IEC 27001 certification for information security management

30 January 2023, Sydney: Cochlear, the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, is the first hearing implant manufacturer to receive ISO/IEC 27001 certification^, for Cochlear Connected Care*. ISO/IEC 27001 certification is based on an independent, expert assessment of whether an organisation’s data is sufficiently protected. ISO/IEC 27001 certification demonstrates that Cochlear manages information security according to global best practices and has invested in the people, processes, and technology to protect its data.

Data security and privacy are areas of increasing focus for both organisations and consumers, with a McKinsey & Company survey finding that 87% of respondents would not do business with a company if they had concerns about its security practices, and 71% would stop doing business with a company if it gave away sensitive data without permission.¹

Victor Akkari, Vice President IT Assurance at Cochlear, says, “Increasingly, customers are looking for more assurance that sensitive information is protected and safeguarded by the companies with whom they do business. Having ISO/IEC 27001 certification demonstrates that Cochlear has mature systems and processes for handling sensitive information and can be a trusted partner for delivering innovative digital health solutions.”

According to Craig Sharp, Vice President Connected Care at Cochlear, “Being the first hearing implant manufacturer to achieve ISO/IEC 27001 certification for Connected Care is a big milestone for us as a company. It shows that we deliver the same high standards in our digital products that we are known for in our physical products, and gives our customers increased confidence as they use our Connected Care solutions.”

The growing use of digital care options for hearing implant recipients is being embraced by many in the industry, with Seilesh C. Babu, M.D. at Michigan Ear Institute saying, “If we have the technology, and we have the ability to serve patients without being face to face with them and still give them the same quality of care, I think that is the shift that should occur.”

About ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27001 is the world’s best-known standard for information security management. It specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system – the aim of which is to help organisations make the information assets they hold more secure. Organisations that meet the standard's requirements can choose to be certified by an accredited certification body following successful completion of an audit.

About Cochlear Connected Care

Cochlear Connected Care encompasses a range of products which enable the delivery of quality care from the surgical suite to the audiology clinic, and into a hearing implant recipient’s everyday life. Using the latest technology, Cochlear Connected Care provides convenient care options through Smart Apps and software solutions. Continuity of care for hearing implant recipients is important, so when care is disrupted, or patients are unable to visit the clinic, offering more flexible care options can help optimise their hearing outcomes.

Using Cochlear Connected Care solutions, surgeons can have increased confidence in device placement and share surgical data with the patient’s hearing health professional to optimise postoperative clinical performance. In the clinic, Cochlear Connected Care gives hearing health professionals the flexibility to monitor patient performance remotely and provide quality care when and where they need it. Hearing implant recipients can use Connected Care solutions to complete hearing checks from home, have video appointments with their hearing health professional, and proactively manage their hearing settings in everyday moments.