Certifications Help Ygl Soar On Global Stage

July 19, 2010 - PRLog -- The achievement was one of YGL management’s goals to take lead in achieving the global standards and taking adequate security measures to protect information assets.

ISO 27001 specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, operating, monitoring, reviewing, maintaining and improving a documented Information Security Management System within the context of the organisation's overall business risks.

ISO 27001 is the international standard developed exclusively for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), requiring companies to employ a methodical approach to managing sensitive information and ensuring data security.

The standard comprises ten exhaustive control categories including organisation of information security, access controls, physical and environmental security, asset management, business continuity management, communications and operations management.

Following is an interview with its Group Marketing Manager Humphrey Ho, where he speaks on YGL Group’s current efforts to put the company firmly on the world map.

What are the factors that motivated YGL to secure ISO 27001 for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) certification?

Our vision is to become a successful Malaysian-owned IT company with a strong a presence in the global IT industry. In this industry, security is vital to our customer base – therefore obtaining ISO 27001 certification is critical on our side. This globally accepted standard for environmental management systems indicates that YGL has identified the environmental impact of its operations, adheres to regulatory requirements and takes a systematic approach to continuously improving its performance.

Can you please share with us on the efforts it took to achieve this certification?

Preparing for the ISO audit involves rigorous training and hours of work. Timelines are developed to cover topics such as the ISO elements, team leadership, problem solving, document writing and more. Our employees needed to work with the new quality management system on a daily basis. Documentation for standard operating procedures, work instructions and others is developed, written and implemented.

At this point, the quality management system needs to be examined to see if it is doing what it was designed to do. All levels of management were actively involved in order for our company to derive maximum benefit from the process. Our management fully supported the staff as they strive to juggle ISO-related tasks with their usual workloads.
How has MSC Malaysia Capability Development Programmes (CDP) assisted in achieving this certification?

MSC Malaysia CDP has worked with many organisations from diverse industrial and service sectors to successfully develop and register their quality systems. They are able to work with individual companies to design and implement simple, straightforward quality systems that are tailored-made to their specific operation while meeting the requirements of the quality standards.
The CDP team helped us determine how the ISO standards apply to our company, besides assisting to mold our existing procedures into a documented system. These enabled us to achieve compliance as per the requirements of the ISO standards.

MSC Malaysia CDP’s presence is the key to the success of our ISO compliance. They guided our efforts clearly, completely, and professionally. Our entire staff found them a pleasure to work with, and their assistance an invaluable tool in our ISO endeavour.

What are the other certifications embarked by YGL in the past?

Becoming certified in these information security practices adds that extra value to our products and services both locally and overseas. IT security is extremely important, regular compliance and security audits conducted for all our engagements have demonstrated YGL’s readiness and commitment to meet global requirements. Achieving ISO 27001 certification is another way to recognise the level of security we provide to our clients, and the maturity of our business processes. This certification extends the foundation we’ve built by also achieving Level 3 CMMI quality certification.

Any future plans for other certifications?

CMMI is the global standard for best practices in modeling and developing effective processes that are aligned with your business objectives. YGL has already achieved CMMI Level 3. In order to be better, we are now targeting CMMI Level 5 certification to ensure that our clients gain from our highly efficient and effective processes, while our ISO 9001 certification means our customers can rest assured that the highest standards in quality assurance are being met.
Can you please elaborate on YGL’s investment for the coming years?

Our mission is to develop, customise, package, promote and finally deliver innovative software solutions, which are beneficial to academic institutions, government-funded organisations, corporate businesses and public at large.

There are three elements that are important to YGL. Firstly is to build a strong, professional company. This can only be achieved by attracting and retaining a talented and committed management team that shares in YGL’s vision.

Second is to build solid products for the vertical industries that YGL focuses on, and this can only be achieved through the continual effort on the Research & Development side.

Last but not least, is to establish YGL as a regional brand. This can be is achieved only through creating software where YGL owns the intellectual property and having a world-class standard execution team.

What are YGL’s plans for market expansion this year?

Our marketing division is constantly searching and compiling new database from different industries to identify every opportunities for expansion. By forging alliances with our others with businesses that target the same customers as we do, we will create a word-of-mouth customer network that refers business.

By joining exhibitions, YGL will be able to demonstrate products, answer questions, overcome objections and meet our clients face-to-face. Exhibition is a one-stop opportunity to maximise contact with existing and potential customers.

To run the multiple streams of affiliate marketing income, building our own blog with articles on our company and products together with enquiries and comments from our customers will be a great idea. For blogging online, we can build up the relationship with our existing customers and at the same time interact with those who visits our website and wants to know more about YGL solutions and products.

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Ygl is a listed corporation on the Malaysian Stock Exchange with its headquarter in Penang, Malaysia. Ygl is a leading Business Solution Provider specialized in certain niche vertical industries in Asia Pacific.

Established since 1993, Ygl provides business solutions in the Enterprise Solutions environment in Asia-Pacific. Ygl currently has presence in 4 countries; Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Hong Kong and China.