Data is a company’s most valuable resource in today’s digital era. Therefore, securing that data is extremely important. This internationally recognized standard defines the ISO 27001 requirements. Companies are supported in implementing and maintaining a robust information security management system (ISMS).
Our guide, based on the experience of more than 50 projects, provides a comprehensive insight into the requirements of ISO 27001 certification. It is an indispensable resource for organizations that want to update their information security practices and seek certification.
This guide explains the key steps that companies need to take to achieve ISO 27001 certification, starting with the benefits and continuing through the continuous improvement of an ISMS.
Discover the opportunities for your company in information security and how ISO 27001 compliance can give you a competitive advantage.
Table of contents:
- 1. Applicability and context in the company – The 27001 requirements at a glance
- 2. Leadership – Trendsetting Manager
- 3. Planning – Anticipating challenges
- 4. Support – Strengthening the security infrastructure
- 5. Operation – Effective implementation of information security
- 6. Performance assessment – Measurement and assessment of progress in the fulfillment of ISO standards
- 7. ISO 27001 certification of the company with the final audit
- 8. Continuous development after ISO 27001 certification
- Additional aspects of the organization’s requirements
- Die ISO 27001 Controls und ihr Zusammenhang mit den Anforderungen
What are the advantages of ISO 27001 certification?
Here is an overview of the advantages of implementing ISO 27001 for companies based on our customer projects:
- Improved security level: ISO 27001 provides a structured framework for identifying, assessing, and addressing information security risks. By identifying and addressing potential vulnerabilities, the company’s level of security improves.
- Trustworthiness and credibility: ISO 27001 certification is an internationally recognized label for compliance with high-security standards. Through certification, a company can build trust with customers, partners, and other stakeholders and strengthen its credibility.
- Meeting customer requirements: Many companies increasingly demand ISO 27001 certification from their suppliers. By implementing the standard, companies can meet their customers’ requirements and thus gain a competitive advantage.
- Legal and regulatory compliance: ISO 27001 helps companies comply with legal and regulatory requirements in the data protection and information security field. This helps to avoid fines and legal consequences that can result from non-compliance.
- Increased efficiency: Companies can improve the efficiency of their processes by implementing a systematic information security management system (ISMS) following ISO 27001. This includes optimizing security measures, resource usage, and minimizing security incidents.
- Risk mitigation: ISO 27001 assists organizations in proactively identifying and assessing risks related to information security. Adapting security controls that comply with the standard helps companies manage effectively and minimize potential threats and vulnerabilities.
- Continuous improvement: The standard promotes a culture of continuous improvement by encouraging organizations to review regularly and adapt their information security practices. In this way, companies can continuously adapt to the changing threats and requirements and improve their level of security.
Learn more about the ISO 27001 standard requirements
Overview of the ISO 27001 requirements
ISO 27001 is an internationally recognized standard that defines requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving an information security management system (ISMS). This overview provides a structured and easy-to-understand presentation of the ISO 27001 requirements. Each section and requirement is illustrated with practical examples to make the concepts more tangible and facilitate implementation within the company.
1. Applicability and context in the company - The 27001 requirements at a glance
1.1. The organization and its context: understanding the internal and external landscape
- Identify internal and external factors that may affect the organization’s ability to achieve the intended outcomes of the information security management system (ISMS).
- Examples: Setting up a corporate strategy, researching market conditions, and auditing legal requirements.
1.2. Needs and expectations of the interested parties
- Determine the requirements and expectations of relevant stakeholders (e.g. customers, legislators, employees).
- Examples: Systematic recording of customer requirements and legal regulations.
1.3. Defining the scope of the ISMS
- Define which parts of the organization and which information resources the ISMS covers.
- Examples: These can include business processes, technologies, or geographical locations.
2. Leadership - Trendsetting Manager
2.1. Management commitment
- Ensure that top management supports the implementation of the ISMS and takes responsibility for it.
- Examples: By providing resources and promoting a safety culture.
2.2. Information security policy
- Develop and communicate a security policy that defines the organization’s information security objectives and commitment.
- Examples: Establish corporate information security policies and make public security declarations.
2.3. Roles, responsibilities, and powers
- Define and communicate clear roles and responsibilities for information security.
- Examples: Appointing an information security officer (ISO) in the company and setting up an incident response team.
3. Planning - Anticipating challenges
3.1. Risk management
- Identify and assess information security risks and plan measures to address these risks.
- Examples: Carrying out regular risk analyses with the help of risk management plans.
3.2. Information security objectives and target achievement planning
- Defining measurable safety targets and planning measures to achieve these targets.
- Examples: Targeted reduction of security incidents by increasing the employee awareness rate and conducting regular training.
3.3. Risk treatment measures
- Develop measures to address identified risks, including acceptance, reduction, transfer, or avoidance.
- Examples: Implementing technical controls and taking out insurance for existing security gaps.
4. Support - Strengthening the security infrastructure
4.1. Resource management
- Ensure sufficient resources (time, money, personnel) are provided for the ISMS implementation and maintenance.
- Examples: Clear budget planning and staff training in preparation for ISO 27001 certification.
4.2. Competence and training
- Identify necessary skills and provide training to develop these skills.
- Examples: Information security training and the introduction of employee certification programs.
4.3. Awareness and communication
- Promote awareness of information security and establish effective communication processes.
- Examples: Awareness campaigns for dealing with risks and opportunities and setting up internal communication guidelines.
4.4. Documented information
- Create and maintain documented information to support the ISMS.
- Examples: Writing down clear security guidelines, introducing systematic process documentation, and creating incident records.
5. Operation - Effective implementation of information security
5.1. Operational planning and control
- Plan, implement, and control processes to meet information security requirements.
- Examples: Require the development of operational plans and continuous process controls.
5.2. Risk treatment in the company
- Implement risk treatment measures and ensure that they work as planned.
- Example: Have technical checks carried out by the IT department.
5.3. Security Incident Management
- Identify and respond to information security incidents and ensure the implementation of measures.
- Examples: Have incident response plans drawn up by the security officer (ISO) and establish clear escalation processes.
5.4. Emergency management and recovery
- Develop and implement contingency and disaster recovery plans.
- Examples: Have emergency plans and recovery measures defined by the safety officer.
6. Performance assessment - Measurement and assessment of progress in the fulfillment of ISO standards
6.1. Monitoring and assessment
- Monitor and assess the performance of the ISMS using defined key figures.
- Examples: Safety metrics can be used to create regular monitoring reports.
6.2. Internal audits
- Plan and conduct regular internal assessments to check the effectiveness of the ISMS.
- Examples: Audit plans and audit reports are the basis for ongoing internal assessments.
6.3. Management reviews
- Management regularly evaluates the suitability and effectiveness of the ISMS using ISMS KPIs that reflect the effectiveness of the information security measures. For example, the effectiveness of employee awareness measures, the number of systems audited or systems in automated patching, etc.
- Examples: Creating clear, precise meeting minutes that record important discussion points, decisions, and responsibilities. Establish meaningful metrics to measure ISMS performance.
7. ISO 27001 certification of the company with the final audit
- Procedure for obtaining and maintaining ISO 27001 certification by an external auditor. With the certification, you also receive the corresponding proof for your company.
- The process for obtaining and maintaining ISO 27001 certification comprises several important steps:
- Carrying out a gap analysis
- Implementation of necessary measures
- Internal assessments with the support of our consultants
- Formal certification by an external auditor.
- The certification confirms that the ISMS meets the requirements of ISO 27001 and has been effectively implemented.
- Regular monitoring audits ensure that compliance is maintained and the system is improved continually.
- Examples: Internal audits, external audits, and the associated certification processes.
You can also read our article on the costs of ISO 27001 certification.
8. Continuous development after ISO 27001 certification
8.1. Corrective measures
- Take measures to eliminate the causes of non-conformities to prevent their recurrence.
- Examples: Carrying out a root cause analysis with subsequent corrective measures.
8.2. Ongoing improvements
- Identify and implement improvement opportunities for the ISMS.
- Examples: Setting up improvement projects with previously created best practice analyses.
Additional aspects of the organization's requirements
1. Information security controls
- Implement specific technical and organizational controls to secure information.
- Examples: Introduction of access controls, encryption, and network security controls.
2. Legal and regulatory requirements
- Ensure that the ISMS fulfills all relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
- Examples: Compliance with data protection laws and industry-specific regulations.
ISO 27001 controls and how they relate to requirements
ISO 27001 controls are specific measures or security controls implemented to meet the standard requirements. They are described in Annex A of ISO 27001 and serve as the basis for dealing with identified risks as part of an information security management system (ISMS).
Context:
- The requirements of ISO 27001 (chapters 4 to 10) define the structural and procedural framework for how an ISMS must be set up and operated. The controls (Annex A) are concrete measures for risk management that are implemented within this framework in order to address specific risks and ensure information security. The Statement of Applicability (SoA) then documents which specific security controls from Appendix A are implemented within this defined scope and provides reasons for selecting or excluding each control.
ISO 27001 Controls identify, assess, and manage information risks
ISO 27001 Controls are concrete security measures that an organization can implement to manage information security risks and meet the requirements of ISO 27001. These measures cover various areas and explain their applicability:
- Policies and organization: Develop and maintain clear information security policies and define responsibilities to support the organization’s security objectives.
- Staff: All employees should receive appropriate training and awareness programs to promote the understanding and importance of information security. Training should cover specific threats and protective measures and be updated regularly.
- Assets: Effectively manage and protect information assets such as data, hardware, and software. Measures include classifying and labeling information according to sensitivity and criticality, regular backups, access controls, and physical security measures to protect against loss, theft, or damage.
- Access controls: Regulate who has access to which information and systems and protect access with passwords, authorizations, and other security mechanisms.
- Cryptography: Use encryption and key management to protect information from unauthorized access.
- Physical security: Secure physical facilities such as offices and server rooms against unauthorized access and environmental influences.
- Operational security: Plan and control operational processes to ensure that IT systems are operated securely and are protected against malware and other threats.
- Communication security: Protect networks and the transmission of information so that data arrives securely and unaltered.
- System development and maintenance: Integrate security requirements into the entire life cycle of IT systems, from development to implementation and maintenance.
- Supplier management: Manage security aspects in relationships with suppliers to ensure that they also comply with the security requirements of the ISO 27001 standard.
- Incident management: Detect, report, and manage security incidents effectively and consistently to minimize damage and learn from incidents.
- Continuity management: Plan and implement measures to maintain information security even during disruptions.
Overall, these controls and the measures listed for dealing with risks help to identify, assess, and handle information risks. Therefore, they form the backbone of a solid information security management system. These controls ensure that information security requirements are addressed systematically and comprehensively following the ISO 27001 standard.
About the Author
Can Adiguzel is the founder of 360 Digital Transformation. He is a TISAX consultant and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor. He has been working in IT project management for more than 11 years. His passion is information security for SMEs and he helps SMEs overcome their information security challenges with a hands-on consulting approach.
