Using the ISO 27001 Framework to Strengthen Cybersecurity

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is a cybersecurity framework you can use to create, implement, and maintain your Information Security Management System (ISMS) and strengthen your security posture over time.

It features 114 control options you can use to develop and mature your cybersecurity processes. It’s applicable for organizations of all sizes—from small to large.

In this ISO 27001 resource center, we’ll explore the history of the framework and how it originated, what it’s intended to do, and how it’s related to other ISO standards. We’ll also share recommended steps you can take to implement ISO 27001 for your organization and help you prepare to map the ISO 27001 framework to others you may use such as PCI DSS, SOC 2 and CMMC.

Understanding ISO 27001

ISO 27001 is a collaboration between the International Standards Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The two developed a standardized system to guide development, implementation, and management processes related to information security management systems (ISMS). ISO 27001 creates a unified approach for information security to help identify and mitigate vulnerabilities and security issues across your expanding attack surface.

Today, ISO 27001: 2022, which is the first of 12 standards in the ISO 27000 set, consists of 93 controls. Your organization can use these controls to mitigate a wide range of security risks, including facilitating an assessment of how well you meet certain information security standards and where there are gaps, while serving as a guidepost for scaling your information security processes. There are four core control categories for ISO 270001: 2022: organizational, people, physical, and technological.

Many organizations choose ISO 27001 as a foundation to build an information security program, which can then be enhanced by adding controls and recommendations from other frameworks. ISO controls can also be customized for your organization’s specific needs. It’s a great way to show your clients, the general public, and your key stakeholders that you take information security seriously and are committed to protecting data within your organization.

To become ISO 27001 compliant with version 2022 standards, your organization must complete a statement of applicability (SoA) and successfully pass an audit from a certified third-party ISO auditor.

Does Your Organization Need to be ISO 27001 Certified?

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is not involved in the ISO 27001 certification process. It develops the standards from which external certification bodies can issues certifications.

ISO 27001, in general, is not a mandatory certification process, however, some industries require it as part of contractual or other legal obligations. While it may not be mandatory for your organization to become ISO 27001 certified, you may find it brings a number of benefits to your organizational security posture, especially if you’re just starting out building an information security program or if you’re looking for ways to identify gaps in your existing processes and mature your program as your organization scales.

To become ISO 27001 certified, you will need to complete a successful ISO 27001 audit. This process will include a review of your organization’s information security policies, implemented practices, and security infrastructure.

Want to know more about if ISO 27001 certification is right for you? Check out this blog.

How to Build a Successful ISO 27001 Engagement Strategy

ISO 27001 provides a foundation from which you can build and then mature an information security program for your organization. It can help you create, implement, monitor, and manage your information security management system (ISMS).

In this compliance guide, you’ll learn more about the 114 optional controls outlined in ISO 27001 and how you can adapt them to protect your ISMS.

Download this guide to learn more about the implementation steps including:

• How to conduct a self-review and assessment
• How to set roles and responsibilities
• Planning requirements
• Development adequate resources with training and awareness campaigns
• Requirements for monitoring, measuring, analyzing and evaluating your ISMS with internal audits and reviews
• How to improve your program when you discover gaps and weaknesses

The guide will also walk you through ISO 27001 certification requirements and explain what you can expect during an ISO 270001 audit.

Benefits of ISO 27001 Certification for Your Organization

Like many security and compliance frameworks, there are many benefits of adopting ISO 27001 standards as part of your information security program.

ISO 27001 is a great starting point for developing processes and policies. As an international standard, you’ll know you’re implementing a program that has been tested and is respected by organizations of all sizes, crossing multiple industries, around the world.

ISO 27001 improves your ISMS' stability, reliability, and security. It can also help build trust with your clients and key stakeholders, demonstrating that you’ve established cybersecurity practices that decrease your chance of a breach. A single breach can cause significant damage such as loss of revenue, loss of customers, and potential business failure. Another benefit of ISO 27001? The standards could help you avoid fines and other civil or criminal penalties caused by a breach. Data breach avoidance is a great way to protect your brand and reputation.

An ISO 27001 certification may also give you a competitive advantage, helping attract and retain clients who trust your information security practices to keep sensitive data safe.

Other benefits:

• Establish benchmarks for where your security program is today and set goals to mature it.
• Develop processes to conduct internal audits to identify and mitigate issues prior to an outside audit.
• Monitor efforts to meet specific compliance, regulatory, legal, and contractual obligations.
• Quickly and easily identify and remediate problematic areas where you may have vulnerabilities, security gaps, or other cybersecurity weaknesses.
• Communicate ISMS program success to key stakeholders and use objective data to make a business case for where you need additional staff, resources, tools, or financial support.
• Increase organizational resiliency and support business continuity initiatives.
• Make improvements to existing security processes.

Understanding the ISO 27000 Family of Standards

ISO/EIC 27000 consists of a series of information security standards organizations can use to develop an information security management program. This set of standards outlines information security management systems, also known as ISMS, and related technologies and security practices you can implement to keep protected and sensitive data safe. This can be a variety of data, from your organization’s and client’s financial information to intellectual property and employee information. You can use ISO 27000 standards to decrease your cyber risks and implement plans to improve your security practices over time.

ISO 27000 has almost 50 individual standards, including ISO 27001, which we’re detailing within this resource center. You can think of ISO 27001 as an introduction to the ISO 27000 series, where you can garner more information about how the ISO standards create a framework to help you create and operate your ISMS. Specifically, ISO 27001 provides an overview of all of the controls, policies, and procedures you can implement to build your ISMS program and proceed toward an ISO 27001 certification, with emphasis on specific keywords and their related definitions.

There are 14 cybersecurity control sets outlined in ISO 27001 Annex A. Annex A is a control list you can use to improve your information security, which is further supported by sub-controls and further developed in ISO 27002. These sub-controls can be used to help ensure you meet the core purpose of each of the ISO 27001 controls.

ISO 27001 Compliance Requirements

To become ISO certified, your organization must prove that you can meet these seven ISO 27001 compliance requirements:

Organizational context

• Scope: You understand ISO requirements, including both internal and external issues, and you’re aware of how they may affect interested parties

Leadership

• You’ve outlined executive management responsibilities, including roles and expectations, and have developed an organizational information security policy that’s been approved by your executive leadership (and/or board as appropriate)

Planning

• Outlines your requirements for addressing the following areas:
• Risk assessments
• Risk treatments
• State of applicability
• Plans for risk treatment
• Information security objectives

Support

• Outlines that you have adequate resources and capabilities to manage your ISMS from implementation through review

Operation

• Reviews threat assessments to determine information you need from your network to evaluate threats and manage your ISMS, including enabling changes as needed, and documentation of process effectiveness or weaknesses

Performance evaluation

• Establishes performance metrics and establishes guidelines that determine efficiencies for processes, procedures, and action to protect your data and meet compliance requirements

Improvement

• Reviews your audit processes so you can make adjustments to improve your threat assessments and risk management processes.

Understanding ISO 27001: 2022 Controls

There are four control sets outlined in ISO 27001: 2022 Annex A. Each of these sets has several controls, totaling 93 controls. There are 11 new controls in version 2022. The control sets are:

Organizational (37 controls):

• Data protection standards covering organization structure, governance, processes, and other key areas such as roles and responsibilities, threat intelligence, access control and rights, supplier agreements, and more.

Physical (14 controls):

• Standards for physical assets to control access to sensitive data such as security perimeters, entrance controls, securing and monitoring facilities, securing off-prem assets, media, and equipment storage and disposal, and security monitoring.
  

People (8 controls):

• Defines how employees interact with protected and sensitive data with specific controls and guidance on screening, employment conditions, education and training, disciplinary processes, confidentiality, remote work, incident reporting, and post-employment processes.
  
  Technical (34 controls):
• Standards to develop and manage compliant IT infrastructure, including assess rights and restrictions, secure authentication, vulnerability and configuration management, data backups, security monitoring, encryption, secure develop lifecycles, and other cybersecurity requirements.

Steps to Become ISO 27001 Certified

As with other frameworks, ISO 27001 can help you establish policies and create standards and controls that can help you build a strong information security program. From there, you can demonstrate accountability and compliance by becoming ISO 27001 certified.

Here’s a high-level look at some of the steps you can take to become ISO 27001 certified.

• Review all of the ISO 27001 controls to determine which ones are applicable to your organization and which ones you want implement.
• Set your program scope and objectives, including business and security goals, and context.
• Conduct a self-review and assessment to determine both internal and external issues, as well as the benefits and risks.
• Conduct a risk assessment and establish appropriate controls to mitigate those risks.
• Define your information security policy.
• Determine roles and responsibilities.
• Outline requirements for risk assessments, risk treatment including avoidance, acceptance, reduction, transfer and mitigation, and outline your information security objectives.
• Provide adequate and ongoing education and support for your employees, including communication and awareness strategies, and documentation.
• Review processes with a self-review or internal audit to determine program effectiveness and identify gaps and weaknesses.
• Make plans and implement processes to correct deficiencies and close gaps.
• Establish and implement documentation for all processes including ongoing monitoring, measurements, analysis, and performance reviews.
• Utilize this information to prepare for your ISO 27001 compliance audit.
• Complete an external audit from a qualified assessor.

What Happens During an ISO 27001 Audit?

ISO 27001 audits happen in two stages: The first reviews your documentation for compliance. The second evaluates your ISMS including practices and controls, which, if compliant, pave the way for your ISO 27001 certification. Understanding what happens during in ISO 27001 audit can help you prepare, ensure you have adequate resources and documentation, and ease some of the usual audit worry.

Scope

Your ISMS auditor will set the scope of focus for your audit, including identification of all areas outside of audit scope.

Analysis

The auditor will review audit evidence as it relates to information risks and related requirements.

Plan

The audit scope will be further specified, often as a checklist.

Report

After evidence is reviewed, results are compiled in a report

Fieldwork for Evidence

This is where the auditor(s) should gather audit evidence as outlined by the plan checklist. Tests may be performed to evaluate performance and to validate evidence as collected.

ISO 27001 FAQs

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