ISO 27001 Information Security Management

ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information, including people, processes, and technology controls. Organizations can achieve ISO 27001 certification through independent audits, demonstrating to clients and partners that they meet globally recognized security standards.

Who Needs ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is voluntary but widely adopted by:

• Technology vendors: SaaS companies, cloud providers, software developers proving security to enterprise clients

• Service providers: IT service providers, managed security providers, consultancies handling client data

• Financial services: Banks, payment processors, fintech companies requiring strong security posture

• Healthcare organizations: Providers managing patient health information

• Government contractors: Organizations working with public sector entities requiring ISO 27001 certification

• Supply chain partners: Vendors seeking to meet security requirements in RFPs or contracts

While not legally mandatory in most jurisdictions, ISO 27001 is often a contractual requirement, competitive differentiator, or prerequisite for doing business in regulated industries.

ISO 27001 Structure

The standard consists of two main components:

Main clauses (4-10): Requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an ISMS

• Clause 4: Context of the organization

• Clause 5: Leadership and commitment

• Clause 6: Planning (risk assessment and treatment)

• Clause 7: Support (resources, competence, communication)

• Clause 8: Operation (implement risk treatment)

• Clause 9: Performance evaluation (monitoring, audit, review)

• Clause 10: Improvement (nonconformity and corrective action)

Annex A: 93 security controls across 4 themes (organizational, people, physical, technological)

The Four Annex A Themes

ISO 27001:2022 organizes 93 controls into thematic categories:

Organizational Controls (37 controls):

• Information security policies

• Asset management and acceptable use

• Access control and segregation of duties

• Supplier relationships and third-party security

• Incident management and business continuity

• Compliance and legal requirements

People Controls (8 controls):

• Screening and employment agreements

• Security awareness and training

• Disciplinary process

• Termination and change of employment

Physical Controls (14 controls):

• Perimeter security and entry controls

• Secure areas and equipment protection

• Clean desk and clear screen policies

• Equipment disposal and media handling

Technological Controls (34 controls):

• Endpoint and network security

• Cryptography and key management

• Backup and logging

• Vulnerability management and malware protection

• Secure development lifecycle

• Configuration management and patch management

Risk-Based Approach

ISO 27001 requires a systematic risk management process:

1. Context establishment: Define scope, boundaries, and stakeholders

2. Risk assessment: Identify assets, threats, vulnerabilities, and calculate risk levels

3. Risk treatment: Select controls from Annex A or other sources to mitigate risks

4. Statement of Applicability (SoA): Document which controls are implemented and why

5. Risk treatment plan: Define who implements controls, when, and how

Organizations don't need to implement all 93 Annex A controls—only those relevant to their risk profile. However, they must justify exclusions in the Statement of Applicability.

Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle

ISO 27001 follows a continuous improvement model:

• Plan: Establish ISMS scope, policies, objectives, risk assessment

• Do: Implement controls, train staff, execute risk treatment plan

• Check: Monitor controls, conduct internal audits, review performance

• Act: Address nonconformities, update controls, improve processes

This iterative approach ensures the ISMS adapts to changing threats, business needs, and technology landscapes.

Certification Process

Achieving ISO 27001 certification typically involves:

1. Gap analysis: Assess current state against ISO 27001 requirements

2. ISMS design: Define scope, establish policies, conduct risk assessment

3. Implementation: Deploy controls, train personnel, document processes (3-12 months)

4. Internal audit: Test control effectiveness and identify gaps

5. Management review: Leadership evaluates ISMS performance

6. Stage 1 audit (documentation review): External auditor reviews ISMS documentation

7. Stage 2 audit (implementation review): External auditor tests controls on-site

8. Certification: Certificate issued for 3 years, with annual surveillance audits

Recertification audits occur every 3 years.

Common Documentation Requirements

ISO 27001 requires specific documented information:

• Mandatory policies: Information security policy, risk assessment methodology, risk treatment plan

• Statement of Applicability: Control selection and justification

• Risk assessment and treatment records

• Procedures: Incident response, access control, change management, backup, monitoring

• Evidence: Audit logs, training records, risk reviews, incident reports, corrective actions

Organizations typically produce 20-50 policies and procedures, depending on scope and complexity.

ISO 27001:2022 vs. 2013

The 2022 revision introduced significant changes:

• Increased controls from 114 to 93 (consolidated and modernized)

• Reorganized from 14 domains to 4 themes

• Added 11 new controls (threat intelligence, cloud security, data masking, web filtering, secure coding)

• Aligned with ISO 27002:2022 guidance

• Strengthened focus on privacy, supply chain, and emerging technologies

Organizations certified to ISO 27001:2013 had until October 2025 to transition to the 2022 standard.

How ISMS Copilot Helps

ISMS Copilot provides full-spectrum support for ISO 27001 implementation and certification:

• Control-specific queries: Ask about any Annex A control (e.g., "Explain ISO 27001 A.8.1 user endpoint devices")

• Policy generation: Create audit-ready policies for any control or requirement

• Risk assessments: Generate risk assessment frameworks, asset inventories, and risk treatment plans

• Gap analysis: Upload existing policies to identify coverage gaps against Annex A

• Statement of Applicability: Build SoA documents mapping controls to risks

• Evidence generation: Create procedure templates, checklists, and compliance records

• Internal audit preparation: Develop audit checklists and test scripts

• Workspace organization: Manage certification projects separately from operational security work

The AI has direct knowledge of all 93 Annex A controls and can reference specific control numbers in responses.

Getting Started

To begin ISO 27001 implementation with ISMS Copilot:

1. Create a dedicated workspace for your ISO 27001 project

2. Define your ISMS scope and boundaries

3. Ask the AI to help you create an information security policy (top-level)

4. Generate a risk assessment methodology document

5. Conduct a gap analysis by uploading existing security policies

6. Create policies for applicable Annex A controls based on your risk assessment

7. Document your Statement of Applicability

8. Generate procedures for operational controls (incident response, backup, access management)

Related Resources

• Official ISO 27001:2022 standard (purchase from ISO or national standards bodies)

• ISO 27002:2022 implementation guidance

• ISO 27005 risk management guidance

• Certification body directories (UKAS, ANAB, accreditation bodies)