ISO 27001 compliance: What you need to know in 2022

ISO 27001 is structured into a series of Clauses and an Annex, Annex A. The clauses 4-10 define the management system which covers off the following areas:

• Clause 4: Context of the organisation
• Clause 5: Leadership
• Clause 6: Planning
• Clause 7: Support
• Clause 8: Operation
• Clause 9: Performance Evaluation
• Clause 10: Improvement

Annex A, defines the controls that can be used to mitigate information security risks identified during the risk assessment process that is carried out and, as stated above, the controls are defined in detail in ISO 27002.

Working through clauses 4 – 10 and applying the necessary controls will help an organisation to:

1. Identify the relevant stakeholders in the business and what their information security requirements are
2. Define information security objectives that align with the business objectives and needs of the stakeholders
3. Define roles and responsibilities
4. Set the tone from the top
5. Identify risks to information assets in the business and apply controls to mitigate risks
6. Continuously measure the effectiveness of the controls implemented
7. Continuously improve the ISMS and the security posture of the organisation

For now, businesses that already have ISO 27001 do not need to do anything until the revised version of the standard is released, after which point organisations will, likely have 2 years to update their certification (the transition period has yet to be released). In the meantime, companies can start familiarising themselves with the new controls and establish a plan of action to address the changes.

ISO 27001 compliance is optional, but it can greatly improve your business in several ways:

• Protection against cybercrime

  While most news stories around cybercrime focus on large organisations, businesses of all sizes and industries are at risk, and the consequences can be devastating. The ISO 27001 compliance process forces business owners to look in detail at the way they manage and protect information assets, highlighting weaknesses before breaches occur. The standard also uses a continuous improvement lifecycle model which helps organisations constantly adapt their security according to the threats they are facing.

• Stronger stakeholder relationships

  In achieving ISO 27001 certification, you are demonstrating to all stakeholders that you take information security seriously. This can enhance relationships with existing customers, employees, and investors, opening new business opportunities, ability to tender, and helping businesses to distinguish themselves from competitors.

• Reputational resilience

  It only takes a single data breach or mishap to damage a company’s reputation. Compliance with ISO 27001 will help you reduce the risk of data breaches that may have a reputational impact, and helping you maintain a positive position within the market.

• Simpler regulatory compliance

  By voluntarily implementing ISO 27001, you will be better positioned to meet regulatory requirements under data privacy and security laws such as EU/UK GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) and the NIS Regulations (Network and Information Systems Regulations), as many of the criteria overlap. It can also save time for businesses who are required to complete supplier due diligence questionnaires, considerably reducing administrative overheads.

• Freedom to grow confidently

  By becoming compliant with ISO 27001, you’ll build an ISMS that can be scaled to support the growth of your business. You’ll have a framework in place that will help account for changing risks and responsibilities, meaning you never lose sight of the best information management practices.