ISO 27001

ISO 27001 for dummies: the definitive guide (2024)

Sticky May 21, 2024 Pim No comments yet

This is the definitive guide to ISO 27001 for dummies.

In this new guide, you’ll learn:

What the ISO 27001 standard entails
How to determine if your organization needs to comply
How the certification process works
What the list of controls looks like
What the common misconceptions about ISO 27001 are
Lots more

So if you’ve been looking for an ISO 27001 summary, don’t look any further.

Let’s get started!

What is ISO 27001?

First, let’s start off with a quick explanation of ISO 27001 in a nutshell.

ISO 27001 is a worldwide standard for information security management. Think of it as a set of guidelines and best practices designed to help organizations keep their data safe and secure. It’s like having a blueprint for building a secure fortress to protect valuable information.

How did the ISO 27001 standard come about?

The journey towards ISO 27001 started in the UK. The British Standards Institution (BSI) published the first version of what would become ISO 27001 in 1995. It was known as BS 7799. This standard laid down the basic principles for managing information security.

Seeing the need for a global standard, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) took interest. ISO is an independent, non-governmental international organization that develops standards to ensure quality, safety, efficiency, and interoperability across various industries.

In 2000, ISO adopted part of BS 7799 as ISO/IEC 17799, an international standard for information security management. However, this was just a guideline and not a certifiable standard. To create a comprehensive framework that organizations could certify against, more work was needed.

In 2005, after several revisions and improvements, ISO released ISO/IEC 27001. This standard provided a clear and certifiable framework for an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It outlined the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving an ISMS.

What are the benefits of being ISO 27001 certified?

Improved Security: By following ISO 27001, you ensure that your information security practices are robust and up-to-date.
Customer Trust: Certification shows customers that you take their data security seriously.
Legal Compliance: It helps you meet legal and regulatory requirements related to information security.
Competitive Advantage: It can differentiate your organization from competitors who may not have certification.

Some key terms you should know about

During this article, you’ll come across a few terms regularly. Let’s explain what they mean before we continue.

Information Security Management System (ISMS): This is the heart of ISO 27001. An ISMS is a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so that it remains secure. It includes people, processes, and IT systems.
Risk Assessment: This involves identifying potential threats to your information and evaluating the risks they pose.
Controls: These are safeguards or countermeasures to avoid, detect, counteract, or minimize security risks to your information.

Should your organization be ISO 27001 certified?

Deciding to comply with ISO 27001 depends on the nature of your business, the type of information you handle, and the expectations of your clients and partners. By assessing your needs and understanding the benefits, you can make an informed decision about whether ISO 27001 is right for you.

It’s not just about compliance; it’s about building a robust system to protect your valuable information and gain trust in the marketplace.

However, if you want to figure out if your organization needs to comply, here’s a simple way to think about it.

Assessing Your Needs

Type of Information You Handle:
- Sensitive Data: If your business deals with sensitive information like personal data, financial records, or proprietary technology, ISO 27001 can help protect this information.
- Regulated Data: Some industries have strict regulations for data protection (e.g., healthcare, finance). ISO 27001 can help you meet these regulatory requirements.
Customer and Partner Requirements:
- Client Demands: Some clients or business partners might require you to have ISO 27001 certification as a condition for doing business. It shows that you take information security seriously.
- Market Expectations: In certain industries, having ISO 27001 certification is a standard practice. Being certified can give you a competitive edge.
Business Size and Structure:
- Small vs. Large Organizations: While larger companies often have more resources to dedicate to information security, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can also benefit from the structured approach ISO 27001 offers. It’s scalable, so you can implement it according to your size and needs.
Risk Profile:
- High-Risk Environments: If your business operates in a high-risk environment where cyber threats are prevalent, ISO 27001 can help mitigate these risks.
- Incident History: If your organization has experienced data breaches or security incidents in the past, implementing ISO 27001 can strengthen your defenses.
Legal and Regulatory Compliance:
- Legal Requirements: Some regions or countries may have laws that indirectly require a robust information security management system. ISO 27001 helps you comply with these legal obligations.
- Industry Standards: Aligning with industry standards can sometimes necessitate ISO 27001 certification.

Making the Decision

Ask yourself these questions:

Do we handle sensitive or regulated information?
Are our clients or partners asking for ISO 27001 certification?
Could our business benefit from improved information security practices?
Have we faced security incidents that ISO 27001 could help prevent in the future?

If the answer to any of these questions is “yes,” then considering ISO 27001 compliance is a smart move.

What does the ISO 27001 certification process look like?

Establish the ISMS: Start by defining your information security policy. This policy should outline how you plan to protect your information.
Conduct a Risk Assessment: Identify what information needs protecting, the potential threats, and how likely those threats are to happen.
Implement Controls: Based on your risk assessment, put in place appropriate security measures. ISO 27001 provides a list of controls to choose from.
Monitor and Review: Regularly check and review your ISMS to ensure it remains effective and make improvements as needed.
Get Certified: An independent auditor will assess your ISMS to determine if it meets ISO 27001 standards. If it does, you’ll receive certification.

List of ISO 27001 controls

ISO 27001 includes a set of controls that help you secure your information. Think of these controls as tools in a toolbox, each designed to address a specific aspect of information security.

Take a deep breath, because the list of controls is long. There’s a reason why many organizations choose to hire a person to work on this full-time or work with an ISO 27001 consultant.

Here’s the simplest breakdown of the ISO 27001 we could muster up.

1. Information Security Policies

Management direction for information security: Make sure your organization has clear policies on how to handle information securely.

2. Organization of Information Security

Internal organization: Define who is responsible for information security tasks within your company.
Mobile devices and teleworking: Set rules for using mobile devices and working remotely to keep data safe even when employees are not in the office.

3. Human Resource Security

Prior to employment: Clarify security responsibilities in job descriptions before hiring.
During employment: Train your employees about their security duties and keep them updated.
Termination or change of employment: Ensure that when employees leave or change roles, their access to sensitive information is revoked.

4. Asset Management

Responsibility for assets: Identify your information assets and assign someone to look after them.
Information classification: Classify information based on its sensitivity and importance.
Media handling: Establish procedures for managing media (like USB drives) to prevent unauthorized access.

5. Access Control

Business requirements of access control: Set policies on who can access what information.
User access management: Manage who has access to your systems and data.
User responsibilities: Ensure users understand their roles in maintaining security.
System and application access control: Control access to your systems and applications to prevent unauthorized use.

6. Cryptography

Cryptographic controls: Use encryption and other techniques to protect information.

7. Physical and Environmental Security

Secure areas: Protect physical locations where information is stored or processed.
Equipment security: Secure your equipment from physical and environmental threats.

8. Operations Security

Operational procedures and responsibilities: Document procedures for secure operations.
Protection from malware: Implement measures to protect against viruses and malware.
Backup: Regularly back up important data and ensure it can be restored.
Logging and monitoring: Monitor systems and keep logs to detect and respond to security incidents.
Control of operational software: Manage the installation of software to ensure it’s authorized.
Technical vulnerability management: Identify and fix vulnerabilities in your systems.
Information systems audit considerations: Plan and conduct audits to verify compliance with security policies.

9. Communications Security

Network security management: Protect your information in networks and ensure secure operations.
Information transfer: Securely manage the transfer of information between parties.

10. System Acquisition, Development, and Maintenance

Security requirements of information systems: Include security requirements when acquiring or developing information systems.
Security in development and support processes: Ensure security during the development and support of systems.
Test data: Protect data used in system development and testing.

11. Supplier Relationships

Information security in supplier relationships: Ensure that suppliers meet your security requirements.
Supplier service delivery management: Monitor and manage supplier services to maintain security standards.

12. Information Security Incident Management

Management of information security incidents and improvements: Develop procedures for managing and responding to security incidents.

13. Information Security Aspects of Business Continuity Management

Information security continuity: Plan for information security during disruptions.
Redundancies: Implement measures to ensure information is always available when needed.

14. Compliance

Compliance with legal and contractual requirements: Identify and comply with legal and contractual security requirements.
Information security reviews: Regularly review your security practices to ensure compliance.

Common misconceptions of ISO 27001

There are a lot of misconceptions and misinformation going around about ISO 27001. For many, it’s something they simply don’t want to deal with or are intimidated by.

Here are some of the most common misconceptions of ISO 27001 we’ve come across so far:

“It’s Only for Large Companies”: Not true! Any organization, regardless of size, can benefit from ISO 27001.
“It’s Too Complicated”: While it requires effort, breaking it down into manageable steps makes it achievable.
“Once Certified, Always Certified”: Certification requires ongoing effort. Regular audits ensure you maintain your security standards.

Conclusion

ISO 27001 might seem daunting at first, but it’s a valuable tool for protecting your organization’s information. By following its guidelines, you can build a strong foundation for information security, gain customer trust, and ensure you comply with legal requirements. Start small, stay committed, and you’ll find that achieving ISO 27001 certification is a worthwhile investment in your organization’s future.