<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">ISO 27001:2022 is an international security standard that lays out best practices for how organizations should manage their data. It outlines how companies should manage information security risk by creating an information security management system (ISMS). This approach demands executive leadership while embedding data security at all organizational levels. The standard is voluntary, but organizations that follow its guidelines can seek ISO 27001 certification.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">ISO 27001 was developed in tandem by the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iso.org/standard/71670.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">International Organization for Standardization</span></a>&nbsp;(ISO) and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iec.ch/homepage" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">International Electrotechnical Commission</span></a>&nbsp;(IEC). It was originally released in 2005 and revised in 2013, thus its full title: ISO/IEC 27001:2022.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">For companies that earn ISO 27001 certification, it&rsquo;s a sign of their commitment to data security. But even companies not seeking certification should pay attention to ISO 27001&rsquo;s lessons.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><strong><span style="font-size:18.0pt">What Is ISO 27001?</span></strong></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Essentially, all the guidelines in ISO 27001 add up to one thing: a guide for creating an ISMS. An ISMS describes the structures an organization has in place to manage data, including technology, physical security, personnel policies, and organizational hierarchy that delegates responsibility for these issues.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><strong><span style="font-size:18.0pt">Why ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Matters</span></strong></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">ISO 27001:2022 certification is an important thing to look for in any cybersecurity partner because it indicates an organization-wide commitment to security. Working with such a partner can benefit your own organization&rsquo;s security. As Clause 6 states, sometimes the most effective way to deal with data security risk is to either eliminate it or outsource it to a third-party.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">For example, by choosing an&nbsp;<a href="https://auth0.com/blog/what-is-iam/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">identity and access management (IAM)</span></a>&nbsp;partner to manage your user passwords, you offload some risk by not storing sensitive data on your own servers. And using an ISO 27001-certified IAM provider (<a href="https://auth0.com/blog/auth0-achieves-iso-27001-certification/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">as Auth0 has done since 2018</span></a>) sends a message to your own users and partners that your data is secure.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">ISO 27001 is also the cornerstone of a growing international consensus about data security best practices.&nbsp;<a href="https://blog.itgovernance.asia/blog/iso-27001-growth-in-australia-stems-from-government-initiatives" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">Australia based its federal Digital Security Policy</span></a>&nbsp;on ISO 27001. Likewise, ISO 27001 can provide guidance on how to meet the standards of other data privacy laws,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/gdpr-and-iso-27001" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">such as the GDPR</span></a>, which often direct companies to it as an example of universal best practices. So if you abide by ISO 27001&rsquo;s recommendations, you&rsquo;re on the right track for legal compliance, not to mention improved data security.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:13.5pt">ISO 27001 certification</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The bar for ISO 27001 certification is high. It requires intensive documentation, including a detailed risk assessment, records of internal training, audits, managerial review, and documentation of the relevant controls from Annex A. In addition, organizations that want to be certified must have their ISMS audited by an accredited body, a process that must be repeated annually.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Because ISO 27001 certification is so demanding, few companies actually undertake the certification process. Despite that, businesses of all sizes and industries should be aware of ISO 27001. It&rsquo;s valuable both as a source of guidance for their own data management policies and as a way to judge potential data security partners.</span></span></span></span></p>

<h2><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="background-color:white"><strong>An Overview of ISO 27001:2022</strong></span></span></h2>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">ISO 27001 is divided into two sections: clauses and controls. The clauses largely serve as an introduction to the key terms and concepts, especially ISO 27001&rsquo;s emphasis on information security leadership from the highest levels of an organization.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Anyone who wants to read the ISO 27001:2022 standard in full must&nbsp;<a href="https://www.iso.org/standard/54534.html" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">purchase a copy</span></a>, but here we&rsquo;ll provide an overview of what the standard contains.</span></span></span></span></p>

<h3 style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:22px"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><strong>ISO 27001 Clause 6: Risk Assessment</strong></span></span></span></h3>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Clause 6 is especially important because it outlines how organizations should conduct a risk assessment to identify and analyze potential threats to their data security.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The fundamental questions in a risk assessment are:</span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">What data does the organization maintain?</span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">What are the potential consequences if that data was compromised, breached, tampered with, or lost?</span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">What are the information security risks, and what is the likelihood of them materializing?</span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Who in the organization is responsible for managing these risks?</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><a href="https://isoconsultantkuwait.com/2019/08/02/iso-270012013-clause-6-planning/" target="_blank"><em><span style="color:#242424">ISO Consultant Kuwait</span></em></a>&nbsp;emphasizes how important it is to be as specific as possible when identifying risk scenarios and to identify the potential event, its effects, and its cause. They give the example of a hacker gaining access to internal systems via a brute-force attack (event), which was possible because the company doesn&rsquo;t require strong passwords or use&nbsp;<a href="https://auth0.com/docs/attack-protection/brute-force-protection" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">brute-force protection</span></a>&nbsp;(cause). The attacks lead to a governmental investigation and damage the company&rsquo;s reputation (effect).</span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Once an organization has answered these questions, they can choose from several &ldquo;risk treatment&rdquo; options:</span></span></span></span></p>

<ul>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Eliminate the risk (either by eliminating the data or the behavior that is putting data at risk).</span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Share the risk by outsourcing to a third-party or through insurance</span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Accept the risk after concluding that the threat is highly unlikely, the consequences would be minimal, or the costs of changes outweigh the potential benefits</span></span></span></span></li>
	<li><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Control the risk to reduce the likelihood of bad outcomes</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>

<h3 style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:22px"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><strong>ISO 27001 Controls</strong></span></span></span></h3>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Annex A forms the bulk of ISO 27001, and it deals with the risk controls organizations can implement, based on the results of their risk assessment. ISO 27001:2022 lists 114 controls, divided into 14 categories.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.5: Information Security Policies</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><a href="https://www.isms.online/iso-27001/annex-a-5-information-security-policies/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">This annex mandates</span></a>&nbsp;the creation of a written set of information security policies, published with the approval of management. These policies will collect the controls established through the rest of the annex. They must be reviewed at regular intervals or in the event of an internal or external change that would impact information security.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.6 Organization of Information Security</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">The first part of Annex A.6 concerns assigning responsibility for information security to all relevant stakeholders. Part two specifically concerns maintaining data security on mobile devices and with remote workers.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.7: Human Resource Security</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">This section concerns ensuring that employees and contractors understand and are capable of fulfilling their obligations to data security, starting from before they are hired and ending with the off-boarding procedure.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.8: Asset Management</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">As the name indicates, this annex identifies information assets and classifies them according to the level of protection they require.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.9: Access Control</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt"><a href="https://www.isms.online/iso-27001/annex-a-9-access-control/" target="_blank"><span style="color:#242424">Annex 9</span></a>&nbsp;concerns a crucial element of any ISMS: controlling access to information. It&rsquo;s divided into four sections, which outline the responsibilities of organizations to provision and deprovision users and implement secure login procedures, as well as the responsibility of individuals to respect IT security policies for authentication.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.10: Cryptography</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">This section concerns the proper use of encryption and how to protect cryptographic keys.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.11: Physical and Environmental Security</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">This is the longest section, with 15 individual controls, all of which deal with policies that protect an organization&rsquo;s physical premises and the equipment in which it stores information.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.12: Operations Security</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Annex A.12 includes best practices for ensuring data protection and integrity, from conducting data backups to malware prevention to maintaining internal logs.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.13: Communications Security</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">There are two sections to this annex. The first deals with maintaining internal network security, while the second addresses the security of information that leaves the organization.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.14: System Acquisition, Development, and Maintenance</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">This section mandates that information systems be analyzed with regard to their impact on security throughout their existence. It deals with the development, testing, implementation, and updates of information systems.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.15: Supplier Relationships</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Unsurprisingly, this section concerns maintaining data security with third-party suppliers and maintaining an agreed-upon level of security.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.16: Information Security Incident Management</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">In this annex, organizations determine how they will deal with security incidents. This includes designating employees to take responsibilities for different types of events, including reporting them to authorities.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.17: Information Security Aspects of Business Management</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Annex A.17 illustrates a bedrock principle of ISO 27001: that information security be directly tied to business outcomes at all levels. This section is devoted to minimizing business disruption by including information security in a business continuity management system.</span></span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-family:Cambria,"><strong><em><span style="font-size:13.5pt">Annex A.18: Compliance</span></em></strong></span></span></span></span></p>

<p style="text-align:start"><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.86)"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Here, organizations must identify their legal and regulatory obligations to incorporate them into their ISMS.</span></span></span></span></p>

<h2><span style="font-size:18pt"><span style="background-color:white"><strong><span style="font-size:19.5pt"><span style="color:#333333">Benefits of ISO 27001:2022</span></span></strong></span></span></h2>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Gaining market share and enhancing reputation:</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">When you adopt and integrate this internationally accepted security standard, your company&rsquo;s data will be more secure. Cyber threats are very common today that cause effective damage to the reputation of the company and eventually finances are completely affected. Hence, having ISMS is mandatory to protect the organization against such cyber threats. The certification is quite appealing to your company&rsquo;s shareholders since you are tightly secure and well-managed with your data.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Promotes customer retention and accomplish new business:</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Implementing ISO 27001 shows that you are maintaining excellent security traits. It strongly assures your existing clients that your organization is ready to take any necessary security actions to shield their confidential data, thereby helping to retain clients. ISO 27001:2022 helps in winning new business and new customers because your organization is pro-actively secure their data.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Simplifies third-party vendor reviews:</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">When you possess ISO 27001:2022 certification, it is proven that your enterprise maintains a full-fledged security programme. It simplifies your partners due diligence process and you can mitigate certain burdens of proof such as providing all security papers. It makes your company&rsquo;s security verification process faster and efficient.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Obey with regulatory requirements:</span></span></span></p>

<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background-color:white"><span style="font-size:15.0pt">Complying with ISO 27001:2022 helps you to meet security controls and requirements for regulations of laws such as NIS directive, GDPR etc. Organizations who are hugely involved in the cloud and international data processing, adopting the ISO 27018 is also advised.</span></span></span></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>
