ISO 27001

What Is ISO 27001?

ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally recognised standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), it defines a systematic approach to managing sensitive information and ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The current version is ISO 27001:2022, which replaced the 2013 edition with updated controls to reflect modern threats like cloud security, threat intelligence, and secure software development.

What ISO 27001 Covers

The standard is built around an ISMS — a framework of policies, procedures, and controls that an organisation uses to manage information security risks. It follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle:

1. Establish the scope of the ISMS
2. Risk assessment: Identify information security risks
3. Risk treatment: Select controls from Annex A (93 controls across 4 themes in the 2022 version)
4. Statement of Applicability: Document which controls apply and why
5. Implement controls and operate the ISMS
6. Monitor and review through internal audits and management reviews
7. Continual improvement

ISO 27001 vs SOC 2

Both are widely recognised security frameworks, but they differ:

• ISO 27001 is an international standard with formal third-party certification. Preferred in Europe, Asia, and government procurement.
• SOC 2 is a US-centric audit report for service organisations. Preferred by US customers and SaaS companies.

Many organisations pursue both.

Benefits for SMBs

• Demonstrates security maturity to enterprise customers and partners
• Provides a structured approach to risk management
• Can be a requirement for government contracts or regulated industry suppliers
• Reduces cyber insurance premiums
• Builds internal security culture

Formal certification requires a third-party audit, but applying the ISO 27001 framework without certification still delivers significant value.