ISO 27001 is arguably the world's best-known standard for information security management systems (ISMS). It covers many parts of infosec management. This includes compliance for SaaS. It covers from setup to improvement of ISMS in an org. In this sense, the ISO 27001 requirements ensure every organization is implementing adequate measures to protect their information assets.
What Are the Key Elements of ISO 27001?
One big question companies ask is, "What is the purpose of ISO 27001?" Well, with cybercrime at an all-time high and new threats constantly emerging, it may seem almost a challenging task to manage cyber risks. In such uncertain times, the ISO 27001 standard is a crucial tool to help your organization become risk-aware and proactively identify and address weaknesses, lest you are caught flat-footed.
The key parts of ISO 27001 requirements also promote a whole approach to info security. This includes vetting employees and partners and using key policies and technology. Here is a list of the top elements of ISO 27001:
Risk Analysis
The standard requires organizations to do security risk analysis often. They must do this especially when proposing or making big changes. To do this analysis correctly, companies must set risk acceptance criteria. They must also define how they will measure the risks. It should also assess the potential consequences of the risks, the probability of their occurrence, and their severity.
Top Management Commitment
ISO 27001 requirements also involve the senior management demonstrating their commitment to ISMS. This includes playing an active role in managing security. It also includes ensuring all crucial resources for system deployment are available and allocated correctly. In a nutshell, the top management is obligated to guide employees to ensure their ISMS is truly efficient.
Definition of Goals and Strategies
During planning, the organization should clearly state its security goals and the strategies to help it achieve them. Remember, the objectives should not be generic but unique to the specific organization. They should also be measurable and consider safety requirements.
Resource and Competencies
The organization should also ensure that the resources for ISMS are available. They are needed for implementation and system upkeep. Additionally, they should establish the needed skills in their workforce. They should also ensure that qualified people are responsible. They should have supporting documents.
Documenting Information
The standard also requires that all info on security management be well-documented. It must include IDs, definitions, and formats. The information should also be updated whenever changes in initial definitions of the project are introduced.
Tracking the Performance
At some point, the objectives defined in previous steps must be measured and monitored using key indicators. This step allows an analysis of the efficiency of the system.
Continuous Improvement
Once the company achieves the system goals, it should implement and maintain a system of constant improvement to rectify all non-conformities. Management reviews and internal audits should inform us of such modifications.