ISO 27000 Series
International standards for information security management systems and best practices
What is ISO 27000 Series?
The ISO 27000 series is a collection of international standards that provide a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving information security management systems (ISMS).
Key Benefits:
- Risk Management: Systematic approach to identifying and managing information security risks
- Business Continuity: Improved resilience and operational continuity
- Compliance: Meet legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements
- Customer Trust: Demonstrate commitment to information security
- Competitive Advantage: Certification can differentiate your organization
Applicable To:
- Organizations of all sizes and sectors
- Government agencies and public sector
- Financial services and healthcare
- Technology and service providers
- Manufacturing and critical infrastructure
- Non-profit and educational institutions
Key Standards in ISO 27000 Series
Standard | Title | Purpose |
---|---|---|
ISO 27000 | Information Security Management Systems - Overview and Vocabulary | Provides overview of ISMS and defines key terms and concepts |
ISO 27001 | Requirements for Information Security Management Systems | Specifies requirements for establishing, implementing, and maintaining an ISMS (certifiable) |
ISO 27002 | Code of Practice for Information Security Controls | Provides guidance on implementing information security controls (reference) |
ISO 27003 | Information Security Management System Implementation Guidance | Guidance for implementing an ISMS based on ISO 27001 |
ISO 27004 | Information Security Management - Monitoring and Measurement | Guidelines for measuring and monitoring ISMS effectiveness |
ISO 27005 | Information Security Risk Management | Guidelines for information security risk management processes |
ISO 27007 | Guidelines for Information Security Management Systems Auditing | Guidance for conducting ISMS audits |
ISO 27017 | Code of Practice for Information Security Controls for Cloud Services | Cloud-specific guidance based on ISO 27002 |
ISO 27018 | Code of Practice for Protection of Personally Identifiable Information | Guidelines for protecting PII in public cloud environments |
ISO 27001 ISMS Framework (Plan-Do-Check-Act)
PLAN
- Establish ISMS scope and boundaries
- Define information security policy
- Conduct risk assessment
- Risk treatment plan
- Select appropriate controls
- Statement of Applicability (SoA)
DO
- Implement risk treatment plan
- Deploy selected controls
- Train personnel
- Manage operations
- Manage resources
- Document procedures
CHECK
- Monitor and measure processes
- Internal ISMS audits
- Management review
- Review effectiveness of controls
- Identify nonconformities
- Evaluate compliance
ACT
- Take corrective actions
- Take preventive actions
- Apply lessons learned
- Update risk assessment
- Communicate improvements
- Continual improvement
PDCA Cycle
The PDCA cycle ensures continuous improvement of the ISMS through systematic planning, implementation, monitoring, and improvement.
Note: This cycle repeats continuously to maintain and improve information security posture.
ISO 27002 Control Categories (2022 Edition)
Control Category | Controls | Key Areas |
---|---|---|
Organizational Controls | 37 controls | Information security policies, roles and responsibilities, supplier relationships, incident management |
People Controls | 8 controls | Screening, terms and conditions of employment, awareness training, disciplinary processes |
Physical Controls | 14 controls | Secure areas, equipment protection, clear desk policy, secure disposal |
Technological Controls | 34 controls | Access control, cryptography, system security, network security, application security |
Total: 93 controls organized into 4 themes. The 2022 revision consolidated from 14 to 4 categories and reduced from 114 to 93 controls while adding 11 new controls for emerging technologies.
ISO 27005 Risk Management
Risk Management Process:
- Context Establishment:
- Define scope and boundaries
- Identify stakeholders
- Establish risk criteria
- Risk Assessment:
- Risk identification
- Risk analysis
- Risk evaluation
- Risk Treatment:
- Select treatment options
- Implement controls
- Accept residual risk
- Risk Communication:
- Stakeholder engagement
- Risk reporting
- Decision support
Risk Treatment Options
Four Risk Treatment Strategies:
Risk Modification (Mitigation)
Implement controls to reduce risk likelihood or impact
Risk Avoidance
Eliminate the risk source or cancel the risky activity
Risk Sharing
Transfer risk through insurance, outsourcing, or partnerships
Risk Retention
Accept the risk when cost of treatment exceeds potential impact
Remember: Residual risk after treatment must be formally accepted by management.
ISO 27001 Certification Process
Certification Timeline (Typical 12-18 months):
Phase 1: Gap Analysis & Planning (2-3 months)
- Current state assessment
- Scope definition
- Project planning and resource allocation
Phase 2: ISMS Implementation (6-9 months)
- Policy and procedure development
- Risk assessment and treatment
- Control implementation
- Staff training and awareness
Phase 3: Internal Audit & Management Review (1-2 months)
- Internal ISMS audit
- Corrective action implementation
- Management review meeting
Phase 4: Certification Audit (1-2 months)
- Stage 1: Document review
- Stage 2: Implementation audit
- Corrective action (if needed)
- Certificate issuance
Ongoing Requirements
Annual Surveillance Audits
- Year 1 & 2 surveillance audits
- Continued compliance verification
- ISMS effectiveness review
Three-Year Recertification
- Full certification audit
- Comprehensive ISMS review
- Certificate renewal
Note: Certification can be suspended or withdrawn for non-compliance.
Implementation Examples
Access Control Implementation (ISO 27002 Control 5.15)
Role-Based Access Control:
# ISO 27001 compliant access control
class ISO27001AccessControl:
def __init__(self):
self.roles = {
'admin': ['read', 'write', 'delete', 'admin'],
'user': ['read', 'write'],
'auditor': ['read', 'audit'],
'guest': ['read']
}
self.access_log = []
def grant_access(self, user_id, resource, action):
user_role = self.get_user_role(user_id)
# Principle of least privilege
if action not in self.roles.get(user_role, []):
self.log_access_attempt(user_id, resource, action, 'DENIED')
raise PermissionError(f"Access denied for {action}")
# Log successful access (monitoring requirement)
self.log_access_attempt(user_id, resource, action, 'GRANTED')
return True
def review_access_rights(self):
"""Regular access review as per ISO 27002"""
expired_users = self.get_expired_user_accounts()
inactive_users = self.get_inactive_users(days=90)
return {
'expired_accounts': expired_users,
'inactive_accounts': inactive_users,
'review_date': datetime.utcnow(),
'recommendations': self.generate_access_recommendations()
}
Incident Management Process:
# ISO 27035 incident management
class IncidentManagement:
def __init__(self):
self.severity_levels = {
'critical': {'response_time': 1, 'escalation': 'immediate'},
'high': {'response_time': 4, 'escalation': '2_hours'},
'medium': {'response_time': 24, 'escalation': '8_hours'},
'low': {'response_time': 72, 'escalation': '24_hours'}
}
def report_incident(self, description, reporter, affected_systems):
incident = {
'id': self.generate_incident_id(),
'timestamp': datetime.utcnow(),
'description': description,
'reporter': reporter,
'affected_systems': affected_systems,
'severity': self.assess_severity(affected_systems),
'status': 'reported'
}
# Immediate response for critical incidents
if incident['severity'] == 'critical':
self.activate_incident_response_team()
self.notify_management()
self.log_incident(incident)
return incident['id']
def conduct_lessons_learned(self, incident_id):
"""Post-incident review for continual improvement"""
incident = self.get_incident(incident_id)
return {
'what_happened': incident['timeline'],
'what_went_well': self.identify_successes(incident),
'what_can_improve': self.identify_improvements(incident),
'action_items': self.generate_improvement_actions(incident)
}
Risk Assessment Framework
# ISO 27005 risk assessment implementation
class RiskAssessment:
def __init__(self):
self.likelihood_scale = {
'very_low': 1, 'low': 2, 'medium': 3, 'high': 4, 'very_high': 5
}
self.impact_scale = {
'negligible': 1, 'minor': 2, 'moderate': 3, 'major': 4, 'catastrophic': 5
}
self.risk_appetite = {
'low': (1, 6), # Risk scores 1-6: Acceptable
'medium': (7, 15), # Risk scores 7-15: Monitor and mitigate
'high': (16, 25) # Risk scores 16-25: Immediate action required
}
def assess_risk(self, asset, threat, vulnerability):
# Calculate inherent risk
likelihood = self.assess_likelihood(threat, vulnerability)
impact = self.assess_impact(asset, threat)
inherent_risk = likelihood * impact
# Consider existing controls
control_effectiveness = self.evaluate_controls(asset, threat)
residual_risk = inherent_risk * (1 - control_effectiveness)
risk_assessment = {
'asset': asset,
'threat': threat,
'vulnerability': vulnerability,
'inherent_risk': inherent_risk,
'residual_risk': residual_risk,
'risk_level': self.categorize_risk(residual_risk),
'treatment_required': residual_risk > self.risk_appetite['low'][1]
}
return risk_assessment
def generate_treatment_plan(self, high_risks):
"""Generate risk treatment plan for high-risk items"""
treatment_plan = []
for risk in high_risks:
if risk['residual_risk'] >= self.risk_appetite['high'][0]:
treatment_plan.append({
'risk_id': risk['id'],
'priority': 'immediate',
'recommended_controls': self.suggest_controls(risk),
'target_risk_level': 'medium',
'implementation_timeline': '30_days'
})
return treatment_plan
Key Takeaways
Remember:
- ✅ ISO 27001 is the certifiable standard for ISMS requirements
- ✅ Risk assessment and treatment are central to the framework
- ✅ PDCA cycle ensures continuous improvement
- ✅ Controls must be selected based on risk assessment
- ✅ Management commitment and leadership are essential
Best Practices:
- 📋 Document all ISMS processes and procedures
- 🔄 Conduct regular internal audits and management reviews
- 🛡️ Implement defense-in-depth security strategy
- 📚 Provide ongoing security awareness training
- 📊 Monitor and measure ISMS performance regularly