ISO 27001:2022 Requirements

ISO 27001 is the globally recognised standard for building a structured Information Security Management System (ISMS) that protects the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information. This article explains what ISO 27001 is, how it works, the core principles behind it, and what organisations must do to achieve certification. You’ll learn the standard’s structure, its key requirements, how the certification process unfolds, and the practical steps needed to implement an ISMS that is both compliant and effective.

ISO 27001 certification is one of the most credible ways for businesses to prove they protect sensitive information with structure, consistency, and internationally recognised best practice. This guide explains what ISO 27001 certification is, why companies pursue it, the core business benefits, the costs involved, and how organisations of any size can achieve and maintain certification. Whether you're preparing for your first audit or strengthening your security posture, this article gives you the clarity, detail, and practical steps to move forward with confidence.

ISO 27001 is now recognised as the world’s leading standard for managing information security, but its journey spans decades of technological change, emerging cyber threats, and global collaboration. This article traces the origins of ISO 27001, from its earliest foundations to the modern 2022 revision. You’ll learn how the framework developed, why it became globally adopted, how ISO 27002 fits into the picture, and how ISO standards evolved more broadly over time.

The audit and review process is one of the most important pillars of ISO 27001. It ensures your Information Security Management System (ISMS) is working as intended, risks are managed effectively, controls are operating correctly, and continual improvement is actively taking place. This guide explains every component of the ISO 27001 audit lifecycle — internal audits, external audits, certification audits, surveillance audits, and management reviews — and shows you how to prepare, what evidence auditors expect, and how to maintain long-term compliance.

In this end-to-end guide, you’ll learn how continual improvement works in ISO 27001, why it’s essential for long-term security maturity, how the PDCA cycle operates inside an ISMS, and what processes, documentation, and actions are required to maintain compliance year after year.

Information security policies serve as the foundation of any robust cybersecurity program. Without clearly defined rules for acceptable use of information assets, organizations face increased vulnerability to data breaches, compliance violations, and operational disruptions. Control 5.10 of ISO 27001:2022 specifically addresses this critical aspect of information security management, requiring organizations to establish formal guidelines for how information and associated assets should be handled.

Information rarely stays still. Every organisation transfers data daily—between teams, systems, partners, customers, cloud platforms, and suppliers. Emails are sent, files are shared, storage media is moved, meetings are held, and conversations take place across calls and video conferences. Each transfer represents a moment of heightened risk.

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.16 focuses on how organisations manage access rights by governing the full lifecycle of identities. This control ensures that only authorised users, systems, and services can access information assets, and that access is removed when no longer required.

Confidentiality obligations sit at the very core of information security. Without enforceable confidentiality controls, even the strongest technical safeguards can be rendered ineffective by human behaviour, contractual gaps, or unclear responsibilities. ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 6.6 formalises this reality by requiring organisations to define, implement, communicate, and enforce confidentiality and non-disclosure obligations across employees, contractors, suppliers, and other relevant parties.

Establishing a fair disciplinary process is essential for organizations that want to effectively manage security violations while maintaining employee trust. When security breaches occur, organizations often struggle to respond consistently, which can lead to resentment, legal complications, or ineffective deterrence. Consequently, ISO 27001 includes specific requirements under Annex A 6.4 to ensure disciplinary processes are both fair and effective.

In this guide, we explain everything organisations need to know about ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 6.1 — Employee Screening and Background Checks. You’ll learn what the control requires, why it exists, how auditors assess compliance, what evidence is expected, and how to design a screening process that is legally compliant, proportionate, and effective across different roles and risk levels.

Physical security remains one of the most underestimated components of information security. While organisations invest heavily in cybersecurity tools, a single uncontrolled door, shared workspace, or unlogged visitor can undermine even the most mature digital controls. ISO 27001 Annex A 7.2 exists to address this exact risk by requiring organisations to establish and maintain effective access control to premises where information and information-processing facilities are located.

Modern technologies rely heavily on fiber, network, and power cables to function correctly. When we focus on ISO cyber security, we often overlook these critical components' physical vulnerabilities. Power and information cables face risks of damage and interception. Cyber criminals who gain access to fiber cables can disrupt all network traffic with simple techniques like 'bending the fiber.' This makes data and information unavailable.