ISO 27001 Overview

Clause 6.1 of ISO 27001 defines how organisations must identify, assess, and treat information security risks — and how they must uncover opportunities to strengthen their Information Security Management System (ISMS). This clause acts as the engine of the ISO framework: it drives risk-based thinking, aligns controls to real-world threats, and ensures continual improvement. In this guide, we break down Clause 6.1 line by line, explain its relationship with Annex A, show you what documentation is required, and provide examples and best practices to help you implement it correctly and confidently.

In this article, we explore everything you need to know about ISO 27001 Clause 7.3—its purpose, what the standard requires, how awareness strengthens your ISMS, and how to build a practical, auditor-ready awareness program that supports continuous security improvement.

In this guide, we break down exactly what ISO 27001 Clause 7.4 requires, why structured communication is essential to an effective ISMS, and how organisations can build a clear, compliant communication process supported by practical, real-world examples.

Understanding the intricacies of ISO 27001:2022 is crucial for organisations aiming to enhance their information security management systems. Clause 9.2, which focuses on internal audits, plays a pivotal role in this context.

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.