The complete ISO 27001 Compliance Hub
‍by Hicomply

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.

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.

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.