Security comes first: The key to information security — ISO 27001

ISO 27001 and Integrated Management: Focus on SOA, Processes and Assets

ISO 27001 in an integrated management system — does that fit together? And how! The integration enables the seamless integration of security mechanisms into existing processes. In this way, companies not only create a secure data environment, but also optimize their processes overall.

So far so good — how can we now incorporate the requirements of ISO 27001 into an integrated management system? Implementation can be divided into four main areas: SOA, processes, assets, and risks.

SOA (Statement of Applicability)

The SOA (eng. Statement of Applicability), or scope statement, is a decisive document that describes the selection and justification of security controls from Appendix A of ISO 27001. It shows which controls are being applied, not being applied, or are being planned, and explains why. SOA is an essential requirement for ISO 27001 certification and can also be understood as a standard assignment.

processes

The definition and documentation of management, core and support processes is another requirement of ISO 27001. These processes clarify and communicate the responsibilities, roles, and powers of employees, managers, and other stakeholders. They are also used to verify and prove compliance with legal, regulatory and contractual requirements. Implementation is often carried out by integrating or supplementing the company's existing processes as part of an integrated management system.

Assets

Assets are any resources that are valuable to the organization and whose loss, damage, or misuse could have a negative impact on information security. These include, for example:

• Hardware such as servers, computers, printers, etc.
• Software, such as operating systems, applications, databases, etc.
• Data and information stored in electronic or physical form
• Services such as cloud services, network services, email, etc.
• Processes that help achieve business goals
• Documentation, such as policies, procedures, plans, reports, etc.
• But also printed and handwritten information on paper

Identify, classify and protect assets in accordance with ISO 27001 in three steps:

• Create an asset inventory that includes all relevant assets and their owners.
• Define a classification method that indicates the importance of assets in terms of information security goals of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
• Define a labeling method that tags assets according to their classification.
• Pro tip: Store all other important information in the inventory. This includes responsibilities and contacts, AV contracts, classifications related to the GDPR. If necessary, it may be useful to link the processes in which these assets are used. In this way, all necessary aspects can be taken into account during a changeover.

risks

Risks can cause potential negative effects on information security through threats and vulnerabilities. In particular, the impairment of information security goals (confidentiality, integrity and availability) must be considered. Appropriate measures must be taken to prevent, reduce, transfer or accept these risks.

Strengthening information security through effective implementation of ISO 27001

As with other standards, the effectiveness and development of the ISMS must also be monitored through regular audits. By effectively implementing these steps, companies can not only meet the requirements of ISO 27001, but also strengthen their information security and strengthen the trust of customers and partners.

Overcoming challenges: Effective strategies for dealing with ISO 27001 requirements

In everyday life, various challenges can arise when dealing with the requirements of ISO 27001. Here are a few examples and how you can face them:

• Avoiding redundant documentation of standard requirements: For example, integrate information security policy with company policy instead of creating a separate policy. Define when and how the requirements must be implemented in relevant processes.
• Well-maintained and complete asset management: In the procurement process, determine which roles are responsible for evaluating information security and approving procurement. Once approved, maintaining asset management should be an integral part of the procurement process. Clarify ownership, protection needs, and responsibilities for information security.

• Business questioning of risks from an asset perspective: Consider how risks can arise, both from the perspective of the asset and the process in which it is used. Typical risks of IT assets include:
  • failure,
  • compromise and
  • loss of data.

Conduct risk workshops regularly and document them in order to review and improve the effectiveness of the measures taken.

ISO 27001: An indispensable tool for information security in the digital era

In an increasingly digitalized world, where protecting sensitive information is crucial, ISO 27001 is proving to be an indispensable tool for every company. By embedding it in an integrated management system, not only can data be backed up, but business processes can also be optimized overall. By effectively implementing ISO 27001, companies can not only ensure compliance with the standard, but also strengthen the trust of their customers and partners and thus lay the foundation for a robust information security strategy.

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