If your organisation has an Information Security Management System (ISMS) in place or is planning to build one, you've likely encountered ISO 27001 or ISO 27002. These standards are designed to help safeguard and manage information assets effectively.
The ISO 27001 certification is a staple in mitigating the risks an organisation may face if information becomes vulnerable to attacks. It combines the objectives of ISO 27001 and the guidelines of ISO 27002, both with separate uses and varying depths of detail.
Discover the differences between ISO 27001 and 27002 and how to use them to optimise your ISMS.
What is ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 is the international security standard that defines the specifics and best practices for an organisation's ISMS. Detailed checklists are available to guide you through the requirements for compliance. Any organisation can adopt and implement this standard. For more information on ISO 27001 compliance, read our essential guide to ISO 27001.
What is ISO 27002?
Did you know there are 60+ standards in the 27000 family? The ISO 27002 standard is closely related to ISO 27001. It includes reference rules for information security, cyber security, privacy protection, and implementation assistance based on globally recognised best practices.
In short, it provides guidelines for establishing an ISO 27001-certified ISMS. This standard doesn’t have certification criteria of its own. Instead, your organisation can comply with the ISO 27001:2022 certification by adhering to the 93 controls for information and physical security and cyber and privacy management in ISO 27002. These controls address specific risks identified through an ISO 27001 risk assessment and provide a structured list of recommended security measures. You can also opt to design your own control framework within ISO 27001 by developing custom controls that align with your organisation’s specific risk profile and needs.
While they are part of the same standard, ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 have key differences that you must be aware of. Read on to find out how they differ.
What are the key differences between ISO 27001 and ISO 27002?
ISO 27001 and 27002 have three main differences regarding certification, guidelines, and applicability.
1. Details
Regarding implementation controls and guidelines, ISO 27001 is not as detailed as ISO 27002. Instead, ISO 27001 outlines a general overview of an ISMS's components, with more in-depth guidance provided in other ISO standards. One of these standards is ISO 27002. Examples of other such ISO standards are ISO 27003 for ISMS implementation advice and ISO 27004 for ISMS evaluation monitoring and measurement.
2. Certification
You can be certified for complying with the ISO 27001 standard but not to the ISO 27002. ISO 27001 is a standard that provides a complete list of compliance criteria, whereas ISO 27002 addresses only one part of an ISMS.
3. Applicability to your organisation
When establishing an ISMS, it’s important to remember that not all information security measures will apply to your organisation. ISO 27001 specifies that organisations must undertake a risk assessment to identify and prioritise potential risks related to their information security. However, ISO 27002 doesn’t specify this. Therefore, it can be challenging to determine which controls you should apply by only referring to the ISO 27002 standard.
Now that you know the differences between each standard, we can look at how these differences form a cohesive relationship to ensure that your ISMS is up to standard.
How do ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 relate to each other?
The ISO 27001 standard provides structure organisations need to achieve ISO 27001 certification. This structure consists of both Clauses 4-10 (otherwise known as Annex SL) and the 93 controls. ISO 27002 provides implementation guidance on how to implement any of the 93 controls in ISO 27001 within your organisation. To understand this concept in detail, here are some ISO 27001 objectives with their relevant ISO 27002 controls:
ISO 27001 Objective |
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To manage information security within the organisation. |
Representatives from all sections of the organisation with appropriate responsibilities and job functions will coordinate information security efforts. There must be clear definitions of information security obligations and a management approval procedure for new information processing facilities. |
To achieve and maintain appropriate protection of organisational assets. |
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To limit the risk of theft, fraud or abuse of facilities by ensuring that employees, contractors and third-party users understand their obligations and are qualified for the jobs they are being considered for. |
All job applicants, contractors and third-party users should have their backgrounds checked in compliance with applicable laws, rules and ethics and in a manner appropriate to the business requirements, information categorisation and potential dangers. |
When should you use each standard?
All the standards in the ISO 27000 series have a specific focus:
- ISO 27001 is designed to build the foundations of information security in your organisation and devise its framework
- ISO 27002 is designed to implement controls
- ISO 27005 is designed to carry out a risk assessment and risk treatment, etc.
Although ISO 27002 provides the details needed to implement Annex A controls defined in ISO 27001, it would remain an isolated effort by a few information security enthusiasts. Without support from the organisation's top management, it would have no real impact on the organisation without the management framework provided by ISO 27001.
Rather than treating ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 as two completely different standards, understanding that both standards are interconnected with each other is a step toward successfully being ISO 27001 certified.
ISO 27001 certification can benefit your organisation in several ways, from improving customer trust to increasing organisational productivity. Furthermore, aligning with ISO 27001's robust standards positions your organisation favourably for NIS2 compliance, reflecting the evolving demands of cybersecurity in the European landscape.
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