ISO 27001 Implementation

Checklist

Before you can reap the many benefits of ISO 27001, you first need to familiarise yourself with the Standard and its core requirements. The ISO/IEC 27001:2013, ISO/IEC 27002:2013 and ISO 27000:2018 standards will serve as your principal points of reference.

Solutions

• Free ISO 27001 resources 
• ​IT Governance - An International Guide to Data Security and ISO27001/ ISO27002 
• Nine Steps to Success – An ISO 27001 Implementation Overview  
• Buy the standard (standards are subject to copyright).

Checklist

You will first need to appoint a project leader to manage the project (if it will be someone other than yourself). Second, you will need to embark on an information-gathering exercise to review senior-level objectives and set information security goals. Third, you should develop a project plan and project risk register.

Solutions

• ISO 27001 Documentation Toolkit

​The ISO 27001 Documentation Toolkit includes a range of project tools that will help you tackle the ISMS

• ​ISO 27001 Certified ISMS Lead Implementer training course

The Lead Implementer course teaches you how to implement an ISMS from beginning to end, including how to overcome common pitfalls and challenges.

Checklist

A gap analysis helps you determine which areas of the organisation aren’t compliant with ISO 27001, and what you need to do to become compliant.

Solutions

• ISO 27001 ISMS Documentation toolkit

This toolkit includes an ISO 27001:2013 and ISO 27002:2013 gap analysis tool that will help you assess yourself against the Standard’s requirements. 

• ISO 27001 Gap Analysis consultancy

A specialist, in-person review of your current information security posture against the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001:2013. 

Checklist

Scoping requires you to decide which information assets to ring-fence and protect. Doing this correctly is essential, because a scope that’s too big will escalate the time and cost of the project, and a scope that’s too small will leave your organisation vulnerable to risks that weren’t considered. 

Solutions

• ISO 27001 Certified ISMS Lead Implementer training course

Find out how to scope the ISMS effectively by attending the definitive ISO 27001 Lead Implementer course.

Checklist

You should set out high-level policies for the ISMS that establish roles and responsibilities and define rules for its continual improvement. Additionally, you need to consider how to raise ISMS project awareness through both internal and external communication.

Solutions

• ISO 27001 ISMS Documentation Toolkit

The documentation toolkit will save you weeks of work trying to develop all the required policies and procedures.

Checklist

Risk assessments are the core of any ISMS and involve five important aspects: establishing a risk management framework, identifying, analysing and evaluating risks, and selecting risk treatment options.

The risk assessment also helps identify whether your organisation’s controls are necessary and cost-effective. 

Solutions

• Download free green paper
• ISO 27005 Certified ISMS Risk Management training course 

The documentation toolkit will save you weeks of work trying to develop all the required policies and procedures.

• vsRisk™ risk assessment software 

Undertake error-proof risk assessments with the leading ISO 27001 risk assessment tool, vsRisk, which includes a database of risks and the corresponding ISO 27001 controls, in addition to an automated framework that enables you to conduct the risk assessment accurately and effectively. 

Checklist

Controls should be applied to manage or reduce risks identified in the risk assessment. ISO 27001 requires organisations to compare any controls against its own list of best practices, which are contained in Annex A. Creating documentation is the most time-consuming part of implementing an ISMS.

Solutions

• ISO 27001 ISMS Documentation Toolkit  

The documentation toolkit provides a full set of the required policies and procedures, mapped against the controls of ISO 27001, ready for you to customise and implement.

• vsRisk software

vsRisk includes a full set of controls from Annex A of ISO 27001 in addition to controls from other leading frameworks.

Checklist

The risk treatment plan (RTP) and Statement of Applicability (SoA) are key documents required for an ISO 27001 compliance project. 

The SoA lists all the controls identified in ISO 27001, details whether each control has been applied and explains why it was included or excluded. The RTP describes the steps to be taken to deal with each risk identified in the risk assessment. 

Solutions

• vsRisk software

vsRisk provides all the documentation you need to satisfy auditor requirements

Checklist

Human error has been widely demonstrated as the weakest link in cyber security. Therefore, all employees should receive regular training to increase their awareness of information security issues and the purpose of the ISMS.

Solutions

• ISO 27001 e-learning training course 

E-learning courses are a cost-effective solution for improving general staff awareness about information security and the ISMS. 

Checklist

ISO 27001 requires regular audits and testing to be carried out. This is to ensure that the controls are working as they should be and that the incident response plans are functioning effectively. Additionally, top management should review the performance of the ISMS at least annually.

Solutions

• Internal auditor training course
• Lead auditor training course

Our auditor courses give you the skills to successfully undertake or lead an ISMS audit project. 

Checklist

If you opt for certification, the certification body you use should be properly accredited by a recognised national accreditation body and a member of the International Accreditation Forum. 

Your chosen certification body will review your management system documentation, check that you have implemented appropriate controls and conduct a site audit to test the procedures in practice. 

Solutions

• Lead auditor training course