ISO 27001 Clause 10.2 Continual Improvement

ISO 27001 Clause 10.2 Continual Improvement

Required Activity

ISO 27001 Clause 10.2 Continual Improvement, The organization continually improves the suitability, adequacy and effectiveness of the ISMS.

Why organization needs to have continual improvement?

Organizations are never static, nor their contexts. In addition, the threats to the information systems, and the ways in which they can be compromised, are rapidly changing. At the end of the day, there’s no ISMS which remains perfect; it always needs to be set on continual improvement; however, the organization and its context are not changing. Here at Infosavvy we are continually talking about how the ISMS is a systematic approach consisting of processes, technology and people that helps us to protect and manage our organisation’s information through effective risk management. It is a topic of discussion in all of our training and we make sure that our trainees also imbibe the same understanding. It has become a second nature. We are constantly looking at making improvements. It’s just not a requirement of an ISMS but need of every organization.

Related Product ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Training And Certification ISMS

As an example of non-conformity or risk-related improvements, an assessment of an ISMS component (in terms of suitability, adequacy and effectiveness) may show that it exceeds ISMS requirements or is lacking in efficiency. If so, then the ISMS can often be improved by making changes in the management system.

Area of improvements
  • Regular internal audits
  • Regular and proper management review (Clause 9.3 ISO 27001)
  • Regular external audits
  • Understanding the suggestion from the stakeholders and accordingly implementing them in information management system
  • Keeping a check whether organization is following Regulatory policies or not
  • Reviewing security controls
  • Matching the organization activities with requirements of standard ISO 27001

Also, top management can set objectives for continual improvement, e.g. through measurements of effectiveness, cost, or process maturity. ISMS is known as a crucial entity that plays a vital role in business operations. In order to keep pace with the developments, the ISMS is periodically checked for function, efficacy and consistency with the objectives of the organization. This blog addresses clause 10.2 of ISO 27001:2013 Continual improvement, Infosavvy helps you to understand the implementation of the standard and provides in-depth knowledge of IRCA CQI ISO 27001:2013 Lead Auditor (LA) and ISO 27001 Lead Implementer (LI) (training certified by TÜV SÜD)

What all necessary while doing the assessment?

  1. Suitability of the ISMS, considering the external and internal issues, requirements of the interested parties, established information security objectives and identified information security risks are properly addressed through planning and implementation of the ISMS and information security controls.
  2. ISMS adequacy to find the conformity of ISMS processes and information security meets the ultimate goals, practices and processes of the company.
  3. Effectiveness of the ISMS, considering if the intended outcome(s) of the ISMS are achieved, the wants of the interested parties are met, information security risks are managed to satisfy information security objectives, nonconformities are managed, while resources needed for the establishment, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement of the ISMS are commensurate with those results.

The assessment can also include an overview of the efficiency of the ISMS and the components of its resources, evaluating whether their usage of resources is appropriate, if there is a possibility of productivity loss or opportunity to achieve greater effectiveness. Area of improvement can also be identified while managing nonconformities with corrective actions.

Once area(s) of improvement are identified, the organization should be consistent in maintaining them by:-

  1. Evaluate them to determine whether or not they are worth pursuing;
  2. Plan and implement the actions to deal with the opportunities ensuring that benefits are realized, and nonconformities don’t occur or should plan for corrective actions for non-conformities;
  3. Evaluate the effectiveness of the actions.
Also Read: ISO 27001 Clause 10.1 Non conformity and corrective action

Questions related to this topic

1. What are the 3 ISMS security objectives?
2. What are the information security objectives?
3. What are the controls in ISO 27001?
4. What are the 14 domains of ISO 27001?
5. Explain ISO 27001 Clause 10.2 Continual Improvement?

ISO 27001 Requirements


Clause 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties 
Clause 4.4 Information security management system
Clause 4.3 Determining the scope of the information security management system
Clause 5.1 Leadership and commitment
Clause 5.2 Policy
Clause 5.3 Organizational roles, responsibilities and authorities 
Clause 6.1 Actions to address risks and opportunities
Clause 6.1.2 Information security risk assessment process
Clause 6.1.3 Information security risk treatment
Clause 6.2 Information security objectives & planning
Clause 7.1 Resources
Clause 7.2 Competence
Clause 7.3 Awareness
Clause 7.4 Communication
Clause 7.5 Documented information Implementation Guideline
Clause 8.1 Operational planning & control
Clause 8.2 Information security risk assessment
Clause 8.3 Information security risk treatment
Clause 9.1 Performance evaluation Monitoring, measurement, analysis & evaluation
Clause 9.2 Internal audit
Clause 9.3 Management review
Clause 10.1 Non conformity and corrective action

ISO 27001 Annex A Controls


Annex A.5 Information Security Policies
Annex A.6 Organization of Information Security
Annex A.6.2 Mobile Devices and Teleworking
Annex A.7 Human Resource Security
Annex A.7.2 During Employment
Annex A.7.3 Termination and Change of Employment
Annex A.8 Asset Management
Annex A.8.1.3 Acceptable Use of Assets & A.8.1.4 Return of Assets
Annex A.8.2 Information Classification
Annex A.8.2.2 Labeling of Information & A.8.2.3 Handling of Assets
Annex A.8.3 Media Handling
Annex A.9 Access Control
Annex A.9.1.2 Access to Networks and Network Services
Annex A.9.2 User Access Management
Annex A.9.2.3 Management of Privileged Access Rights  
Annex A.9.2.4 Management of Secret Authentication Information of Users
Annex A.9.2.5 Review of User Access Rights 
Annex A.9.2.6 Removal or Adjustment of Access Rights
Annex A.9.3 User Responsibilities
Annex A.9.4 System and Application Access Control
Annex A.9.4.4 Use of Privileged Utility Programs 
Annex A.9.4.5 Access Control to Program Source Code
Annex A.10 Cryptography
Annex A.11 Physical and Environmental Security
Annex A.11.2 Equipment
Annex A.11.1.3 Securing Offices, Rooms and Facilities
Annex A.11.1.4 Protecting Against External and Environmental Threats
Annex A.11.1.5 Working in Secure Areas
Annex A.11.1.6 Delivery and Loading Areas
Annex A.11.2.4 Equipment Maintenance
Annex A.11.2.5 Removal of Assets
Annex A.11.2.6 Security of Kit and Assets Off-Premises
Annex A.11.2.7 Secure Disposal or Re-use of Equipment
Annex A.11.2.8 Unattended User Equipment
Annex A.11.2.9 Clear Desk and Clear Screen Policy
Annex A.12 Operations Security
Annex A.12.2 Protection from Malware
Annex A.12.3 Backup
Annex A.12.4 Logging and Monitoring
Annex A.12.5 Control of Operational Software
Annex A.12.6 Technical Vulnerability Management
Annex A.12.7 Information Systems Audit Considerations
Annex A.13 Communications Security
Annex A.13.2 Information Transfer
Annex A.13.2.3 Electronic Messaging
Annex A.13.2.4 Confidentiality or Non-Disclosure Agreements
Annex 14 System Acquisition, Development and Maintenance
Annex A.14.1.2 Securing Application Services on Public Networks
Annex A.14.1.3 Protecting Application Services Transactions
Annex A.14.2 Security in Development and Support Processes
Annex A.14.2.3 Technical Review of Applications after Operating Platform Changes
Annex A.14.2.4 Restrictions on Changes to Software Packages
Annex A.14.2.5 Secure System Engineering Principles
Annex A.14.2.6 Secure Development Environment
Annex A.14.2.7 Outsourced Development
Annex A.14.2.8 System Security Testing
Annex A.14.2.9 System Acceptance Testing
Annex A.14.3 Test data
Annex A.15 Supplier Relationships
Annex A.15.1.2 Addressing Security Within Supplier Agreements
Annex A.15.1.3 Information and Communication Technology Supply Chain
Annex A.15.2 Supplier Service Delivery Management
Annex A.16 Information Security Incident Management
Annex A.16.1.2 Reporting Information Security Events
Annex A.16.1.3 Reporting Information Security Weaknesses
Annex A.16.1.4 Assessment of and Decision on Information Security Events
Annex A.16.1.5 Response to Information Security Incidents
Annex A.16.1.6 Learning from Information Security Incidents
Annex A.16.1.7 Collection of Evidence
Annex A.17 Information Security Aspects of Business Continuity Management
Annex A.17.1.3 Verify, Review and Evaluate Information Security Continuity
Annex A.18 Compliance
Annex A.18.1.3 Protection of Records
Annex A.18.1.4 Privacy and Protection of Personally Identifiable Information
Annex A.18.1.5 Regulation of Cryptographic Controls
Annex 18.2 Information Security Reviews

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