Framework - ISO 27001 (Cyber)

Jason Edwards

The ISO/IEC 27001 Framework is the internationally recognized standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information through risk management, governance, and control implementation. At its core, ISO 27001 helps organizations protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data—whether stored, processed, or transmitted—by aligning security practices with business objectives and regulatory requirements. The framework is built around a risk-based process, requiring organizations to identify potential threats, assess their likelihood and impact, and implement appropriate controls from the companion standard ISO/IEC 27002. These controls cover a wide range of areas including asset management, access control, cryptography, operations security, and supplier relationships. By tailoring these controls to organizational needs, ISO 27001 supports both flexibility and accountability—ensuring that security measures are not just technical but also strategic and operational. Beyond compliance, ISO 27001 fosters a culture of continuous improvement through regular audits, performance monitoring, and leadership involvement. Certification to the standard demonstrates to customers, partners, and regulators that an organization follows internationally accepted best practices for managing information security risk. More than a checklist, ISO 27001 functions as an ongoing management framework that integrates security into every level of organizational decision-making, helping build trust, resilience, and long-term operational stability.

  1. EPISODE 1

    Episode 1 — Orientation & Outcomes

    ISO 27001 certification begins with understanding the broader ISO 27000 family of standards that form the foundation for information security management. ISO 27000 provides vocabulary and principles; ISO 27001 defines the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS); and ISO 27002 supplies detailed guidance for selecting and applying controls listed in Annex A. For exam candidates, recognizing how these documents interact is crucial—ISO 27001 states what must be done, ISO 27002 explains how to do it, and Annex A serves as the reference catalog of 93 controls grouped into themes such as organizational, people, physical, and technological measures. Mastery of this hierarchy helps interpret audit findings, map requirements, and distinguish between mandatory clauses and advisory guidance during both assessment and implementation. Applying this knowledge in practice means appreciating where each document fits into an organization’s compliance journey. Implementers often start by performing a gap analysis against ISO 27001 clauses, then turn to ISO 27002 for the corresponding control rationale and examples. Annex A becomes the bridge between the management framework and day-to-day technical controls, allowing organizations to tailor safeguards without losing alignment. In exam scenarios, expect questions that test your ability to navigate among these standards, identify control sources, and explain relationships between the normative and informative parts. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.

    15 min
  2. EPISODE 2

    Episode 2 — ISMS & PDCA in Practice

    The ISMS is more than documentation; it is a governance framework built on the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle that embeds continual improvement into security operations. The “Plan” stage defines context, scope, risks, and objectives. “Do” implements controls and supporting processes. “Check” monitors, measures, and audits performance, while “Act” corrects deviations and drives enhancements. ISO 27001’s structure mirrors this lifecycle, ensuring that security management is iterative rather than static. Exam readiness requires understanding how each clause—from context to improvement—maps to PDCA phases and demonstrates the organization’s maturity over time. Operationalizing PDCA involves leadership commitment, resource allocation, and structured performance review. Organizations often struggle with the “Check” and “Act” steps—areas where evidence of management review, audit results, and corrective actions prove whether continual improvement is functioning. Strong ISMS governance integrates metrics, roles, and communication channels that link executive policy with operational execution. In real audits, auditors look for this feedback loop and its documentation trail. Candidates must articulate how PDCA supports both compliance and business resilience, reinforcing ISO 27001’s risk-based philosophy. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.

    18 min
  3. EPISODE 3

    Episode 3 — What Changed

    The 2022 revision of ISO 27001 and 27002 modernized the framework to reflect today’s digital threat landscape. The control set was condensed from 114 to 93 by merging overlaps and aligning to four themes—Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological. Eleven brand-new controls were introduced, covering areas like threat intelligence, cloud services, ICT readiness for business continuity, and secure coding. The goal was to simplify mapping, reduce redundancy, and improve flexibility for hybrid environments. For certification candidates, grasping these structural updates and terminology shifts is essential, since auditors now expect familiarity with both legacy and current numbering. During transition, organizations have until 2025 to migrate evidence and documentation to the updated framework. Practically, this means revising Statements of Applicability, re-evaluating risk treatments, and updating policy references. Candidates should understand how the new controls address emerging risks such as cloud supply chains, data leakage prevention, and monitoring. Exam questions may present legacy control identifiers and require mapping them to new equivalents, testing comprehension of continuity across versions. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.

    16 min
  4. EPISODE 4

    Episode 4 — 27002 Attributes & the SoA

    ISO 27002:2022 introduced a new attribute model to help organizations slice and categorize controls in multiple ways. Each control now includes attributes such as control type, information security properties, cybersecurity concepts, operational capabilities, and physical versus organizational dimensions. These attributes enable analytics, visualization, and easier mapping to other frameworks. Understanding them is vital for certification preparation, as they directly influence how an auditor interprets your control environment and how you justify control inclusion or exclusion within the Statement of Applicability (SoA). The SoA is the linchpin of an ISMS—it lists all Annex A controls, identifies applicability, implementation status, and justification for exclusions. A well-constructed SoA demonstrates risk-based rationale and traceability to the risk treatment plan. Candidates must be able to explain how control attributes strengthen the SoA’s defensibility and support cross-framework alignment, for instance with NIST 800-53 or CIS 18. In audits, inconsistencies between control attributes, risk assessments, and SoA statements often trigger findings. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.

    16 min
  5. EPISODE 6

    Episode 6 — Clause 4.3 — Determining ISMS scope

    Clause 4.3 defines one of the most critical early deliverables in ISO 27001 implementation: the formal ISMS scope. The scope establishes the boundaries within which controls will operate, outlining the systems, processes, facilities, and personnel covered by the ISMS. For the exam, candidates must understand that a well-defined scope ensures the management system remains practical, auditable, and relevant. Overly broad scopes increase complexity and audit cost, while scopes that are too narrow risk excluding critical assets and compliance obligations. The standard requires scope statements to consider context, interested parties, and interfaces with external systems, ensuring traceability from business objectives to security outcomes. Real-world scope development begins with mapping data flows and asset dependencies. Organizations often visualize their environment with diagrams showing what is in and out of scope—such as specific business units, cloud environments, or third-party integrations. Auditors review whether the declared scope matches operational reality, particularly when shared services or subsidiaries are involved. Candidates should also know how scope changes trigger updates to risk assessments and Statements of Applicability. Clarity at this stage prevents downstream disputes over evidence ownership or control responsibility. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.

    15 min
  6. EPISODE 7

    Episode 7 — Clause 4.4 — ISMS processes and interactions

    Clause 4.4 elevates the ISMS from documentation to a functioning management system by requiring defined processes and their interactions. For exam candidates, this means recognizing that ISO 27001 demands an integrated system of activities, not isolated controls. Each process—such as risk assessment, incident response, or supplier management—must have inputs, outputs, responsibilities, and performance indicators. Understanding how these processes interact helps demonstrate conformity with the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle and ensures consistency across the organization’s governance, risk, and compliance structures. In applied settings, mapping process interactions prevents duplication and gaps. For instance, outputs from the risk treatment process feed into control selection and SoA updates, while audit findings inform continual improvement cycles. Organizations may use process maps or swim-lane diagrams to visualize relationships between functions like HR, IT, and Compliance. During certification, auditors frequently test whether process owners can describe these linkages and produce evidence of collaboration. Candidates should be prepared to explain how process interdependence supports traceability and measurable ISMS performance. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.

    16 min
  7. EPISODE 8

    Episode 8 — Clause 5.1 + 5.2 — Leadership & policy evidence

    Clause 5.1 requires top management to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the ISMS, while Clause 5.2 mandates an information security policy aligned to strategic direction. These clauses form the governance backbone of ISO 27001, ensuring that security initiatives are not merely operational but part of organizational culture. For exam purposes, candidates must understand how leadership evidence appears in management review minutes, resource allocations, and signed policies. The information security policy itself must communicate intent, objectives, and framework alignment across all relevant parties. In audits, tangible proof of leadership often includes participation in risk reviews, approval of objectives, and oversight of corrective actions. The security policy should cascade into departmental procedures and awareness materials. Failure to demonstrate active engagement by executives is a common nonconformity. Strong leadership ensures that policies are resourced, communicated, and updated as business conditions change. Candidates should be able to articulate how executive accountability drives ISMS maturity and compliance sustainability. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.

    16 min

About

The ISO/IEC 27001 Framework is the internationally recognized standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It provides a systematic approach to managing sensitive information through risk management, governance, and control implementation. At its core, ISO 27001 helps organizations protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data—whether stored, processed, or transmitted—by aligning security practices with business objectives and regulatory requirements. The framework is built around a risk-based process, requiring organizations to identify potential threats, assess their likelihood and impact, and implement appropriate controls from the companion standard ISO/IEC 27002. These controls cover a wide range of areas including asset management, access control, cryptography, operations security, and supplier relationships. By tailoring these controls to organizational needs, ISO 27001 supports both flexibility and accountability—ensuring that security measures are not just technical but also strategic and operational. Beyond compliance, ISO 27001 fosters a culture of continuous improvement through regular audits, performance monitoring, and leadership involvement. Certification to the standard demonstrates to customers, partners, and regulators that an organization follows internationally accepted best practices for managing information security risk. More than a checklist, ISO 27001 functions as an ongoing management framework that integrates security into every level of organizational decision-making, helping build trust, resilience, and long-term operational stability.