As of October 31, 2025, ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certifications are officially obsolete. If you’re still operating under the 2013 framework, your certification is now non-compliant — and that means exposure to audit failures, contractual breaches, and reputational risk.
The shift to ISO/IEC 27001:2022 isn’t just a routine update. It’s a response to today’s real-world threats: cloud breaches, remote work risks, and supply chain attacks. The control structure has been streamlined, 11 new controls introduced, and a more risk-adaptive approach is now the norm.
This guide gives you a tactical breakdown of ISO 27001:2013 vs ISO 27001:2022, with clear side-by-side comparisons, mapping tables, and a recovery plan if you’re behind. Whether you’re mid-transition or haven’t started at all, this is your critical playbook.
- Core Differences
ISO 27001:2022 simplifies Annex A — reducing 114 controls to 93, grouped into 4 themes. It drops the 14-domain structure and introduces control attributes for easier mapping, filtering, and risk alignment. - What’s New in ISO 27001:2022
11 new controls address modern risks like threat intelligence, cloud governance, data masking, and physical monitoring — none of which were present in the 2013 edition. - Mandatory Transition Deadline
All ISO 27001:2013 certifications expire on October 31, 2025. Failure to transition on time means non-compliance, audit failure, and lost contracts.
What is ISO 27001:2013?
ISO/IEC 27001:2013 is the earlier version of the global standard for information security management systems (ISMS), featuring 114 controls grouped into 14 domains to help businesses manage and protect sensitive information.
What is ISO 27001:2022?
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is the latest update to the ISMS standard, introducing 93 streamlined controls across 4 themes. It reflects modern cybersecurity threats and promotes a more risk-adaptive, scalable, and efficient compliance framework.
Why was ISO 27001 updated in 2022?
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 was introduced to keep pace with modern cybersecurity risks and evolving business models. The 2013 version, although robust, didn’t reflect newer threats, such as cloud misconfigurations, supply chain attacks, or remote workforce challenges.
Here are the primary reasons why the update was necessary:
- To tackle new threats and technologies: The 2022 version addresses evolving risks like supply chain vulnerabilities, data masking, and secure coding practices. The 2013 framework doesn’t exactly cover these.
- To restructure and simplify controls: Annex A now lists 93 controls, down from 114. Redundant controls were merged or rewritten. The updated format is easier to apply across teams, especially for small businesses.
- To introduce control themes and attributes: The original 14 control domains are replaced by four themes: Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological. Each control now includes attributes, such as control type or security objective. This makes them easier to sort and implement based on risk.
- To enable risk-based implementation: The framework now supports tailored control selection based on business context, not a checklist approach. This gives your business more flexibility while staying audit-ready.
ISO 27001:2013 vs ISO 27001:2022: What’s changed?
To make it easier for you to understand the key differences, here’s a simple table to quickly grasp them:
| Component | ISO 27001:2013 | ISO 27001:2022 | What Changed |
| Publication Date | October 2013 | October 2022 | Latest update after 9 years |
| Clauses 4–10 | Unchanged since 2013 | Minor language updates for clarity | Intent stays the same, better phrasing |
| Annex A Controls | 114 controls across 14 domains | 93 controls grouped under 4 themes | Controls consolidated and renamed |
| New Controls | Not present | 11 new controls added | Includes threat intelligence, physical monitoring, and others |
| Control Grouping | 14 control domains (e.g., HR security, communications) | 4 control themes: Organizational, People, Physical, Technological | Simplified structure improves usability |
| Control Attributes | Not defined | Introduced five attributes (e.g., control type, security property) | Enables control filtering and mapping |
| Mapping Table | Informal mapping in some guides | Formal mapping is available in ISO/IEC 27002:2022 | Aids smoother transition |
| Risk Treatment Approach | Prescriptive focus on selecting controls | More contextual and risk-based | Supports tailored implementations |
| Certification Impact | Organizations are certified to the 2013 version | 2013 certification won’t be valid after 31st October, 2025, and businesses must transition to the 2022 version before then | Deadline defined by IAF (MD 26:2023) |
Mapping controls of ISO 27001:2013 with the 2022 version
Why is this mapping important for you?
Mapping between ISO 27001:2013 and 2022 versions is important because it helps you understand the changes in requirements, align existing Information Security Management Systems (ISMS) with the updated standard, and ensure ongoing compliance.
To make the transition easier for your business, ISO/IEC 27002:2022 provides a detailed mapping table that links each control in Annex A of ISO 27001:2013 to its counterpart (or merged equivalent) in ISO 27001:2022.
Most controls do retain their core intent, so it’s not like you need to completely revise them. A majority of them were simply renamed, merged, or restructured to reflect a modern security context.
| 2013 Control (ISO/IEC 27001:2013) | 2022 Equivalent (ISO/IEC 27001:2022) | Change Type |
| A.12.6.1: Management of technical vulnerabilities | 8.8: Management of technical vulnerabilities | Retained (renumbered) |
| A.18.2.3: Technical compliance review | 5.36: Compliance with policies and standards for information security | Consolidated |
| A.10.1.1: Policy on use of cryptographic controls | 8.24: Use of cryptography | Retained (renamed) |
| A.13.2.3: Electronic messaging | 8.23: Information transfer | Merged under broader control |
| A.14.2.1: Secure development policy | 8.25: Secure development lifecycle | Reworded to fit secure coding lifecycle |
| New | 5.7: Threat intelligence | New control |
| New | 5.23: Information security for use of cloud services | New control |
| New | 7.4: Physical security monitoring | New control |
You can purchase the entire official mapping here.
Transition timeline for ISO 27001:2022
While we have already mentioned this in brief, here’s a detailed table that goes over the timeline for the important events in the context of the transition:
Key dates
| Milestone | Date | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Published | October 25, 2022 | ISO/IEC 27001:2022 was officially released by ISO |
| Transition Period Begins | October 31, 2022 | Certification bodies begin offering audits for the 2022 version |
| Transition Deadline | October 31, 2025 | All ISO 27001:2013 certificates expire. No exceptions after this date |
If you want to retain your certifications, you must complete a transition audit before the deadline. Depending on your current audit cycle, you can either integrate this with a recertification or a surveillance audit or initiate a standalone transition.
Note for SMBs:
If you are a small business with a one or two-man compliance team, it can be detrimental to delay the transition. Transitioning too close to the deadline may create scheduling bottlenecks with auditors and will result in significant non-conformities.
How to prepare for the ISO 27001:2022 transition
Don’t look at this transition as a simple control update that’s an additional hassle for your compliance team. It is also an opportunity to strengthen your management system and clean up audit inefficiencies. Here are some practical steps on how you should be approaching this:
Preparing for the ISO 27001:2022 transition involves aligning your existing ISMS with the updated requirements and ensuring a smooth shift to the new framework. Here’s how you can approach the transition effectively:
1. Perform a gap assessment
Download the ISO 27001 gap analysis template
The first step to facilitating a transition is to look at how your current ISMS stacks up against ISO 27001:2022. This involves reviewing your existing controls, documentation, and processes against the new Annex A structure and revised clauses.
The goal is to pinpoint what’s missing, outdated, or needs realignment, so you can create a clear action plan for a smooth transition.
- Use a mapping tool or checklist to track what’s missing.
- Focus on the 11 new controls and the ones that have been merged.
- Review control ownership, automation gaps, and documentation maturity.
2. Update your risk assessment
To comply with ISO 27001:2022, you must reassess your risks in light of new threats and technologies. This step ensures your controls are relevant and your SoA reflects the updated framework.
- Identify new threats like supply chain risk, threat intelligence needs, and cloud misconfigurations
- Update your Statement of Applicability (SoA) to align with the new control structure
3. Revise your policies and procedures
Policy documents must evolve with your controls. The new framework brings additions like data masking and cloud service governance, which must reflect in SOPs, policies, and training material.
- Review which policies need version control updates
- Update training materials for affected teams
- Record change logs and version histories for audit traceability
4. Train your internal teams
The success of your transition hinges on cross-functional alignment. Teams must know not just what’s changed, but how it affects their workflows and responsibilities. Furthermore, use this training phase to reinforce a compliance-first culture and clarify audit expectations
- Schedule short, focused training sessions
- Highlight what’s different in day-to-day operations
- Make new control owners accountable
5. Make a solid transition plan
Coordinate early with your certification body. Most of them will offer you transition audits bundled with scheduled surveillance or recertification cycles. A few things you need to do apart from getting that plan include:
- Deciding on whether you want a standalone or integrated audit
- Allocating a budget for remediation in case any gaps are discovered
6. Document everything, no exceptions
Auditors will expect a clear trail of transition activities. Keep records of training sessions, policy revisions, updated risk assessments, and SoA changes. Try maintaining these in a separate folder that you can use internally and share with the auditors.
Downloadable resources to start your ISO 27001 2022 process
Now that we have the theory out of the way, here are some practical resources to help your team accelerate the ISO 27001:2022 transition. You can use these to assess gaps and documentation and prepare for your next audit.
ISO 27001:2022 mapping table
What it is: Official control mapping between ISO 27001:2013 and 2022 versions (Annex B of ISO/IEC 27002:2022).
Where to find it:
Gap assessment checklist (ISO 27001:2022)
What it is: A downloadable worksheet to identify compliance gaps against the new 2022 control structure.
Download from:
ISO 27001:2022 transition guide
What it is: A step-by-step transition roadmap tailored for compliance managers.
Available at:
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The shift to ISO 27001:2022 is inevitable for any business. So, don’t wait till the last minute or slow down through complicated and hard-to-follow spreadsheets.
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Frequently Asked Questions
ISO/IEC 27001:2013 is the older version of the globally recognized standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It outlines requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving information security — with 114 controls grouped under 14 domains in Annex A.
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is the updated version of the standard, released to address modern cybersecurity risks. It retains the core management clauses but overhauls Annex A by introducing 93 streamlined controls, 11 new additions, and a new structure grouped into four themes: Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological.
ISO/IEC 27002 is a companion standard that provides detailed implementation guidance for the controls listed in ISO 27001 Annex A. It plays a critical role in helping organizations interpret, implement, and map controls effectively — especially useful when transitioning from the 2013 to the 2022 version.
The 2022 version includes 93 controls, down from 114 in the 2013 edition. These are grouped under four themes and enhanced with attributes for better filtering, selection, and alignment with business risks.
The ISO 27001:2022 update is more than a version bump — it’s a response to modern threats and a shift toward smarter, risk-based compliance. If you’re still referencing the 2013 standard, you’re already behind. Here’s what changed:
Key Differences – ISO 27001:2013 vs ISO 27001:2022
-> Core Clauses (4–10): Largely unchanged — same ISMS backbone
-> Annex A Controls: Reduced from 114 to 93 — cleaner, more relevant
-> Control Themes: 14 domains merged into 4 — Organizational, People, Physical, Technological
-> New Controls: 11 additions — e.g., threat intelligence, cloud services
-> Attributes Introduced: Controls now tagged by purpose, type, and more
Start with a gap assessment. Update your risk assessment, Statement of Applicability, and policies. Train teams, document every step, and plan your transition audit before the October 31, 2025, deadline.
No, you can simply transition during a scheduled surveillance or recertification audit, or request a standalone transition audit.
ISO 27001 is risk-based, so you include controls based on your threat landscape and risk treatment plan. So, they would be mandatory only if they apply to you. But you should explain the reasoning in your Statement of Applicability.
All ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certifications become invalid after October 31, 2025. You’ll need to undergo a full certification audit to requalify under the 2022 version. It’ll disrupt your business quite a bit. So, best not wait around.
Pansy
Pansy is an ISC2 Certified in Cybersecurity content marketer with a background in Computer Science engineering. Lately, she has been exploring the world of marketing through the lens of GRC (Governance, risk & compliance) with Sprinto. When she’s not working, she’s either deeply engrossed in political fiction or honing her culinary skills. You may also find her sunbathing on a beach or hiking through a dense forest.
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