Are you looking for a way to ensure the security of your organization’s business operations? If so, ISO 27002 compliance may be the answer.
This international standard provides clear guidance on how an organization should protect its systems and data from malicious cyber threats, making it one of the most popular and effective cybersecurity measures available today.
In this blog post, we’ll provide an overview of what ISO 27002 compliance is and detail some steps businesses can take to help implement it within their organizations. Keep reading to discover how your business can secure itself with this important standard!
- ISO 27002 provides detailed guidance on the 93 security controls used to operationalize ISO 27001 and build a stronger, more structured security program.
- It helps organizations reduce risks, improve security hygiene, and build customer trust by following globally recognized best practices.
- To implement it, conduct a gap assessment, map ISO 27002 guidance to ISO 27001 Annex A controls, and roll out the required policies, processes, and technical measures.
What is ISO 27002 Compliance?
ISO 27002 is a compliance framework that lays down guidelines and security policies that are designed to assist any company in establishing, managing, and enhancing its data protection protocols.
ISO 27002 implementation offers hundreds of controls and control mechanisms with tailored guidance from ISO 27001. These proposed solutions aim to address any issues that arise during a thorough risk assessment while serving as an instruction manual for developing reliable security standards and successful management practices.
We strongly urge you to use the recommended standard as a baseline and, if possible, strive beyond minimum requirements to enhance your security program.
Why is ISO 27002:2022 required?
ISO 27002:2022 is required because it is a widely recognized standard for information security that can help you demonstrate compliance with regulations. By implementing this particular standard, you can reduce the likelihood and impact of security incidents.
This is also because customers and partners alike are expecting the organization they do business with will demonstrate that they have effective information security controls in place. Hence, when you implement ISO 27002, you can provide assurance to your stakeholders that they take information security seriously.
Also check out this video on ISO 27002:2022 Controls:
Difference Between ISO 27002 & ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is the certifiable standard that defines the requirements for building and maintaining an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It outlines what needs to be done, such as risk assessment, governance, documentation, and Annex A controls.
ISO 27002, while related, is a guidance standard that explains how to implement the Annex A controls. It provides practical steps, examples, and best-practice measures to operationalize security.
In simple terms:
- ISO 27001 establishes the requirements, while ISO 27002 provides guidance on implementation.
- ISO 27001 is standard that companies can get certified against, whereas ISO 27002 is not.
- ISO 27001 focuses on the ISMS as a whole, while ISO 27002 focuses specifically on control design and execution.
- ISO 27001 is mandatory for certification, whereas ISO 27002 is optional but extremely helpful in meeting the expectations of ISO 27001.
What is the main focus of ISO 27002 compliance?
ISO 27002 provides detailed implementation guidance for the 93 controls outlined in ISO 27001 Annex A. Its goal is to help organizations operationalize security in a consistent, risk-aligned way.
Key areas ISO 27002 concentrates on:
- Control objectives & implementations: Clear instructions on how each Annex A control should be designed, executed, and maintained.
- Safeguarding information assets: Practical measures across people, processes, technology, and physical environments.
- Risk-driven control selection: Ensuring controls are implemented based on actual organizational risks, not a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Operational governance: Expectations for documentation, responsibilities, segregation of duties, and ongoing oversight.
- Measurable security performance: Guidance on monitoring, evaluating, and improving controls for continuous compliance.
A step-by-step guide on implementing ISO 27002 compliance
Implementing ISO 27002 requires the establishment of structured, risk-aligned security controls to support ISO 27001. Here are simple and effective steps to get started with ISO 27002 compliance:
1. Map your risks and identify gaps
Assess your information security risks and compare your current setup with the 93 ISO 27002 controls. This helps you pinpoint what exists, what’s missing, and what needs improvement.
2. Choose the right controls for your environment
Select controls based on actual risks, not assumptions. Define how each control will work across policies, processes, responsibilities, and required technical measures.
3. Roll out policies, processes, and technical safeguards
Implement your updated policies, standard operating procedures, and security tools. This includes access management, monitoring, encryption, backup practices, and incident workflows.
4. Train your teams and assign owners
Educate employees, contractors, and vendors on their security responsibilities. Assign control owners to ensure every control is maintained and executed consistently.
5. Track, review and improve continuously
Monitor control performance, review risks, run internal checks and refine controls regularly. ISO 27002 expects continuous improvement, not a one-time setup.
6. Automate your compliance operations
Sprinto helps automate control mapping, evidence collection, monitoring and audit readiness. This reduces manual work and keeps your ISO 27002 program continuously aligned.
Also check out: Guide to ISO 27002 controls
Download the ISO 27002 control list
Benefits of implementing ISO/IEC 27002
Applying ISO/IEC 27002 certification provides organizations with a wealth of advantages, as it is recognized and respected around the globe. Here are some of the benefits associated with the ISO 27002 standard:
- Enhanced knowledge of information security practices and procedures
- Increased visibility for the organization in the market
- Improved risk management processes
- Increased emphasis on compliance with regulations, particularly those related to data protection
- Higher levels of employee productivity
- Enhanced security of valuable resources and data
- Better implementation of control policies
- Sharper risk assessment
Streamline ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 with Sprinto
ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 serve different purposes, even though they work closely together. When building or refining your ISMS, you should start with ISO 27001, as it outlines the core requirements and helps you decide which controls are necessary for your environment.
After selecting the controls, you can turn to ISO 27002, which provides detailed guidance on how each control should be designed, implemented and operated effectively.
With Sprinto, you can streamline this entire process. The platform automates control mapping, runs continuous risk checks, highlights gaps, and consolidates threats across your cloud environment. Sprinto AI adds an intelligence layer by analyzing your setup, recommending the right controls and helping you maintain compliance effortlessly from a single dashboard.
Want to learn more? Speak to our experts today.
FAQs
ISO 27002 compliance refers to following the guidance provided in ISO 27002 for implementing the 93 security controls listed in ISO 27001 Annex A. While ISO 27001 defines what an organization must do to build an ISMS, ISO 27002 explains how each control should be designed, executed and maintained in practice.
ISO 27002 compliance is important because it helps organizations implement security controls correctly, consistently and in line with global best practices. It strengthens security posture, reduces risk, improves audit readiness, supports ISO 27001 certification efforts and builds trust with customers, partners and regulators.
ISO 27002 can be used by any organization that needs structured guidance to implement or improve security controls. It is especially useful for companies pursuing ISO 27001 certification, teams managing cloud environments, and businesses that want a clear, standardized approach to building and maintaining strong security controls.
ISO 27002 provides guidelines for information security standards and best practices. The implementation of these controls considers the information security environment.
The ISO 27002 Standard provides a comprehensive set of information security guidelines to assist organizations in establishing, maintaining, and improving their cybersecurity management.
ISO 27002 is also known as an international standard for information security and is essential for securely managing your data. This specification outlines a comprehensive ISMS (information security management system) that guarantees maximum protection against cyber threats
Meeba Gracy
Meeba, an ISC2-certified cybersecurity specialist, passionately decodes and delivers impactful content on compliance and complex digital security matters. Adept at transforming intricate concepts into accessible insights, she’s committed to enlightening readers. Off the clock, she can be found with her nose in the latest thriller novel or exploring new haunts in the city.
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