ISO 27001 Gap Analysis: What It Is and Why It Saves Time
Organisations often know that they need ISO 27001 certification, but aren’t sure of how to meet its requirements. A gap analysis can prepare you for what’s needed.
It compares your organisation’s existing information security structure against the ISO 27001 standard, and allows them to identify both the amount of work involved in gaining the accreditation, or what’s already in place within their organisation. In this blog, we’ll explain:
What you need to know about ISO 27001
How a gap analysis helps with certification
How a gap analysis works
The benefits of conducting one
ISO 27001 - what you need to know
As the most well-known standard for information security internationally, ISO 27001 helps organisations strengthen their cyber security posture and adopt a more risk-based approach to their information security management system (ISMS).
Because it’s assessed regularly both internally and externally, it’s based on ensuring any security documentation, processes and risks assessments are regularly updated and still align with business needs and the risks an organisation faces.
But beyond that, the standard also encourages the promotion of a company-wide culture of information security. That can be beneficial to organisations of all shapes and sizes, given that more awareness of good security practices naturally leads to fewer cyber attacks or data breaches as a result of human error.
What’s required for ISO 27001 certification
At its core, ISO 27001 requires management of security risks within organisations, through a structured ISMS. It focuses on Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability, and allows for organisations to identify security risks and appropriate controls. It also directly prompts organisations to review and continually improve how their organisational data is protected, ensuring policies and practices stay relevant and appropriate.
How a gap analysis helps with certification
When reviewing the requirements for ISO 27001 certification, the challenge can be understanding where to start, or what additional controls are needed to reach the necessary standard of compliance.
In this instance, a gap analysis acts as a diagnostic tool. It allows organisations to find what is missing and what needs to be prioritised to reach a point where the certification is achievable. That means full investment in audits or implementation is avoided until an organisation is confident that they meet assessment standards, with the preparatory work completed to prove it.
How the gap analysis works
In comparison with a full ISO audit which acts as a pass/fail review, a gap analysis analyses a set of information security areas as part of a diagnostic exercise, which helps to manage organisational expectations and provides clarity for those implementing the ISO controls.
It works on the basis that prioritising the biggest gaps to certification will allow any organisation to separate quick wins from the critical issues that need to be addressed. Once that’s completed, a road map is created featuring a practical action plan for implementation, which leads to obtaining ISO 27001 certification.
In order for the gap analysis to be successful, it needs to identify a proposed ISMS scope, any compliance gaps, resourcing requirements and also clarify an attainable timeline for certification readiness.
What a gap analysis looks for
The areas that will need to be covered within the gap analysis are:
Documenting a full suite of Information Security Policies: documenting approving, communicating and reviewing policies to align with organisational needs
Risk Assessment / Treatment: establishing whether the organisation has a method for identifying, assessing and treating information security risks
Assert Management: identifying assets, classifying physical and informational assets, ensuring ownership of assets and protecting assets
Access Control: reviewing, approving, changing and removing access where required
Supplier Management: assessment, monitoring and reviewing contractual agreements with third parties and service providers
Incident Response: whether there is a documented process for responding to information security incidents that includes reporting, managing, investigating and learning from incidents
Business Continuity: maintaining and recovering critical systems and applications during organisational disruption
What are the benefits of a gap analysis?
Identifies areas for improvement
Supports strategic decision making
Improves compliance and risk management
Enables prioritisation
Creates a clear roadmap
Optimises resource allocation
Measures progress and maturity
Enhances communication with senior leadership
Looking to reach ISO 27001 standard? PureCyber can help
For those organisations looking for a helping hand on the path to ISO 27001 certification, a gap analysis provides a low-risk entry point, ensuring that organisations don’t spend unnecessary time and money on broader consultancy to achieve the accreditation. An effective analysis will not just provide an in-depth review of the organisations current position, but also provide a plan for next steps that the organisation should take in order to implement the requirements for the standard.
PureCyber is perfectly placed to conduct an effective gap analysis for your organisation, whether you’re looking for ISO 27001, ISO 22301, Cyber Essentials, Cyber Essentials Plus or IASME certification. Get in touch with our expert accredited team to start you on the path to enhanced compliance, resilience and customer trust.