An effective ISO/IEC 27001-certified management system relies on four core elements that work together to protect information and support continual improvement across your business.
Risk assessment and mitigation: Organisations begin by identifying where their sensitive data resides and what could go wrong – such as cyber attacks, data leaks, or human error. Each risk is assessed for likelihood and impact, and decisions are made on how to treat it: accept, reduce (with controls), transfer (e.g., through insurance), or avoid it altogether.
Security controls: Based on the outcomes of the risk assessment, organisations select and implement a combination of technical measures (like firewalls, encryption, and access controls) and organisational policies (such as acceptable use and incident response procedures) to manage those risks.
Documentation and accountability: All policies, procedures, and controls must be clearly documented – covering responsibilities, methods, and timing. This documentation provides clarity across the organisation, supports effective audits, and simplifies training and onboarding.
Monitoring, auditing, and continual improvement: An effective ISMS is not static. Internal reviews and external audits check that processes work as intended. When nonconformities are identified, the organisation updates its risk assessments and controls to maintain resilience in the face of evolving threats and business change.
Together, these steps form a living ISMS: A structured, repeatable process of assessing risks, applying safeguards, maintaining documentation, and continuously reviewing and improving information security.
Read more in our dedicated article on Information Security Management Systems.
