Ded er oe ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 Understanding The Organisation And Its Context — Certification Guide ORO) =aam av Bo Introduction rea In this article | lay bare ISO 27001 Clause 4.1 Understanding The Organisation And Its Context Using over two decades of experiance on hundreds of ISO 27001 audits and ISO 27001 s cetesons Iam ging to show you wats new, ge you tempat, sow you xales and ao awatatoush Ew In this IS 27001 certincation guide | show you exactly what changed in the ISO 27001:2022 update. {lam Stuart Barker the ISO 27001 Ninja and this is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 Table of contents * Introduction + What is I80 27001:2022 Ciause 4.1 Understanding the Organisation and its Context? + What isthe purpose of 180 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? + What isthe definiton of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.17 + What are the ISO 27001:2022 Changes to Clause 4.1? + What isthe requirement of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.17 = 180 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 Template + How to write ISO 27001 Internal and External Issues ‘© How do I comply with ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? + How do I pass an audit of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.17 + What wil the aucit check? + Top 3 Mistakes People Moke for ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 © Why is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 important? + Who is responsible for ISO 2700112022 Clause 4.1? © What are the benefits of ISO 27001:2022 Cause 4.17 + 180 27001 Cause 4.1 FAQ What is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 Understanding the Organisation and its Context? 180 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 requires and organisation to understand the intemal and ‘external issues that could impact the information security management systom. Internal and external issues is just another way of saying risks. So the clause is asking you to consider and record what internal and external risks there. ‘are tothe information security management system. What could stop your information security management system from being able to achieve its outcomes, What is the purpose of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? ‘The purpose of clause 4.1 is to make sure you have considered what the risks are to your information security management system and that you are managing them effectively. What is the definition of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? ‘The ISO 27001 standard defines ISO 27001:2022 clause 4.1 Understanding The Organisation And Its Context as: The organisation shall determine external and internal issues that are relevant to its purpose and that affect its ability to achieve the intended outcome(s) of its information security management system ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 Understanding The Organisation And Its Context What are the ISO 27001:2022 Changes to Clause 4.1? ‘Thoro aro no changes to ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 in the 2022 update. What is the requirement of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? The requirement of ISO 27001 Cause 4.1 is to understand your own context and document how it might impact your information security management system. Specifically how it might, impact the outcomes of your information security management system, By and large this isa quick and easy win and it sets out exactly what it wants from you. ‘Tho standard wants you to determine what aro the internal issues and external issues that you face. {mn reality, if you have these writen down with the appropriate document mark up @ Certification auditor is unlikely to dig too deeply We created a pre populated downloadable ISO 27001 Clause 4.1 template, but more on that later. ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 Template ‘The ISO 27001 Context Of Organ 27001 Clause 4.1 ands pre writton with common examplas to fast track your Implementation. it quickly and effectively satisfies the needs of the clause. ation template fully satisfies the requirements of ISO Part of the ISO 27001 Toolkit but also available to download individually. How to write ISO 27001 Internal and External Issues \When recording the ISO 27001 Internal and External Issues the standard does not say that you should only record the negative, Do not go out of your way to find and report the negative. It may be that you have considered an internal or extemal issue and that infact, for you, itis not an issue. Ifyou write down the issues and then write an explanation, either positive or negative, it wil show that you considered it It the explanation is positive it shows that you considered it and some smart ass auditor \wor't raise i as a problem thinking they have got one over on you. You can say, yes, We Considered it, we documented it and for us, is not an issue, It the explanation is negative in that you do have an issue, then describe the issue and indicate whether or not you have raised a risk inthe risk register to addross it. It would bo ‘expected and good practice for each issue thal is an issue, to be inthe risk register and ‘managed via risk management What are ISO 27001 Internal Issues? When considering internal issues, the following can be a great guide, + govemance, organizational structure, roles and accountabilities, polices, objectives, and the strategies that are in piace to achive them + capabilites, understood in terms of resources and knowledge (0. capita, time, people, processes, systems and technotogies) + the relationships with and perceptions and values of internal stakeholders. «+ the organization's culture, information systems, information fons and decision-making processes (both formal and informal. + standards, guidelines and models adopted by the organization; and + form and extent of contractual retationships. 1SO 27001 Clause 4.1 internal issues examples Internal Issue Example Internal Issue Internally there are no resources trained or People experienced in the delivery of SO 27001 “The implementation and management of the information security management Time system and ofthe supporting controts requires a significant time investment from key departments and key individuals ‘Tho structure of the organisation currently does not fully support the information (Organisational Structure security management implementation and ‘on-going management. Changes willbe required, ‘The company uses off the self, standard Technologies applications under license, ‘Availabilty of reliable, qualified and ‘Thete is strong competition in the market competent work force: for resources for x technology. ‘Tho company objectives ao alignod with Company Objectives any 09h 8 the information socurity objactves. What are ISO 27001 External Issues? ‘The following is @ great guide for what to consider to external issues. + tho social and cultural, political, legal, regulatory financial, technological, economic, ‘natural and competitive environment, whether international, national, regional or local «+ key drivers and trends having impact on the objectives ofthe organization; and «+ relationships with perceptions and values of extemal stakeholders ISO 27001 Clause 4.1 external issues examples External Issue Example External Issue [Consider the current economic climate Economic Climate ‘and its impact on the business and the information security management system] [Consider the impact of tachnology Technology Advances ‘changes on the business and information ‘security management system ] [Consider the piace within the matketolace ‘and the stage and maturity of the business. Competition Consider comparing the information ‘security management system and ‘approach to that of the competition ] [Consider the impacts of Data Privacy Legislation changes laws, impacts of topics such as Broxit] [Consider the relationship with external Relationships with external stakeholders stakeholders positive / negative describing the reporting and structure] PoitvourscHS AVE over £10,000 How do! comply with ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? “To comply with ISO 27001 Clause 4.1 you are going to implement the ‘how’ to the what the clause is expecting. You are going to ‘+ White a Context of Organisation document + Identify and record your intomal issues that could impact the information security ‘management system + Idently and record your external issues that could impact the information security ‘management system + Decide ifthe issues identified require risk management via the the risk register and risk management process How dol pass an audit of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? ‘To pass an audit of ISO 27001 Clause 4.1 you are going to make sure that you have followed the steps above in how to comply You are then going to conduct an internal aut, folowing the How to Conduct an 1S 27001 Internal Audit Guide What will the audit check? ‘The audits going to check @ number of areas for compliance wth Clause 4.1. Lets go through them L That you have documented your internal and external issues ‘The simplest way to do this is withthe fully populated ISO 27001 Context of Organisation Template. 2. That you are risk managing internal and external issues It you identity an intemal issue or external issue that can impact the information security ‘management system and you are not addressing it directly then you need to manage it via risk management, This means as a minimum putting ion the risk register and following Your risk management process. Ble sure to link the issue to the risk by cross referencing. 3. That you have approved the included common issues ‘Auditors lke to raise common intemal and external issues that they have seen else where 0 i is good practice to ist out in fll internal and external issues that could impact your information security management system whether they apply o you or not. I they do not ‘apply to you, record them and say that they do not apply to you and why. In this way you ‘can show that you have done a thorough job and avoid awkward questions or the auditor raising points that you have considered but placed out of scope. You have recorded them, they don't apply, you can evidence why not Top 3 Mistakes People Make for ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 In my experience, the top 3 mistakes people make for ISO 27001 clause 4.1 are 1. You have no evidence that anything actually happened You need to keep records and minutes and documented evidence. Recording internal and external issues that apply and those that do not shows a thorough understand of the requirement and will avoid awkward questions. 2. You did not link to risk management Where an intoral issue or extemal issue was identified but you cannot satisty it you should have this on the risk register and managed via isk management, This is often missed. If You identi an issue and do nothing about, or cannot evidenca that you have done something about it, twill be raised as a non conformity 3. Your document and version control is wrong Keeping your document version control upto date, making sure that version numbers ‘match where used, having a review evidenced inthe last 12 months, having documents that have no comments in are all good practices Why is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 important? 180 27001 Clause 4.1 is important because it allows you to understand what can impact Your information security management system so you can address it. By understanding the intornal and extemal issues that could impact the information security management system allows to you to plan for them, mitigate and manage them and as a result increase in the cffectiveness ofthe information security management system in meeting the business objectives and needs. Who is responsible for ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? ‘Senior management are responsible for ensuring that ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 is Implemented and maintained. What are the benefits of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? (Other than your ISO 27001 ceriication requiring it, the following are benefits of Implementing 1S0 27001 Annex A 6.1: 1. Improved security: You will have an effective information security management ssystom that address knawn internal and extemal issues that could impact it 2. Reduced risk: You will reduce the risk to your information security management system by identitying those risks and addressing them 3, Improved compliance: Standards and regulations require context of organisation to be in place ‘4, Reputation Protection: In the event ofa breach having effectively managed risks to the management system will reduce the potential for fines and reduce the PR impact cf an event ISO 27001 Clause 4.1 FAQ: What are internal and external issues in ISO 270017 You think of internal and external issues as risks. What are the things that you are facing that you need to address. Intemal issues could be related to having the staff and the skis to operate ISO 27001. Extemal issues could be changes inthe law or regulations in your industry. Intornal and extemal issues inform how you build your Information Security Management System (ISMS). You demonstrate that you have considered them wien it ‘comes time for the ISO 27001 certification audit What are examples of ISO 27001 Internal Issues? Examples of 180 27001 internal issues would be people. Do you have the right people to build, implement and run the Information Security Management System. Time would be an inlornal issue to address, recording if staff have the time to dedicate to the requirements of the standard. Company abjectives is anather example thal you would consider whether Your information securly management system was, or was no, aligned with the objectives of the company. ‘What are examples of ISO 27001 External Issues? Extemal issues are risks that come from outside the organisation, Examples of ISO 27001, external issues would include changas to the law that may change how you do cartain, things or put additional requirements on you. Consider the GDPR and the challenges that that brought to business. Do I need to document 180 27001 internal and external issues? Yes. It's not enough to know them, you must also document them so that you can evidence that you considered thom. Itis best practice to share these at the Management Review ‘Team and minuto the fact that they wore shared and they were signed off and accepted, What is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.17 180 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 requires and organisation to understand th intomnal and external issues that could impact the information security management system. ‘Where can I get templates for ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1? You can download the ISO 27001 Context of Organisation Template: https: ble jolproduetiso-2700 1-context-f-organisation-template/ How hard is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.17 Its not very hard. If you use the ISO 27001 Context of Organisation Template the work has been done for you. How long will ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.4 take me? 180 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 will take approximately 1 day to complete Ifyou are starting from nothing and doing it yourself. With the ISO 27001 Context of Organisation Template is should take you about 15 minutes. How much will 80 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 cost me? “The cost of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 will depend how you go about it, If you do it yoursotit willbe fee but will take you about 1 day so the costs lst opportunity cost as You tie up resource doing something that can easily be downloaded. If you download the 180 27001 Context of Organisation Template you are looking a less than ten pounds / dollars ISO 27001:2022 Certification Requirements What's new, ISO 27001 templates, examples and walkthrough for each ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Clause. 001-2022 Clause 4.1 Understanding The Organisation And its Context.Leadership And 2 information Security Policy Planning 2 information rity Objectives And Planning Te Achieve Them rol Of Documented Information Read Next + The Ulimate 180 2 + 180.2701 Explained Simply Certification: The Utimate Guide to Success erence Gude owte pone eupe 200% g cee nos orey see oss ES a g E FREE 30 Claim your minute 100% ISO FREEno- 27001 °lsation strategy ™ve B session. "9 . call (£1000 valu), This is strictly for od small Dood businesses Cy who are hungry to get SO 27001 certified up to 10x faster and 30x cheaper. 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