What are the major changes in the ISO 27001:2022 version?

What Are the Major Changes in ISO 27001:2022 Version?

The ISO 27001 standard, which provides a framework for managing information security, has undergone significant updates with the release of ISO 27001:2022 version. This latest version brings several key changes aimed at addressing evolving security challenges and aligning with other ISO management standards. In this article, we will explore the major changes in ISO 27001:2022 and their implications for organizations.

1. Title Change and Scope Expansion

One of the most noticeable changes in ISO 27001:2022 is the updated title. The new title is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Information Security, Cybersecurity, and Privacy Protection. This change reflects the broader scope of the standard, which now includes cybersecurity and privacy protection in addition to information security. This expansion acknowledges the growing importance of these areas in today’s digital landscape.

2. Revised Annex A Controls

Annex A, which contains the list of information security controls, has undergone significant restructuring. The number of controls reduced from 114 to 93. This reduction is primarily due to the merging of several controls. The controls are now organized into four main groups: Organizational Controls, People Controls, Physical Controls, and Technological Controls. This new structure aims to make it easier for organizations to implement and manage the controls.

3. New Controls Added

ISO 27001:2022 introduces 11 new controls to Annex A. These new controls address emerging threats and technologies, such as threat intelligence, information security for cloud services, ICT readiness for business continuity, physical security monitoring, configuration management, information deletion, data masking, data leakage prevention, monitoring activities, and more. These additions reflect the evolving nature of information security and the need for organizations to stay ahead of potential threats.

4. Minor Updates to Clauses 4 to 10

While the main part of the standard (Clauses 4 to 10) has not undergone major changes, there have been several minor updates. These updates include changes in terminology, restructuring of sentences, and the addition of new content in specific clauses. For example, Clause 4.2 now requires an analysis of which interested party requirements must be addressed through the Information Security Management System (ISMS). Clause 6.3 introduces a new subclause on planning for changes to the ISMS.

5. Alignment with ISO 27002:2022

ISO 27001:2022 has been aligned with the updates in ISO 27002:2022, which was published earlier in 2022. This alignment ensures consistency between the two standards and simplifies the implementation process for organizations. The changes in ISO 27002, such as the reduction in the number of controls and the reorganization of controls, mirrored in ISO 27001:2022.

6. Editorial Updates and Structural Changes

In addition to the changes in Annex A, ISO 27001:2022 includes several editorial updates and structural changes. For example, Clause 9.2: Internal Audit split into two subsections, and Clause 9.3: Management Review divided into three subsections. These changes aim to improve clarity and readability, making it easier for organizations to understand and implement the standard.