ISO 27001 vs ISO 27002: Key Differences

The ISO 27001 vs ISO 27002 debate is crucial for organisations seeking information security and data protection. These Standards help companies enhance their data security, efficiency and boost revenue. Achieving certification for Information Security Standards is a common goal for companies aiming to fortify their data protection practices.   

According to Statista, 21 per cent of all organisations and 57% of large-scale organisations in the United Kingdom know about ISO 27001 and its benefits. After adopting the ISO 27001 Standards, one can further strengthen their organisation's information security by adopting ISO 27002. But what are the key points of differences between them? In this blog, you will learn the differences between ISO 27001 vs ISO 27002 and understand why data is essential for any modern organisation. 

Table of Contents 

1) A brief introduction to ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 

2) What are the differences between ISO 27001 vs ISO 27002? 

3) When should you use each Standard? 

4) How do ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 relate to each other? 

5) Benefits of ISO compliance 

6) Conclusion 

A brief introduction to ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 

Before we discuss their differences in detail, we will first discuss both ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 in detail.   

What is ISO 27001? 

Originally published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) along with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the ISO 27001 Standards makes up the core of the framework for the ISO 27000 series. It is a collection of documents that outline Standards for Information Security Management. ISO 27001, also called ISO/IEC 27001, is the central set of certification Standards for the planning implementation, operation, monitoring and improvement of an Information Security Management System (ISMS). 

What is ISO 27002? 

ISO 27002, or ISO/IEC 27002:2022, offers guidance on selecting, implementing, and managing security controls based on an organisation's information Security Risk Environment. In other terms, it is a supplementary Standards that supports ISO 27001 and goes into greater detail about the Information Security controls that an organisation may apply from the ISO 27001 list.  

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What are the differences between ISO 27001 and ISO 27002? 

There are five main differences between ISO 27001 and ISO 27002, all five of which we have discussed in detail as follows:

Applicability 

A key aspect to consider when implementing an ISMS is that not all the Information Security controls are applicable to your organisation. ISO 27001 framework clarifies that organisations must conduct a risk assessment to help identify and prioritise Information Security threats.. On the other hand, ISO 27002 does not specify this – so if you were to adopt the Standard, it would be practically impossible to determine what controls you should adopt.   

Detail 

ISO 27002 is much more detailed than its predecessor. It would be unnecessarily long and complicated if ISO 27001 delved into as much detail as ISO 27002. Instead, ISO 27001 provides an outline of each aspect of an ISMS, with specific guidance found in additional Standards. 

Control domains 

ISO 27001 is not specific to control domains and covers the overall management of information security for an organisation. On the other hand, ISO 27002 provides a comprehensive set of controls organised into 14 domains (e.g., access control, Incident Management, physical security etc.) 

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Certification 

Another point of difference between ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 is certification. While one can certify to ISO 27001, ISO 27002 does not provide a certificate. This is because ISO 27001 is a management Standard that offers a full list of compliance requirements, while supplementary Standards such as ISO 27002 address certain aspects of an ISMS.   

Compliance 

While ISO 27001 Compliance prioritises with legal, regulatory and contractual requirements, ISO 27002 provides a framework for implementing security controls based on an organisation's unique needs. 

When should you use each Standard? 

How and when you use each security Standard will depend on your organisational goals and current security posture. This section of the blog will suggest the most suitable Standard according to your organisation's information security objectives. 

ISO 27001 

ISO 27001 lays the foundation for a concrete ISMS, mainly focusing on two key objectives:  

a) Risk assessment: It identifies any potential risks and vulnerabilities to data within the organisation.  

b) Risk mitigation: It determines what steps an organisation must take to safeguard their data.  

Organisations should implement ISO 27001 when they:  

a) Aim to achieve certification to the international security Standards  

b) Do not have an ISMS and want to implement one based on the best global Standard  

c) Want to assess and mitigate any ISO 27001 Physical Security risks in the organisation

d) Need to ensure compliance with business, legal or regulatory requirements   

ISO 27002 

ISO 27002 provides further elaboration on the details contained in the Annex A controls of ISO 27001, offering additional guidance to organisations seeking to implement security controls specified in the ISO 27001 Controls list. Organisations should only use ISO 27002 after identifying the security controls they plan to implement from the previous version of the security Standard. ISO 27002 helps organisations apply the framework they developed in ISO 27001. Therefore, it should only be used in tandem with ISO 27001.

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How do ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 relate to each other?  

ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 are two very closely related international Standards which address Information Security Management within organisations. These two Standards are used with each other as ISO 27002 helps organisations implement controls and Standards to be ISO 27001 certified. The following table will help you understand the relation between ISO 27001 vs ISO 27002.

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Benefits of ISO compliance 

The rise of digital technologies has raised concerns about Cybersecurity among businesses. To reduce the risk from these security threats, organisations globally adapt to ISO compliances. Some of the key benefits of adopting ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 are as follows:

Benefits of ISO 27001 

ISO 27001 is an internationally acknowledged Standard which focuses on Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). Some of the salient benefits of this Standard in an organisation are: 

a) Improved Information Security: ISO 27001 Checklist helps in identifying and mitigating Information Security risks. It reduces the possibilities of data breaches, cyberattacks and unauthorised access. 

b) Risk Management: This Standard provides a systematic approach that helps in assessing, managing, and mitigating security risks. It ensures that the vulnerabilities in the framework are addressed efficiently. 

c) Protecting confidential data: ISO 27001 enables organisations to safeguard their sensitive data, trade secrets, and any other confidential information. 

Benefits of ISO 27002 

ISO 27002 is a guideline Standard which helps organisations to implement security controls. Some of its unique benefits are as follows:  

a) Guidance support: ISO 27002 provides detailed guidance on various aspects of implementing Information Security, making it a valuable resource to strengthen its security framework.  

b) Customisation: This Standard allows organisations to customise their security controls based on their industry Standards, risk profiles, etc. and make sure that security measures are necessary and practical.  

c) Legal and regulatory compliance: ISO 27002 assists organisations to stick to the policies and meet regulatory or legal compliances related to information Security. 

Conclusion  

We hope you enjoyed reading this blog on the ISO 27001 vs ISO 27002 debate Understanding the fact that both Standards are interconnected and can complement each other is a step towards strengthening your Information Security.  

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