Understanding the scope statement of ISO 27001 is a fundamental step in establishing an Information Security Management System. The ISO 27001 scope statement is expounded in ISO/IEC 27001:2013 under sub-section 4.3.
The objective of an Information security Management Scope is to set out the processes and information you need to safeguard your information assets. It can also notify interested parties such as customers, staff, auditors, shareholders, and top management about the areas of the organisation that are related to the ISMS. In a nutshell, the scope statement allows you to understand:
Dependencies and interfaces the organisation has with other models
Rules and regulations you should follow
External and internal issues related to the information security of your ISMS
Security controls and processes required to operate an organisation
Importance of Setting ISO 27001 Scope
The main aim of the ISMS scope is to set out the boundaries of an organisation’s information security system. If you define and set your ISO 27001 scope appropriately, you can show the establishment of your security strategy. This can be an excellent way to negotiate deals and obtain a higher rating from financial institutions.
How to Set Up an ISMS Scope
When defining the ISO 27001 scope, you should consider the products and services, your organisation, subsidiaries, divisions, physical locations, departments, systems, and processes of your scope. This is essential because your information assurance and risk assessment work significantly depend on these aspects of your organisation.
You need to consider several scoping requirements before defining your ISO 27001 scope. The first one to consider is the reason for ISMS implementation. Some forces behind the implementation may include a push from top management, customer requests, or identified growth opportunities related to ISMS certification. The implementation will probably present external and internal aspects guiding the scoping assessment.
Factors to Consider When Setting an ISMS Scope
- Your Organisation’s Primary Processes – A functional model should cover an organisation’s key processes. It should also reduce or prevent security risks and threats.
- Your Risks and Goals – You need to identify the motivation or force behind the ISO certification. Point out the problems you want to solve and discover how a security framework can support your efforts. Most organisations seek ISO 27001 to have a competitive edge, understand and reduce security risks and threats, reduce audit workload or comply with information security laws and regulations.
- ISO Certifications Available – You also need to check whether other ISO certifications can blend with the upgrade. For example, you might want to integrate your existing ISO 9001 with your ISO 27001 ISMS scope.
- Additional Processes – Identify supportive processes and procedures required to operate your organisation. Some of these processes may include HR, procurement, or developer support.
Finally, you can document the scope. This is essential because the information security decisions are included in the scope document. Your document may include the relevant regulations and laws, the ISMS scope, information security standards, and the organisational context.
Contact Next Practice Today
Next Practice is a reputable and accredited ISO certification body committed to offering ISO certification services worldwide. We will provide online and physical training services to ensure your organisation meets the standards for ISO 27001 certification. Contact us today to discover more about our distinction and how we can help define your Information Security Management System scope to improve your business.
