ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence Explained

Stuart Barker - High Table - ISO27001 Director

 

ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence is an ISO 27001 control that requires an organisation to collect and analyse information relating to information security threats and use that information take mitigation action.

Key Takeaways

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 is a new control introduced in the 2022 update that requires organizations to collect and analyze information regarding information security threats. The goal is to shift from reactive firefighting to proactive defense. By gathering intelligence on the “who, how, and when” of modern cyberattacks, organizations can implement specific mitigations before a breach occurs. This control is essential for modern risk management, ensuring your defenses are based on real-world data rather than generic assumptions.

ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence

Threat intelligence is used to prevent, detect or respond to threats. You can produce your own threat intelligence but as a rule you will make use of threat intelligence produced by others. It is often provided by independent providers and advisors which can include government sources and more than likely products and services will spring up around this new control to offer you it as a service, at a cost of course.

Threat Intelligence is a new control is ISO 27001:2022 and is about understanding and managing the threats to your information security. Threats to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data.

It can be confusing when you first come to this control but I will show you what is required and some simple, practical steps you can take to implement it.

ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence is the identification and management of information security threats.

In ISO 27001 this is known as ISO27001:2022 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence .

Purpose

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 is preventive, detective and corrective control that ensure you provide awareness of the organisations threat environment so that the appropriate mitigation actions can be taken.

Definition

The ISO 27001 standard defines ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence: Annex A 5.7 as:

Information relating to information security threats should be collected and analysed to produce threat intelligence.

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence

Explanation

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence is a security control that requires organisations to collect and analyse information regarding information security threats. The primary implementation requirement involves processing tactical, operational, and strategic data. This framework provides the business benefit of proactive defence, enabling preemptive mitigation against modern cyberattacks.

Requirement

  • Layered Intelligence: You must address threat intelligence at three levels: Strategic (high-level trends for the Board), Tactical (attacker methodologies for IT managers), and Operational (technical indicators like malicious IPs for SOC teams).
  • Source Identification: You must identify and vet both Internal (logs, incident reports) and External (government alerts, vendor feeds, news sites) sources of threat data.
  • Analysis & Action: It is not enough to simply “receive” a newsletter. You must prove you have analyzed the data for relevance and taken mitigation action (e.g., updating a firewall rule or patching a specific vulnerability).
  • Information Sharing: Where appropriate, organizations are encouraged to share threat information with industry peers or special interest groups to improve collective defense.
  • Integration with Risk Management: Relevant threats identified through intelligence must be added to your Risk Register and managed via your formal risk treatment process.

Audit Focus

  1. The Source Inventory: “Show me your list of vetted threat intelligence sources. Are they reputable and up-to-date?”
  2. Reporting Proof: “Show me a recent Threat Intelligence Report. Who reviewed it and what was the outcome?”
  3. Direct Mitigation: “Can you show me a specific security change (e.g., a new blocklist or patch) that was triggered by a threat intelligence alert?”

FREE Training Video

In this free training video you will learn How to do ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 (Threat Intelligence) and Pass Your Audit

Why is it important?

The purpose of this control is to provide awareness of the organisation’s threat environment so that the appropriate mitigation actions can be taken.

Taking collective knowledge of threats can lead to a collective response and that response can be based on collective best practice. If we share information we reduce the risk and impact of the emerging threats that are only ever going to increase. We cannot protect against what we do not know. As we start to know more we can increase our protection making for a safer, more secure working environment and protecting vital customer and employee data.

CEO at High Table: The Compliance Agency

Implementation Guide

When implementing threat intelligence you are analysing and using information and including it in your risk management process. You are using it as input to inform how you implement and configure technical controls. You are adapting information security tests and techniques based on it.

Threat intelligence is used to inform decisions and actions to precent these threats causing harm to the organisation and reduce the impact of such threats. The graphic below outlines the process from objectives to improvement.

You are going to have to ensure that

  • objectives for threat intelligence production are established
  • internal and external sources of information are identified, selected and vetted where necessary and appropriate
  • information is collected from selected sources
  • information is then prepared for analysis for example by formatting or translating it
  • information is analysed to understand how it relates to you
  • communication and sharing of information is done to relevant in people in a way they will understand it

ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence Template

The threat intelligence process and report are a key requirement of complying with this control.

ISO27001 5.7 Threat Intelligence Template

The 3 layers of threat intelligence

There are 3 layers to threat intelligence.

1. Strategic Threat Intelligence

High level information about the threat landscape.

Focus: High-level trends, financial impact, and global risk landscape.

Audience: Senior Management, the Board, and Policy Makers.

ISO 27001 Link: Feeds into Clause 4 (Context of the Organisation) and Clause 6.1 (Risk Assessment) to help leadership make budget and resource decisions.

2. Tactical Threat Intelligence

Intelligence on tools, techniques and attack methodologies

Focus: The “How.” It covers TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) used by attackers.

Audience: IT Managers, System Administrators, and Security Architects.

ISO 27001 Link: Feeds into Annex A 8.8 (Vulnerability Management) and Annex A 5.15 (Access Control) to configure defences against specific attack methods.

3. Operational Threat Intelligence

Intelligence on specific attacks and indicators.

Focus: The “Now.” It covers specific technical details like IOCs (Indicators of Compromise), malicious IP addresses, file hashes, and phishing domains.

Audience: SOC Analysts, Firewalls, and Spam Filters.

ISO 27001 Link: Feeds into Annex A 8.7 (Malware) and Annex A 8.23 (Web Filtering) for immediate blocking.

4. The 3 layers of threat intelligence comparison table

LayerAudienceFocusISO 27001 Use Case
StrategicBoard / C-SuiteLong-term trends & RiskInforming the ISMS Scope & Budget
TacticalIT ManagersTTPs (Attack Methods)Tuning Firewall rules & patching priorities
OperationalTech / SoftwareIOCs (Specific Data)Blocking bad IPs & antivirus updates

Objectives of the ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence Process

When you write your threat intelligence process it will have objectives. Based on best practice real world experience the following are the objectives of the ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence process:

Identifying Existing and Emerging Threats

Through the use of internal and external data sources existing and emerging threats will be identified. In addition, the use of audit processes such as internal audit, external audit and penetration testing will be used.

Integrating Threat Intelligence into Risk Assessment

Threats will be analysed for relevance to the organisation. Where a relevant threat is identified it will be added to the risk register and managed via the risk management process.

Disseminating Threat Intelligence to Stakeholders

Threat Intelligence will be shared with the Management Review Team as part of the regular structured agenda.

Using Threat Intelligence for Continual Improvement

Threat Intelligence that identifies emerging and existing threats will be managed via the Risk Management Process and any changes or improvements will be managed via the Continual Improvement Process.

Free Threat Intelligence Sources

There are free sources of threat intelligence information that you can use. These can be internal or external so let us take a look at examples of threat intelligence sources you can use:

Internal Sources of Threat Intelligence

  • Anti-Virus and Malware Protection Reports
  • Information Security Incident Reports
  • Phishing Reports
  • Internal Audit Reports
  • Helpdesk Tickets
  • Log Files

External Sources of Threat Intelligence

Comparing Threat Intelligence Sources

Source TypeExamplesBest For
Strategic (External)CISA Alerts, ENISA ReportsHigh-level risk planning
Tactical (External)Vendor Feeds (CrowdStrike, etc.)Blocking specific attacks
InternalFirewall Logs, SIEM AlertsDetecting active breaches
CommunityISACs, Industry ForumsPeer-to-peer warning

The threat intelligence reporting process

  • A Threat Intelligence Report is created.
  • The Threat Intelligence Report is shared with The Management Review Team.
  • The Threat Intelligence Report is shared at least at the Management Review Team Meeting and if a significant threat is identified.
  • Threat Intelligence Reports are kept for at least 12 months.
  • Progress of Threat Mitigation is reported via the Risk Management Process and Continual Improvement Process as relevant.

The contents of the threat intelligence report

  • Threat Summary: A summary in simple of terms of the threat that can be understood by someone with no technical knowledge.
  • Source: The source of the threat. Either a link or a description in words of how the threat was identified.
  • Threat Level: Using a simple, easy to understand rating of High / Medium and Low the initial rating is a subjective rating on the potential risk and impact to the organisation. The objective rating will be derived as part of the risk management process.

Free vs. Paid Sources Table

LayerFocusFree Source ExamplePaid Source Example
StrategicHigh-level trends for C-Suite.ENISA Threat Landscape, Verizon DBIR.Gartner Reports.
TacticalAttack methods (TTPs) for IT Admins.MITRE ATT&CK, Vendor Blogs (CrowdStrike).Mandiant Advantage.
OperationalIP addresses/hashes for Firewalls.AlienVault OTX, Abuse.ch.Anomali, Recorded Future.
ISO 27001 Templates - ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence Templates
ISO 27001 Templates

How to Implement it

Implementing threat intelligence requires a structured approach to identifying, analysing, and mitigating potential security risks before they impact your organisation. By following these ten steps, you will establish a robust framework that aligns with ISO 27001 requirements and enhances your overall security posture.

1. Define Threat Intelligence Objectives and Scope

  • Establish the primary goals for the threat intelligence process, such as reducing incident response times or identifying industry-specific attackers.
  • Document the scope of intelligence gathering, ensuring it covers tactical, operational, and strategic levels.
  • Identify key stakeholders who require intelligence updates, including the IT team, senior management, and the Incident Response Team.

2. Identify and Categorise Information Assets

  • Update your Asset Register to include all critical hardware, software, and data repositories that require protection.
  • Classify assets based on their value and sensitivity to help prioritise threat monitoring efforts.
  • Map dependencies between assets to understand how a threat to one component could impact the wider infrastructure.

3. Select and Validate Intelligence Sources

  • Identify a mix of internal sources, such as SIEM logs and incident reports, and external sources, such as commercial feeds or government alerts.
  • Evaluate the reliability and relevance of each source to ensure the data provided is accurate and timely.
  • Formalise agreements with external providers where necessary, ensuring they meet your organisation’s data privacy standards.

4. Provision Collection and Processing Infrastructure

  • Deploy technical tools, such as automated threat intelligence platforms or RSS aggregators, to centralise data collection.
  • Configure IAM roles to ensure only authorised personnel can access or modify the threat intelligence feeds.
  • Implement data sanitisation processes to remove noise and false positives from the raw data collected.

5. Formalise Analysis and Triage Procedures

  • Define the methodology for analysing raw data to identify Trends, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors.
  • Establish a triage system to categorise threats based on their potential impact and likelihood of occurrence.
  • Document the criteria for escalating high-priority threats to the executive level or the security operations centre.

6. Integrate Intelligence with Incident Management

  • Update incident response playbooks to include steps for incorporating real-time threat intelligence during an active breach.
  • Link Indicators of Compromise (IoCs), such as malicious IP addresses or file hashes, directly into your security monitoring tools.
  • Ensure the Incident Response Team has the necessary permissions to act upon intelligence-driven alerts immediately.

7. Implement Technical Safeguards and Mitigations

  • Apply proactive controls, such as updating firewall rules or enhancing MFA requirements, based on identified emerging threats.
  • Conduct vulnerability scans focused on the specific TTPs identified through your intelligence gathering.
  • Ensure that patches for exploited-in-the-wild vulnerabilities are prioritised in the patch management cycle.

8. Distribute Actionable Intelligence Reports

  • Create tailored communication templates for different audiences, ensuring technical teams receive tactical data while executives receive strategic overviews.
  • Establish secure communication channels for distributing sensitive intelligence, avoiding plaintext emails for high-risk alerts.
  • Define the frequency of reporting, ensuring that urgent threats are communicated via out-of-band methods if necessary.

9. Audit and Review Intelligence Effectiveness

  • Monitor Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), such as the percentage of threats identified before they caused an incident.
  • Conduct periodic audits of the threat intelligence process to ensure compliance with the ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 control.
  • Review the Rules of Engagement (ROE) documents to ensure intelligence gathering activities remain within legal and ethical boundaries.

10. Conduct Management Review and Continual Improvement

  • Present a summary of the threat landscape and intelligence performance to the ISMS steering committee.
  • Identify opportunities for improving the process, such as investing in better automation or expanding the scope of sources.
  • Update the threat intelligence policy and procedures based on feedback and changes in the organisational risk profile.

Implementation Checklist

StepImplementation RequirementPractical Examples & Technical Controls
1Establish Threat Intelligence PolicyDefine tactical, operational, and strategic objectives within the ISO 27001 Toolkit.
2Identify and Validate SourcesSubscribe to diverse feeds including commercial CTI, open-source (OSINT), and industry-specific ISACs.
3Update Asset Register MappingCross-reference threat types against specific entries in the central Asset Register to prioritise risks.
4Provision Collection InfrastructureDeploy automated tools such as a Threat Intelligence Platform (TIP) or SIEM integration for data ingestion.
5Formalise Analysis ProceduresDocument the methodology for identifying adversary Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs).
6Implement Technical SafeguardsApply proactive mitigations like updated firewall rules, DNS filtering, and enhanced MFA based on intelligence.
7Integrate with Incident ResponseLink Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) directly into incident playbooks for rapid containment.
8Define IAM and Access RolesRestrict access to sensitive intelligence data using Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) and strict IAM policies.
9Distribute Actionable ReportsEstablish secure communication channels to push tactical alerts to IT teams and strategic summaries to the board.
10Audit and Review EffectivenessConduct periodic reviews of the Rules of Engagement (ROE) and measure KPIs like ‘Time to Detect’.

How to comply

  • Establish and document objectives for threat intelligence production
  • Identify, vet, list and document internal and external sources of information
  • Collect the information
  • Prepare the information for analysis for example by formatting or translating it
  • Analyse information to understand how it relates to you
  • Communicate and share information to relevant people in a way they will understand it

How to audit it

Auditing threat intelligence requires a methodical review of how your organisation identifies, processes, and utilises information regarding external and internal threats. This 10 step audit process ensures that your implementation of Annex A 5.7 is robust, compliant, and integrated into your wider Information Security Management System (ISMS).

1. Review the Threat Intelligence Policy and Objectives

  • Verify the existence of a documented policy that defines the objectives for threat intelligence gathering.
  • Confirm that the scope is clearly defined: covering tactical, operational, and strategic intelligence requirements.
  • Check for evidence of management approval and regular review cycles to ensure the policy remains aligned with the business risk appetite.

2. Inspect Information Source Reliability and Diversity

  • Analyse the list of internal and external sources, such as SIEM logs, commercial feeds, and industry sharing groups.
  • Evaluate the criteria used to validate the reliability and relevance of these sources to prevent data fatigue or false positives.
  • Verify that the organisation does not rely on a single point of failure by ensuring a diverse range of intelligence inputs.

3. Audit Asset Register Synchronisation

  • Examine the Asset Register to ensure all critical hardware and software assets are identified for threat monitoring.
  • Verify that threat intelligence is mapped against specific assets, allowing for prioritised risk mitigation based on asset value.
  • Check for documented dependencies between assets that could be affected by a single threat vector.

4. Examine IAM Roles and Access Permissions

  • Inspect the Identity and Access Management (IAM) configurations for the threat intelligence platform.
  • Verify that the principle of least privilege is applied: ensuring only authorised analysts can modify intelligence feeds or triage alerts.
  • Audit the joiner, mover, and leaver process to ensure access is revoked immediately when roles change or employment terminates.

5. Verify Rules of Engagement (ROE) and Legal Compliance

  • Review the Rules of Engagement (ROE) documents to ensure all intelligence collection activities are legal and ethical.
  • Confirm that data privacy requirements, such as GDPR or local legislation, are adhered to during the collection of external threat data.
  • Check for formal agreements with third-party intelligence providers that outline data ownership and confidentiality.

6. Analyse Threat Triage and Classification Procedures

  • Review the methodology for identifying and categorising Trends, Techniques, and Procedures (TTPs) used by threat actors.
  • Verify that a formal triage system is in place to prioritise threats based on their potential impact and likelihood.
  • Check for documented escalation paths for high-priority threats that require immediate executive or technical intervention.

7. Evaluate Incident Management and IoC Integration

  • Sample recent security incidents to confirm if threat intelligence was utilised effectively during the identification and containment phases.
  • Verify that Indicators of Compromise (IoCs): such as malicious IPs and file hashes, are integrated into active monitoring and blocking tools.
  • Confirm that the Incident Response Team has documented procedures for updating intelligence feeds following a successful mitigation.

8. Audit Technical Safeguards and MFA Implementation

  • Verify that Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is strictly enforced for all administrative access to threat intelligence systems.
  • Inspect the security configuration of the tools used to process intelligence, ensuring they are patched and hardened against attack.
  • Review vulnerability scan results for the infrastructure supporting the threat intelligence function.

9. Inspect Intelligence Reporting and Communication Channels

  • Review a sample of threat intelligence reports to ensure they are tailored to the appropriate audience: technical, operational, or strategic.
  • Verify that secure communication channels are used for distributing sensitive intelligence to prevent interception by threat actors.
  • Confirm that reporting frequencies meet the requirements defined in the initial objectives and policy.

10. Confirm Evidence of Continual Improvement and Review

  • Examine minutes from management review meetings where threat intelligence performance and the threat landscape were discussed.
  • Verify that Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are tracked, such as the speed of detection or the reduction in successful attacks.
  • Check for evidence that the threat intelligence process has been updated based on previous audit findings or changing organisational needs.

How to pass the audit

1. That you are gathering threat intelligence and analysing it

What this means is that you need to show that you have a list of sources of threat intelligence information, have records of collecting and show reports where you have shared and communicated it.

2. That you have taken action as a result of threat intelligence

The process may be straightforward. You may have updated a system, changed a configuration, introduced or removed a tool, had an incident that was managed via the incident management process. What ever the course of action you will have records of action taken and audit trails.

3. That threat intelligence forms part of risk management and operations

Your risk management process will factor in and evidence threat intelligence. Your risk register may take account of threat intelligence and emerging or realised risks.

Audit Checklist

RefAudit CheckpointEvidence & Technical ExamplesGRC Platform Verification
1Policy AlignmentReview the Threat Intelligence Policy for strategic, operational, and tactical definitions.Documented policy linked to Annex A 5.7 control in the ISO 27001 Toolkit.
2Source ValidationInspect the list of internal/external feeds (e.g., MISP, commercial CTI) for relevance and reliability.Asset/Source register updated with validation dates.
3Analysis MethodologyExamine evidence of TTP (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures) analysis performed on raw data.Risk assessment logs showing threat actor profiling.
4Actionable OutputSample recent intelligence reports and verify they reached the intended internal stakeholders.Distribution lists and communication logs within the GRC tool.
5Technical IntegrationVerify Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) are automatically or manually ingested into SIEM/Firewalls.Change management tickets for firewall/WAF rule updates.
6IAM & RBACAudit access permissions for the threat intelligence platform to ensure the principle of least privilege.User access review logs mapped to intelligence roles.
7Incident Response LinkConfirm that threat intelligence was utilised in at least one recent security incident triage.Incident reports citing specific intelligence feeds.
8Legal & RegulatoryCheck Rules of Engagement (ROE) for intelligence gathering to ensure GDPR/legal compliance.Legal review sign-off stored in the compliance folder.
9Vulnerability MappingCross-reference intelligence on “exploited-in-the-wild” vulnerabilities with the patch management schedule.Vulnerability register showing prioritisation based on CTI.
10Continuous ReviewVerify that the threat landscape is reviewed at least annually by senior management.Management Review Meeting (MRM) minutes with CTI agenda item.

Top 3 Mistakes Implementing Threat Intelligence

  • 1. You are not collecting or using threat intelligence: This is a new control so one that is easy to overlook. Make sure to follow the control requirements and be able to evidence its operation.
  • 2. You rely only on internal threat intelligence: Internal threat intelligence is easy to collect but does not provide for the wider picture. Be sure to include external sources of threat intelligence data.
  • 3. Your document and version control is wrong: Keeping your document version control up to date, making sure that version numbers match where used, having a review evidenced in the last 12 months, having documents that have no comments in are all good practices.

Threat Actor Terms Explained

To produce meaningful intelligence, you must categorise threats based on their origin and motive. An auditor will look for evidence that you distinguish between a generic automated botnet and a targeted campaign against your industry vertical.

Actor CategoryPrimary MotiveTechnical Focus
Nation-State (APT)Espionage & IP Theft.Long-term persistence, custom malware, and zero-day exploits.
Cybercrime SyndicatesFinancial Gain.Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), credential harvesting, and BEC.
HacktivistsIdeology & Disruption.DDoS attacks, web defacement, and data leaking.
Insider ThreatsSabotage or Profit.Data exfiltration using legitimate credentials (Internal Intel).
Standard / LawRelevant Section / RequirementMapping Context & Implementation Detail
NIST CSF 2.0ID.RA-02, ID.RA-03, DE.AE-02Directly maps to the “Threat and Vulnerability” sub-categories. NIST requires using threat intelligence to identify potential targets and anticipate attacker TTPs.
SOC2 (Trust Services)CC3.2, CC7.1, CC7.2The “Points of Focus” for Risk Assessment and System Monitoring require the identification of threats. Evidence of external threat feeds supports the “Detection” criteria.
NIS2 (EU)Article 21(2)(e) & (f)Mandates supply chain security and “vulnerability handling”. Threat intelligence is essential for the proactive reporting requirements under the directive.
UK Cyber Security & Resilience BillManaged Service Provider (MSP) ReportingThe UK’s evolution of NIS2. Requires MSPs to use intelligence to monitor for systemic risks that could impact the UK’s critical infrastructure.
DORA (EU)Articles 7, 13, and 17Financial entities must maintain “detection and response” capabilities. Threat intelligence is a core component of ICT risk management and TLPT (Threat-Led Penetration Testing).
GDPR / UK Data (Use and Access) Act 2025Article 32 (Security of Processing)Requires “appropriate technical and organisational measures”. CTI provides the “state of the art” context needed to justify security choices to the ICO or EDPB.
EU AI Act & AI StandardsArticle 15 (Cybersecurity)High-risk AI systems must be resilient against “adversarial examples” and “data poisoning”. Threat intelligence must specifically monitor for AI-specific attack vectors.
CIRCIA (USA)72-Hour Reporting MandateRequires critical infrastructure to report incidents. Threat intelligence feeds are the primary mechanism used to determine if an anomaly constitutes a reportable “significant incident”.
HIPAA (USA)§ 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(A)The Security Rule requires Risk Analysis. Threat intelligence identifies the “threats to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability” of ePHI.
CCPA / CPRA (California)Section 1798.100Requires “reasonable security procedures”. Failure to ingest threat data regarding known credential stuffing or data exfiltration techniques may be deemed “unreasonable”.
EU Product Liability Directive (PLD)Cybersecurity Flaw LiabilitySoftware providers are strictly liable for flaws. Using threat intelligence proves “due diligence” in identifying and patching vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
ECCF (European Cybersecurity Cert)Harmonised Security LabelsHigh-assurance labels require products to be tested against current threat landscapes, necessitating a robust Annex A 5.7 process.

Applicability across different business models

Business TypeApplicability & InterpretationExamples of Control
Small Businesses

Vendor-Led Intelligence. You don’t need a SOC. Your “Threat Intel” is simply listening to your vendors (Microsoft, Apple, Xero) when they tell you to patch. Ignorance is no longer an excuse.

Newsletter Subscription: Subscribing to a basic alert feed like the NCSC (UK) or CISA (US) for “Critical” warnings only. • Vendor Notifications: Enabling “Security Alerts” from your primary SaaS providers (e.g., Google Workspace Admin alerts) to know if your industry is being targeted.

Tech Startups

Dependency Scanning. Your biggest threat is likely a vulnerability in an open-source library you use. “Tactical” intelligence means knowing which npm package just got hacked.

Automated Feeds: Using tools like GitHub Dependabot or Snyk to pull real-time CVE data directly into your Pull Requests. • Stack-Specific News: Monitoring sources specific to your framework (e.g., “Ruby on Rails Security Mailing List”) rather than generic cyber news.

AI Companies

Adversarial AI Intel. Standard firewalls don’t catch “Prompt Injection” attacks. You need intelligence on how attackers are manipulating models similar to yours.

MITRE ATLAS: Monitoring the “Adversarial Threat Landscape for Artificial-Intelligence Systems” (ATLAS) for new attack vectors. • Arxiv Monitoring: Assigning a researcher to review new papers on “Model Poisoning” or “Extraction Attacks” to update your defensive system prompts.

FAQ

What is the difference between threat intelligence and vulnerability management?

The primary difference is that vulnerability management (Annex A 8.8) focuses on internal weaknesses, while threat intelligence (Annex A 5.7) focuses on external threats.
Threat Intelligence identifies who might attack and how they operate.
Vulnerability Management identifies the holes in your systems that could be exploited.
The two controls work together: TI helps prioritise which vulnerabilities to patch first.
TI is proactive (looking outward), whereas VM is often preventative (looking inward).

Briefing Slides

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Info Graphic
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Info Graphic
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence Info Graphic
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence Info Graphic

Further Reading

ISO 27001 Controls and Attribute Values

Control typeInformation security propertiesCybersecurity conceptsOperational capabilitiesSecurity domains
PreventiveConfidentialityIdentifyThreat and vulnerability managementDefence
CorrectiveIntegrityDetectResilience
DetectiveAvailabilityRespond

About the author

Stuart Barker
🎓 MSc Security 🛡️ Lead Auditor 30+ Years Exp 🏢 Ex-GE Leader

Stuart Barker

ISO 27001 Ninja

Stuart Barker is a veteran practitioner with over 30 years of experience in systems security and risk management. Holding an MSc in Software and Systems Security, he combines academic rigor with extensive operational experience, including a decade leading Data Governance for General Electric (GE).

As a qualified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, Stuart possesses distinct insight into the specific evidence standards required by certification bodies. His toolkits represent an auditor-verified methodology designed to minimise operational friction while guaranteeing compliance.

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat intelligence
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