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ISO 27001 Independent Review Of Information Security: Your Complete FAQ Guide

ISO 27001 Independent Review Of Information Security FAQ

What is it?

Think of an ISO 27001 Independent Review as a check-up for your company’s information security. It’s a key part of the ISO 27001 standard. Basically, you get an impartial expert to look at your security setup to make sure it’s working properly and meeting all the rules. It helps you find any weak spots before they become a real problem.

Table of contents

Applicability to Small Businesses, Tech Startups, and AI Companies

Independent Review Of Information Security is useful for businesses of all sizes, including small businesses, tech startups, and AI companies.

  • For Small Businesses: It proves you take customer data seriously, which can help you win bigger clients. It also gives you a clear plan for protecting your business from online threats.
  • For Tech Startups: When you’re growing fast, it’s easy to forget about security. This review keeps you on track. It’s also a great way to show investors and partners that you’re building a trustworthy company from the ground up.
  • For AI Companies: Your whole business relies on data—often very sensitive data. An independent review ensures you’re handling all that information securely and responsibly. This is super important for building trust in a field where data ethics are a big deal.

Are There Templates for This Review?

Yes, you can find templates, but it’s important to remember that they’re just a starting point. Your review needs to be personal to your company. A good template will give you the structure you need, like a checklist of things to look at, but you’ll have to fill it in with details specific to your business and its unique risks.

ISO 27001 Gap Analysis and Audit Toolkit

Why Do You Need This Review?

You need it for a few simple reasons:

  • To Check Your Work: It’s a way to double-check that your security system is working as intended.
  • To Stay Compliant: ISO 27001 requires it. If you want to keep your certification, you must do this.
  • To Find Problems: An independent eye can spot issues you might have missed.
  • To Show You’re Serious: It proves to customers, partners, and regulators that you’re committed to protecting information.

When Do You Need It?

You need to do this review at planned intervals. Most companies do it at least once a year. It’s a good idea to do it anytime something major changes in your business, like when you start a new project, hire a lot of new people, or move to a new office.

Who Is This Review For?

The person who performs the review must be independent. This means they can’t be someone who built or manages the security system. It can be someone from inside your company who isn’t on the security team, or it can be a qualified outside consultant.

How Do You Do This Review?

You don’t need a fancy process. Start by writing down what you’ll check and when you’ll do it. Then, the reviewer should:

  1. Look at your security rules and procedures.
  2. Talk to the people on your team to see if they follow the rules.
  3. Check if your security system is doing what it’s supposed to do.
  4. Write a report on what they found.

Learn more in the step-by-step guide How to do an ISO 27001 Internal Audit

How Does the ISO 27001 Toolkit Help?

The ISO 27001 toolkit is a lifesaver. It includes templates, checklists, and guides that make the whole process easier. Think of it as a set of tools that help you build your security system and get ready for the review. It can save you a lot of time and hassle.

ISO 27001-2022 Implementation Suite

ISO 27001:2022 Implementation Suite

Accelerate certification with the auditor-verified documentation framework.

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Which information security standards need this review?

ISO 27001 is the big one here. It’s the standard that requires this review. It is also applicable to:

  • GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
  • CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)
  • DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act)
  • NIS2 (Network and Information Security (NIS) Directive) 
  • SOC 2 (Service Organisation Control 2)
  • NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) 
  • HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

What are the relevant ISO 27001:2022 controls?

The main ISO 27001 control requirement is ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.35 Independent Review Of Information Security.

Here are some of the key controls from the ISO 27001:2022 Annex A that are especially important for different types of businesses:

For Small Businesses

For Small Businesses: You’ll want to focus on the basics, like 

These help you get a solid security foundation.

For Tech Startups

For Tech Startups: Since you’re often building products, you’ll care about 

For AI Companies

For AI Companies: Your focus is on data. So, controls like

ISO 27001 Independent Review Of Information Security FAQ

What’s the difference between an internal audit and an independent review? 

An internal audit is the main review process. The “independent” part just means the person doing it is unbiased.

Can I do the review myself?

No, it has to be done by someone who wasn’t directly involved in setting up the security system.

How often should I do a review?

At least once a year, or whenever something significant changes.

Do I have to hire a consultant?

No, you can use someone from inside your company as long as they are independent of the security team.

What if the review finds problems?

That’s okay! The point is to find problems so you can fix them. You’ll need to create a plan to address what you found.

Is this the same as an external audit? 

No, an external audit is done by a third-party organization (like a certification body) to get your ISO 27001 certificate. This review is one of the things you do to prepare for that.

What should the review report include?

It should explain what was reviewed, what was found (good and bad), and what needs to be fixed.

Is this review mandatory?

Yes, if you want to be ISO 27001 certified.

How long does a review take?

It depends on the size of your company, but it can be as quick as a few days.

What if my business is tiny? 

The review can be scaled down to fit your size. The key is to make it relevant to your risks.

Do I need to review every single security control?

No, you can focus on the controls that are most important for your business.

Can software help with this?

Yes, there are tools and platforms that can help you manage the process and keep track of your security efforts.

Is the review just a checklist?

It’s more than that. It should also involve talking to people and understanding how things really work day-to-day.

What’s the best way to get started? 

Get a good template or toolkit to guide you, and then decide who will do the review.

What’s the main goal of the review? 

To make sure your information security management system is effective and continues to protect your important information.