Introduction
You want to lean how to write an ISO 27001 Scope Statement? You are unsure about how to go about it, where to start, what to include and how to write it?
In this guide, you will learn what an ISO 27001 Scope Statement is, how to write it yourself and I give you a template you can download and use right away.
Table of contents
What is an ISO 27001 Scope Statement?
The ISO 27001 Scope statement is the statement that will appear on your ISO 27001 certificate. It is the public document that you share with customers and potential customers. They will use this information to assess if the ISO 27001 certificate covers what they are buying from you and therefore if they can place reliance on it for their needs.
The scope statement shows which parts of your business are certified and it shows them that you are doing the right thing for information security.
If the ISO 27001 scope statement does not cover the products or services that they are buying from you then they cannot place reliance on it and it will not be valid for them.
Consider an extreme example where your ISO 27001 scope statement covers the company stationary cupboard (I know, I know, it is an example) and the customer is buying an online SAAS Platform from you. Does the fact that you have ISO 27001 certification for your stationary cupboard give them assurances that the online SAAS Platform is secure and managed to the standard of ISO 27001?
If you are struggling with this one, let me help you, the answer is no.
What is ISO 27001 Scope?
ISO 27001 scope is the scope of the information security management system.
We are going to build an information security management system with the information security policies and apply it to something to get ISO 27001 certified.
The ‘something’ that we are going to apply it to is the scope.
We document the scope in an ISO 27001 Scope Statement.
ISO 27001 Scope Examples
When considering the what of ISO 27001 scope we can look at examples where we might want to apply the standard and gain ISO 27001 certification.
Common examples include
- A product
- A service
- A location
- A geography
- A team
- A department
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How to write an ISO 27001 Scope Statement
The scope for ISO 27001 is going to be based on two things:
- the products and services you offer
- which of those products and services your customers expect to be certified
Time needed: 1 hour
How to write and ISO 27001 Scope Statement
- List your products and services
Create list of all of your products and services. Use the names that your customers use and know them by.
- Choose the products and services that need ISO 27001 certification
Using the list of products and services that you have created look at what your customers are asking to be certified.
Customer Feedback: We start by reviewing the products and services we offer, then see what questions our customers have. This helps us identify that scope that is most relevant to their needs.
Contract Review: Existing customer contracts can reveal specific certification scope required to do business with them.
Sales Team Insights: Talking to your sales team provides valuable feedback on what certification scope customers are asking about.
Since resources (time, money, and personnel) are limited, it’s crucial to focus certification efforts. The chosen scope might involve extensive paperwork, so including only what’s truly necessary minimises workload and cost. - Identify the people, technology and premises that make up the chosen products and services.
List out the departments in the company, the technologies and the locations that make up the products and / or services that you want to have and ISO 27001 certification.
- Write the ISO 27001 scope statement
Write a clear statement that states the products and / or services and then clearly sets out the people, technology and locations that are in scope for the ISO 27001 certification.
- Document what is in scope and what is out of scope
Clearly define your ISO 27001 scope for better management. When outlining your scope, be specific . Include both what’s included (in scope) and excluded (out of scope) in a dedicated Scope Document. This document goes beyond the brief scope statement and serves as a valuable internal resource.
To further clarify your scope boundaries, consider including details on:
Systems in use
People involved
Locations covered
Departments encompassed
A comprehensive Scope Document with visuals like architecture diagrams, technical documents, and network maps will greatly enhance clarity.
ISO 27001 Scope Statement Examples
ISO 27001 Scope Statement Example 1: High Table Scope Statement
The following is taken directly from our very own ISO 27001 scope statement:
Information security consultancy and virtual chief information security officer services in accordance with the statement of applicability version 2
High Table ISO 27001 Scope Statement
ISO 27001 Scope Statement Example 2: General Scope Statement
The scope encompasses all employees, locations, technology, data assets and business processes that deliver [List the products and services in scope] in accordance with the statement of applicability version [version number].
General ISO 27001 Scope Statement
A great ISO 27001 scope example is provided in the ISO 27001 Scope Document template and can be readily reused and adapted for your needs.
ISO 27001 Scope Statement Template
Doing so many ISO 27001 certifications over the years led to the creation of the ISO 27001 Scope Document Template that people can use as part of their own ISO 27001 certification.
Watch the Video
To watch a video of how to implement ISO 27001 scope and write an ISO 27001 scope statement watch the tutorial – Determining the Scope of the Information Security Management System.