In this ultimate how to audit guide to ISO 27001 Annex A 5.27 Learning From Information Security, you will learn directly from an ISO 27001 Lead Auditor:
- 10 Key Audit Steps
- Verification Criteria
- Required Evidence
- The Pass / Fail Test
I am Stuart Barker, the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and author of the Ultimate ISO 27001 Toolkit.
Using over 30 years of industry experience across hundreds of audits, I’m giving you the exact templates, walkthroughs, and practical examples you need to achieve ISO 27001 certification.
Table of contents
- 1. Post-Incident Review (PIR) Methodology Formalised
- 2. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Execution Verified
- 3. Corrective Action Tracking Integrity Confirmed
- 4. Cross-Incident Trend Analysis Records Identified
- 5. Knowledge Sharing and Awareness Integration Verified
- 6. ISMS Policy and Procedure Revision Confirmed
- 7. Management Review of Incident Learning Validated
- 8. Internal Knowledge Base Population Confirmed
- 9. Incident Response Playbook Updating Verified
- 10. Resource Adequacy Post-Incident Review Confirmed
Auditing ISO 27001 Annex A 5.27 Learning from Information Security Incidents verifies the organization’s ability to turn negative events into positive structural improvements. This process validates the Primary Implementation Requirement of conducting systematic root cause analysis and implementing corrective actions to prevent recurrence. The Business Benefit drives continuous improvement of the ISMS, reducing the likelihood and impact of future security breaches.
1. Post-Incident Review (PIR) Methodology Formalised
Verification Criteria: A documented procedure defines the requirement for a formal review following any significant security incident, specifying participants and reporting formats.
Required Evidence: Approved Incident Management Policy or a dedicated Post-Incident Review Procedure.
Pass/Fail Test: If the organisation cannot produce a documented requirement to conduct a PIR for “Major” incidents, mark as Non-Compliant.
2. Root Cause Analysis (RCA) Execution Verified
Verification Criteria: Closed incident records demonstrate that a technical or organisational root cause was identified, moving beyond immediate symptoms.
Required Evidence: Sample of three Post-Incident Review reports showing “Root Cause” findings (e.g., 5 Whys, Fishbone diagram).
Pass/Fail Test: If incident tickets are closed with only “Resolved” status without a recorded root cause, mark as Non-Compliant.
3. Corrective Action Tracking Integrity Confirmed
Verification Criteria: Identified improvements from incident reviews are assigned to owners with specific deadlines and tracked to completion.
Required Evidence: CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Action) log or a Jira/ServiceNow board showing PIR-linked tasks.
Pass/Fail Test: If corrective actions from the last six months remain “In Progress” without an authorised extension or justification, mark as Non-Compliant.
