ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence
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 . It is one of the ISO 27001 Annex A controls.
Key Takeaways
- Sources of threat intelligence information are readily available and many are free
- Management of threats is done by risk management
- You can do it yourself with How To Create an ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence Process and Report
Table of Contents
- ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence
- Key Takeaways
- What is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7?
- ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Mind Map
- ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Video Tutorial
- ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Podcast
- Why is ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence important?
- The 3 layers of threat intelligence
- How to implement ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7
- Selecting Threat Intelligence Sources: Internal vs. External
- The threat intelligence reporting process
- The contents of the threat intelligence report
- How to create a threat intelligence process and report in under 10 minutes
- Fast-Track Your Annex A 5.7 Implementation with Ready-Made Templates
- How to comply
- How to pass the audit of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7
- Top 3 Mistakes Implementing Threat Intelligence
- Summary: Your ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Implementation Roadmap
- ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 FAQ
- Related ISO 27001 Controls
- ISO 27001 Controls and Attribute Values
What is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7?
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.
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.
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 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.
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 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
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Mind Map
Navigating the requirements of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 goes beyond simply installing antivirus software; it requires a holistic approach that links policy, technical controls, and human behaviour. To help you visualise the complete compliance landscape, the mind map below breaks down the control into six actionable pillars, ranging from the initial control context and definition to the ongoing audit process.
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Video Tutorial
In the video ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence Explained show you how to implement it and how to pass the audit. In this video, we cover:
- A walkthrough of the reporting template.
- The definition of Threat Intelligence for ISO 27001.
- How to distinguish between Internal and External sources.
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Podcast
Listen to the ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence Deep Dive Podcast for the consultants blue print to implementing ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7.
Why is ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence 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.
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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
| Layer | Audience | Focus | ISO 27001 Use Case |
| Strategic | Board / C-Suite | Long-term trends & Risk | Informing the ISMS Scope & Budget |
| Tactical | IT Managers | TTPs (Attack Methods) | Tuning Firewall rules & patching priorities |
| Operational | Tech / Software | IOCs (Specific Data) | Blocking bad IPs & antivirus updates |
How to implement ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7
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
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.
Selecting Threat Intelligence Sources: Internal vs. External
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
The controls and processes that you operate will provide valuable threat intelligence information that you will identify through trend analysis and incident management. The examples include:
- Anti-Virus and Malware Protection Reports
- Information Security Incident Reports
- Phishing Reports
- Internal Audit Reports
- Helpdesk Tickets
- Log Files
External Sources of Threat Intelligence
External sources of threat intelligence are readily available from vendors and government websites. The following are examples:
- UK National Cyber Security Centre
- CISA.gov – Official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
- SANS™ Internet Storm Center
- Vendor feeds
- Government alerts
- News sites
Comparing Threat Intelligence Sources
To build an effective threat intelligence capability, you cannot rely on a single source of information. ISO 27001 requires you to select a balanced mix of sources that cover both internal reality (what is happening to you now) and external risks (what is happening to others).
Relying solely on one type leaves blind spots. For example, external feeds might warn you of a new ransomware strain, but only internal logs will tell you if it has already breached your firewall. Use the comparison table below to determine which source types are relevant for your organization.
| Source Type | Examples | Best For |
| Strategic (External) | CISA Alerts, ENISA Reports | High-level risk planning |
| Tactical (External) | Vendor Feeds (CrowdStrike, etc.) | Blocking specific attacks |
| Internal | Firewall Logs, SIEM Alerts | Detecting active breaches |
| Community | ISACs, Industry Forums | Peer-to-peer warning |
The threat intelligence reporting process
When you collect the threat intelligence information you are going to report on it so you can act on it. The process for threat intelligence reporting, based on practical real world experience would be:
- 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
The Threat Intelligence Report gives a high-level threat snapshot summary. When creating the threat intelligence report it would include:
- 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.
For each threat in the summary table a more detailed report is provided that includes recommendations on next steps, whether it is added to the risk register and if so a risk reference.
How to create a threat intelligence process and report in under 10 minutes
In this video tutorial I show you How to create a Threat Intelligence Process in Under 10 Minutes
If you are wanting to do this yourself I show you How To Create an ISO 27001 Threat Intelligence Process and Report in this step-by-step implementation guide.
Fast-Track Your Annex A 5.7 Implementation with Ready-Made Templates
Because Threat Intelligence is a relatively new requirement in the ISO 27001:2022 standard, many organizations struggle to demonstrate exactly how they are meeting it. It is not enough to just read news about cyber threats; you must prove to an auditor that you have a structured process for collecting, analyzing, and acting on that data.
The ISO 27001 Toolkit eliminates the guesswork. It provides you with a fully compliant framework that turns abstract “intelligence” into concrete audit evidence.
How the Toolkit helps you meet Annex A 5.7:
- Threat Intelligence Policy: A pre-written policy that defines your strategic, tactical, and operational intelligence goals, ready for you to customize in minutes.
- The “Reporting Process” in a Box: Don’t waste time designing workflows. The toolkit includes a documented Threat Intelligence Procedure that aligns with the ISO lifecycle.
- Audit-Ready Evidence: Use the included Threat Intelligence Report Template to document your monthly or quarterly review of threats. This single document is often the “silver bullet” evidence auditors look for to prove this control is active.
Stop worrying about how to format your intelligence reports. Download the toolkit, fill in the blanks, and present your evidence with confidence.
How to comply
To comply with ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 you are going to implement the ‘how’ to the ‘what’ the control is expecting. In short measure you are going to:
- 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 pass the audit of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7
To pass an audit of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence you are going to make sure that you have followed the steps above in how to comply.
What will an auditor check?
The audit is going to check a number of areas. Lets go through the main ones
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.
Top 3 Mistakes Implementing Threat Intelligence
In my experience, the top 3 Mistakes People Make For ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Threat Intelligence are
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.
Summary: Your ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 Implementation Roadmap
Implementing threat intelligence is a continuous cycle of detection and response. Use the infographic below as a quick-reference guide or “Cheat Sheet” to ensure you have covered all the essential layers of threat intelligence required for your audit.
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.7 FAQ
No, paid software is not mandatory. The standard requires you to gather and analyse threat information, but it does not dictate how you spend money. For many organizations, especially SMEs, a combination of free external sources (like CISA alerts, vendor newsletters, and NCSC reports) and internal sources (firewall logs, help desk tickets) is sufficient to pass the audit, provided the process is documented and effective.
Threat Intelligence identifies potential attackers; Vulnerability Management identifies your weaknesses.
Annex A 5.7 (Threat Intel): Tells you who is attacking and how (e.g., “Hackers are targeting VPNs with Ransomware X”).
Annex A 8.8 (Vulnerabilities): Tells you if your door is unlocked (e.g., “Our VPN software is out of date”).
The Link: You use Threat Intelligence to decide which Vulnerabilities to fix first.
The responsibility is typically shared between the CISO/IT Manager and the Risk Owner.
IT/Security Team: Responsible for the Tactical/Operational work—collecting the data, monitoring feeds, and blocking IP addresses.
Senior Management: Responsible for the Strategic work—reviewing high-level threat trends during Management Reviews to decide on security budgets and resources.
Auditors want to see a “Chain of Action.” They rarely just want a list of feeds. You should be prepared to show:
A List of Sources: Documented internal and external sources you monitor.
Analysis Records: Minutes from a security meeting or a monthly report summarizing recent threats.
Action Taken: Evidence that you did something with the intel (e.g., “We saw a warning about Adobe Acrobat, so we patched all laptops immediately”).
It depends on the “layer” of intelligence.
Operational Intel (e.g., malicious IPs): Should be automated or reviewed daily/weekly by IT staff to update firewalls.
Strategic Intel (e.g., industry trends): Should be reviewed quarterly or annually as part of the Management Review or Risk Assessment refresh.
Tip: Define these frequencies in your policy to avoid being audited against an impossible standard.
Yes, but the scale is different. A small business is not expected to have a dedicated Threat Intelligence team. For a small company, “Threat Intelligence” might simply mean subscribing to the software vendor’s release notes and a single industry newsletter, and discussing relevant alerts during the monthly IT meeting. The key is relevance, don’t collect data you can’t use.
ISO 27001 requires a mix of both.
External Sources: Information from outside your walls. Examples include government advisories (CISA, NCSC), vendor security blogs, news sites, and information sharing forums (ISACs).
Internal Sources: Data generated by your own systems. Examples include firewall logs, antivirus alerts, help desk tickets (“I received a weird email”), and results from previous penetration tests.
Yes threat intelligence is a new ISO 27001 control introduced in the October 2022 update to ISO 27001:2022.
Threat intelligence was added as an ISO 27001 control in 2022.
ISO 27002 clause 5.7 covers threat intelligence.
Related ISO 27001 Controls
ISO 27001 Annex A 7.5 Protecting Against Physical and Environmental Threats
ISO 27001 Annex A 8.15 Logging
ISO 27001 Clause 9.1 Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis, Evaluation
ISO 27001 Controls and Attribute Values
| Control type | Information security properties | Cybersecurity concepts | Operational capabilities | Security domains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preventive | Confidentiality | Identify | Threat and vulnerability management | Defence |
| Corrective | Integrity | Detect | Resilience | |
| Detective | Availability | Respond |
About the author
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, Stuart combines academic rigor with extensive operational experience. His background includes over a decade leading Data Governance for General Electric (GE) across Europe, as well as founding and exiting a successful cyber security consultancy.
As a qualified ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and Lead Implementer, Stuart possesses distinct insight into the specific evidence standards required by certification bodies. He has successfully guided hundreds of organizations – from high-growth technology startups to enterprise financial institutions – through the audit lifecycle.
His toolkits represents the distillation of that field experience into a standardised framework. They move beyond theoretical compliance, providing a pragmatic, auditor-verified methodology designed to satisfy ISO/IEC 27001:2022 while minimising operational friction.