Introduction
In this article I lay bare ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 Understanding The Needs And Expectations Of Interested Parties.
Using over two decades of experience on hundreds of ISO 27001 audits and ISO 27001 certifications I am going to show you what’s new, give you templates, show you examples and do a walkthrough.
In this ISO 27001 certification guide I show you exactly what changed in the ISO 27001:2022 update.
I am Stuart Barker the ISO 27001 Ninja and this is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2
Table of contents
- Introduction
- What is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties?
- What is the requirement of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2?
- What are the ISO 27001:2022 Changes to Clause 4.2?
- What does the standard say about ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2?
- How to identify interested parties
- How to identify interested parties requirements
- ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 Interested Parties Example
- ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 Template
- ISO 27001 Context of Organisation Template
- Fully Populated
- ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 FAQ
- How to comply with ISO 27001 clause 4.2
What is ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties?
ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2 is an ISO 27001 standard requirement. Certifying to ISO 27001 or Implementing ISO 27001 means you are going to have to satisfy this ISO 27001 clause.
What is the requirement of ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2?
The ISO 27001 clause 4.2 forms, as you would expect, part of ISO 27001 Clause 4 Context of Organisation. In clause 4.1 we looked at understanding the organisation and its context which broke down into identifying internal and external issues. Here we are going to look at the needs and the expectations of interested parties. Specifically we are looking at people that might have an interest in the effectiveness of the information security management and what their actual requirements are.
This is another quick win as the same interested parties come up time and time again and their requirements rarely change, irrespective of the business you are in. That is why we were able to pre populate our Context of Organisation Template leaving little if any work to do other than review it.
What are the ISO 27001:2022 Changes to Clause 4.2?
There is no real change to ISO 27001 clause 4.2 for the 2022 update. It has clarified that you will now determine which of the identified requirements will be addressed through the information security management system rather than implying it.
What does the standard say about ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2?
ISO 27001:2022 defines clause 4.2 as:
The organisation shall determine:
a) interested parties that are relevant to the information security management system
ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2 Understanding The Needs And Expectations Of Interested Parties
b) the requirements of these interested parties
c) which of these requirements will be addressed through the information security management system.
How to identify interested parties
Interested parties is just another way of saying stakeholders. You could do a traditional stakeholder analysis. This depends really on if you are wanting to do it right or just pass the ISO 27001 certification. You really don’t have to over think it. Just think about who might have an interest in your information security management system actually working and doing its intended job. Ask around, ask colleagues, ask management. You can download our Context of Organisation Template or or you can copy our list below.
How to identify interested parties requirements
Once you have identified them, you can try asking them. As noted these come up time and time again though and are pretty standard. If you don’t want to go to the effort of asking you can download our Context of Organisation Template or copy our list below and just verify it.
ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 Interested Parties Example
| Interested Party | Requirements Relevant to ISMS |
|---|---|
| Executive Board | • Legal and Regulatory Compliance • Avoidance of data breach • Avoidance of fines • Commercial advantage for tender and sales • To protect the company reputation |
| Shareholders | • Legal and Regulatory Compliance • Avoidance of data breach • Avoidance of fines • Commercial advantage for tender and sales • To protect the company reputation |
| Employees | • Legal and Regulatory Compliance • To understand, implement and follow the governance framework. • To be trained in the information security management system • To have appropriate and adequate protection of employee and customer data • To be able to conduct their role without undue bureaucracy. • To work in a safe environment |
| Information Commissioner’s Office and Regulators | • Legal and Regulatory Compliance |
| Law Enforcement Agencies | • Legal and Regulatory Compliance • Timely co-operation on investigations |
| Customers | • Legal and Regulatory Compliance • Products and services fit for purpose. • Avoidance of data breach |
| Insurers | • Legal and Regulatory Compliance • Current applicable contracts for products and services. • Current applicable contracts covering an understanding of any information security requirements. |
| Local Residents | • No negative or adverse impact from physical and environmental security |
ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 Template
The ISO 27001 Context Of Organisation template fully satisfies the requirements of ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 and is pre written with common examples to fast track your implementation. It quickly and effectively satisfies the needs of the clause.
ISO 27001 Context of Organisation Template
Fully Populated
Part of the ISO 27001 Templates Toolkit but also available to download individually.
Do it yourself
SAVE over £10,000
ISO 27001 Clause 4.2 FAQ
Interested parties are people or entities that have an interest in how your informations security management system is built and operates. Their interests will shape how you build your management system, how you operate it and how you report on it. Examples of interested parties could include the Information Commissioner or equivalent who has an expectation that you are protecting personal information. Customer and clients may have an interest and very specific requirements on what they expect of you for information security. Internally the business owners and senior management may be interested in ensuring that the management system is efficient and does not harm profitability.
Examples of ISO 27001 interested parties requirements would include ensuring the information security management system is operating effectively and protecting the organisation from cyber attack and legal and regulatory breach. Specific customer examples may include how you store, process or transmit their specific information and the controls that you have in place around it. Commercial requirements will come from the organisation owners and senior management teams.
Yes. They should be documented, approved and minuted at a management review team meeting. As part of continual improvement this list will be reviewed and updated at least annually or as significant change occurs. Significant change usually means a new client requirement in the course of business.
How to comply with ISO 27001 clause 4.2
How to comply with ISO 27001 clause 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties
- Identify ISO 27001 Interested Parties
Identify and record those people and entities that have an interest in the information security management. Consider using a traditional stakeholder analysis. You can brainstorm amongst company peers, including senior management and business owners the list of interested parties. Examples and a standard list are provided pre written and pre populated in the Context of Organisation template.
- Identify the ISO 27001 interested parties requirements
The requirements of the ISO 27001 interested can be found in legal contracts, the law of the land, by asking peers in the organisation including senior management and business owners. Examples and a standard list are provided pre written and pre populated in the Context of Organisation template.
- Document both the ISO 27001 interested parties and their requirements
Formally document the list of ISO 27001 interested parties and their requirements.
- Approve and sign off the list of ISO 27001 interested parties and their requirements
Share the documented list of interested parties and their requirements formally at the management review team meeting. Get acceptance from the group and record in the minutes of the meeting that this was reviewed and accepted.
ISO 27001:2022 Certification Requirements
What’s new, ISO 27001 templates, examples and walkthrough for each ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Clause.
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.1 Understanding The Organisation And Its Context
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.2 Understanding The Needs And Expectations Of Interested Parties
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.3 Determining The Scope Of The Information Security Management System
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 4.4 Information Security Management System (ISMS)
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 5.1 Leadership And Commitment
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 5.2 Information Security Policy
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 5.3 Organisational Roles, Responsibilities And Authorities
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 6 Planning
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 6.1.1 Planning General
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 6.1.2 Information Security Risk Assessment
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 6.1.3 Information Security Risk Treatment
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 6.2 Information Security Objectives And Planning To Achieve Them
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 7.1 Resources
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 7.2 Competence
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 7.3 Awareness
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 7.4 Communication
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 7.5.1 Documented Information
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 7.5.2 Creating And Updating Documented Information
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 7.5.3 Control Of Documented Information
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 8.1 Operational Planning And Control
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 8.2 Information Security Risk Assessment
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 8.3 Information Security Risk Treatment
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 9.1 Monitoring, Measurement, Analysis, Evaluation
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 9.2 Internal Audit
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 9.3 Management Reviews
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 10.1 Continual Improvement
- ISO 27001:2022 Clause 10.2 Non Conformity and Corrective Action
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