ISO 27002 Policies for Information Security – Control 5.1

Home / ISO 27002 Explained / ISO 27002 Policies for Information Security – Control 5.1

ISO 27002 Policies for Information Security

Control 5.1 within the ISO 27001 framework mandates the establishment of a comprehensive information security policy. This policy, approved by senior management, outlines an organisation’s approach to safeguarding sensitive data. It includes both high-level and low-level guidelines, ensuring that all employees understand their responsibilities in maintaining data confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Regular policy reviews, stakeholder communication, and a formal change management process are crucial for maintaining the effectiveness of this critical element of an organisation’s information security management system.

What is ISO 27002:2022 Control 5.1?

ISO 27002 Control 5.1 Policies for Information Security provides implementation guidance on how to implement ISO 27001 Annex A 5.1.

Definition of ISO 27002 Control 5.1

ISO 27002 defines ISO 27002 Control 5.1 as – Information security policies, including general and topic-specific ones, must be defined, approved by management, published, communicated to all relevant parties, and regularly reviewed.

Purpose of ISO 27002 Control 5.1

This is a preventive control designed to ensure the ongoing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of management direction and support for information security, aligning with all applicable business, legal, statutory, regulatory, and contractual requirements.

Ownership of ISO 27002 Control 5.1

The Senior leadership team is responsible for developing, approving, and implementing appropriate information security policies.

Compliance Guidance

Organisations must have an “information security policy” approved by top management. This policy outlines the organisation’s approach to managing information security.

Policy Requirements

The policy should address:

  • Business needs: Align with business strategies and requirements.
  • Legal and contractual obligations: Comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and contracts.
  • Security risks: Consider current and potential threats to information security.

The policy should include statements on:

  • Defining information security: Clearly define what constitutes information security for the organisation.
  • Setting security objectives: Establish clear information security goals or a framework for setting them.
  • Guiding principles: Outline principles for all information security activities.
  • Compliance: Commit to meeting all applicable information security requirements.
  • Continuous improvement: Commit to ongoing improvement of the information security management system.
  • Responsibilities: Assign responsibility for information security management to specific roles.
  • Handling exceptions: Establish procedures for handling exceptions to security policies.

Top management must approve any changes to the main policy.

Topic Specific Policies

Topic-specific policies provide more detailed guidance on implementing specific security controls. These policies should align with and support the main information security policy.

Examples of topic-specific policies include:

  • Access control
  • Physical security
  • Asset management
  • Data transfer
  • Device security
  • Network security
  • Incident management
  • Data backup
  • Cryptography
  • Data classification
  • Vulnerability management
  • Secure development

Policy Review

Relevant personnel with the necessary authority and expertise should develop, review, and approve topic-specific policies.

Regular policy reviews are essential. These reviews should assess:

  • Changes to the organisation’s business strategy.
  • Changes in the organisation’s technology.
  • Updates to laws, regulations, and contracts.
  • Evolving security risks and threats.
  • Lessons learned from security incidents.

Management reviews and audits should inform policy review processes.

Policy Communication

Communication is key. Policies must be communicated to all relevant personnel and stakeholders in a clear, accessible, and understandable format. Recipients should acknowledge their understanding and agreement to comply.

The organisation can choose the format and names for these policy documents. Topic-specific policies can be called standards, directives, or other suitable names.

When distributing policies outside the organisation, care must be taken to protect confidential information

Supplementary Guidance on ISO 27002 Control 5.1

Topic-specific policies can vary across organisations.

Table 1: Information Security Policy vs. Topic-Specific Policies

Information security policyTopic-specific policy
Level of detailGeneral or high-levelSpecific and detailed
Documented and formally approved byTop managementAppropriate level of management

Changes and Differences to ISO 27002:2013

While the 2022 version of ISO 27002 retains many similarities to its predecessor, distinctions emerge:

Control 5.1 “Information Security Policies” in ISO 27002:2022 consolidates two controls (5.1.1 and 5.1.2) from the 2013 version. While the core principle remains the same – establishing and maintaining an information security policy – the 2022 version provides a more comprehensive and structured approach.

Key Enhancements in ISO 27002:2022:

  • Expanded Guidance: Control 5.1 now includes a detailed description of its purpose and expanded implementation guidance.
  • Attributes Table: The inclusion of an attributes table facilitates easier mapping of controls to industry-specific terminologies.
  • Enhanced Requirements: The policy requirements are more comprehensive, encompassing:
    • Clear definition of information security.
    • Establishment of information security objectives.
    • Commitment to continuous improvement of the ISMS.
  • Redefined Topic-Specific Policies: The scope of topic-specific policies has been revised, with a focus on key areas like incident management, asset management, and secure development.

Key Differences:

Consolidation of Controls: The 2013 controls for “Policies for Information Security” and “Review of Policies for Information Security” are merged into a single control in the 2022 version.

Emphasis on Regular Review: The 2022 version explicitly emphasises the need for regular policy reviews, particularly in response to changes in the information security environment.

Comprehensive Policy Requirements: The 2022 version includes more detailed requirements for the information security policy, such as a commitment to continual improvement.

Overall, Control 5.1 in ISO 27002:2022 provides a more robust and comprehensive framework for establishing and managing information security policies within an organisation.

ISO 27002 Control 5.1 FAQ

What is the difference between ISO 27001 Annex A 5.1 and ISO 27002 Control 5.1?

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.1 is the information security control requirement of the ISO 27001 standard for ISO 27001 certification. ISO 27002 Control 5.1 is the implementation guidance for the control.

Are Policies for Information Security required for ISO 27001 certification?

Yes, Policies for Information Security is a required information security control for ISO 27001 certification.

ISO 27002 Control 5.1 Attributes Table

Control typeInformation
security properties
Cybersecurity
concepts
Operational
capabilities
Security domains
PreventiveConfidentialityIdentifyGovernanceGovernance and Ecosystem
IntegrityResilience
Availability

ISO 27001 Toolkit

Stop Spanking £10,000s on consultants and ISMS online-tools