ISO 27001 Checklists & PDF Reports

What is an ISO 27001 Checklist?

An ISO 27001 checklist is used by Information security officers to correct gaps in their organization’s ISMS and evaluate their readiness for ISO 27001 certification audits. An ISO 27001 checklist helps identify the requirements of the international standard for implementing an effective Information Security Management System (ISMS).

This article covers:

• what is ISMS;
• 7 practical tips for implementing an ISO 27001-aligned ISMS and preparing for certification;
• technology to help implement and maintain ISO 27001 standards; and
• featured ISO 27001 templates.

What is ISMS?

ISMS is the systematic management of information in order to maintain its confidentiality, integrity, and availability to stakeholders. Getting certified for ISO 27001 means that an organization’s ISMS is aligned with international standards. Even if certification is not the intention, an organization that complies with the ISO 27001 framework can benefit from the best practices of information security management.

Preparing for ISO 27001 Certification in 7 Steps

It takes a lot of time and effort to properly implement an effective ISMS and more so to get it ISO 27001-certified. Here are some steps to take for implementing an ISMS that is ready for certification:

Step#1: Review processes and ISO 27001

Familiarize staff with the international standard for ISMS and know how your organization currently manages information security.

Step#2: Get employee buy-in

Help employees understand the importance of ISMS and get their commitment to help improve the system.

Step#3: Conduct risk assessments

Determine the vulnerabilities and threats to your organization’s information security system and assets by conducting regular information security risk assessments and using an iso 27001 risk assessment template.

Step#4: Implement controls

Information security risks discovered during risk assessments can lead to costly incidents if not addressed promptly.

Step#5: Conduct gap analysis

Use an ISO 27001 audit checklist to assess updated processes and new controls implemented to determine other gaps that require corrective action.

Step#6: Do internal audits and employee training

Regular internal ISO 27001 audits can help proactively catch non-compliance and aid in continuously improving information security management. Information gathered from internal audits can be used for employee training and for reinforcing best practices.

Step#7: Contact your auditor for certification

Prepare your ISMS documentation and contact a reliable third-party auditor to get certified for ISO 27001.

ISO 27001 Auditing Tool to Streamline Your ISMS

Getting certified for ISO 27001 requires documentation of your ISMS and proof of the processes implemented and continuous improvement practices followed. An organization that is heavily dependent on paper-based ISO 27001 reports will find it challenging and time-consuming to organize and keep track of documentation needed as proof of compliance—like this example of an ISO 27001 PDF for internal audits.

iAuditor by SafetyCulture, a powerful mobile auditing software, can help information security officers and IT professionals streamline the implementation of ISMS and proactively catch information security gaps. With iAuditor, you and your team can:

• Conduct ISO 27001 gap analyses and information security risk assessments anytime and include photo evidence using handheld mobile devices.
• Automate documentation of audit reports and secure data in the cloud.
• Observe trends via an online dashboard as you improve ISMS and work towards ISO 27001 certification.

To save you time, we have prepared these digital ISO 27001 checklists that you can download and customize to fit your business needs.