What is ISO 27004?

ISO 27004 can be seen as a guide for measuring the efficiency of an information security management system (ISMS Performance Monitoring). The guidelines provided for the development, measurement, implementation and maintenance of an ISMS are intended to help companies ensure sustainable information security.

Evaluating the effectiveness of your ISMS should serve as a catalyst to achieve the organization’s intended goals. The defined requirements are intended to oblige companies to introduce and operate an effective ISMS. Does the ISMS fulfill its intended purpose? The ISO 27004 framework provides the metrics and the answers to this expediency. ISO 27004 looks at the following 5 key areas in detail:

  • Goals
  • Governance
  • Management structure and management processes
  • Internal controls and audit protocols
  • Communication with stakeholders

How does ISO 27004 measure information security?

Information security ensures that sensitive data is properly protected. An effectively operated ISMS prevents unauthorized persons from accessing this data. An effective information security management system becomes part of the operational processes of every company. The following ways can measure the state of information security in the company: Reviewing the company’s policies and procedures for handling confidential data shows the level of maturity of an ISMS. In the organization’s ISO 27001 documentation, you can see to what extent all types of information that actually require protection have been identified. All sensitive data must be protected from unauthorized access. The organization must specifically determine how the compromised data will be protected.

Your systems should also be checked for vulnerabilities and security gaps. Are your systems properly segmented? Can security breaches spread throughout the organization? Are there known vulnerabilities in the infrastructure? All problem areas must be addressed promptly and correctly prioritized. Failure to do so will result in damage and loss of insurance coverage.

Improving information security

ISO 27004 represents a standard for assessing the compliance of the management system. It is difficult to measure the performance of a company’s management system without ISO 27004.

The identification of potential for improvement of the ISMS is done by looking at the development and implementation of the ISMS. ISO 27004 provides helpful guidelines for the practical implementation of information security.

Benefits of implementing ISO 27004:

  • Higher organizational maturity: Companies benefit when dealing with information security incidents. The company can better respond to threats and protect its assets more effectively.
  • Better alignment between IT, OT and cyber security: IT departments are better aligned with the teams that manage the company’s data and systems. The result: Departments communicate more effectively and trigger fewer internal conflicts.
  • Greater transparency:  Companies take more ownership of the organization’s security posture.
  • A simple and quick way to assess ISMS performance: the instructions are easy to understand and can be carried out by anyone. The processes are transparent and clearly communicated.
  • Ease of use: The requirements allow the flexibility necessary to individually measure companies of all sizes.

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