Get started

Clause 6: Planning

This is the heart of ISO 27001: work out what could go wrong and decide what you'll do about it.

6.1 Actions to address risks and opportunities

Define a repeatable risk assessment method, assess information security risks, choose treatment options and controls, compare against Annex A, and produce a Statement of Applicability and risk treatment plan.

What auditors look for

A consistent method, risk owners, sensible results, and an SoA that justifies inclusions/exclusions.

Typical evidence

Risk methodology, risk register, risk treatment plan, Statement of Applicability (SoA).

Playbook

6.1.1 General actions to address risks and opportunities
Evidence you need to provide
  1. Your approach to planning: how risks and opportunities from your issues and interested parties are identified.
  2. Your risk register showing risks linked to those issues and needs.
  3. Plans showing how actions are built into everyday work and how you check they worked.
  4. Be able to explain how planning connects to the business.
Policies & documents
  1. Master list of ISMS documents
  2. ISMS scope statement
  3. ISMS roles, responsibilities and authorities document
  4. Risk assessment and treatment methodology
  5. Corrective action and continual improvement procedure
  6. Information security objectives plan
6.1.2 Information security risk assessment
Evidence you need to provide
  1. Your risk assessment method: how you identify risks, rate likelihood and impact, and decide which risks are acceptable.
  2. A completed risk register with an owner, rating and date for each risk.
  3. Proof the assessment was repeated, giving consistent results.
  4. Records of new risks added after changes.
  5. The risk owner should be able to explain how a risk was rated.
Policies & documents
  1. Risk assessment and treatment methodology
  2. Risk Management Policy
6.1.3 Information security risk treatment
Evidence you need to provide
  1. Your risk treatment plan: what you will do about each risk, who owns it and by when.
  2. Your Statement of Applicability (SoA): the list of all 93 Annex A controls showing which you use and why, and why any are left out.
  3. Proof risk owners approved the plan and accepted the remaining risk.
  4. Progress updates on treatment actions.
  5. Be able to explain how a risk led to the controls you chose.
Policies & documents
  1. Risk assessment and treatment methodology
  2. Statement of Applicability (SoA)

6.2 Information security objectives and planning to achieve them

Set measurable security objectives and plan who does what, by when, with what resources, and how results are evaluated.

What auditors look for

SMART objectives with plans and progress tracking.

Typical evidence

Objectives register/plan.

Playbook

6.2 Information security objective and planning to achieve them
Evidence you need to provide
  1. Your security objectives: measurable goals with an owner, deadline and resources.
  2. Progress reports against each objective.
  3. Proof objectives were shared with the relevant people.
  4. Owners should be able to explain progress and next steps.
Policies & documents

Information security objectives plan

6.3 Planning of changes

When the ISMS needs to change, do it in a planned way.

What auditors look for

Changes to the ISMS assessed and managed, not ad hoc.

Typical evidence

Change records, updated documents with version history.