Compliance

ISO 27001 Implementation Guide: Building an Information Security Management System

DeviDevs Team
13 min read
#ISO 27001#ISMS#compliance#security management#certification

ISO 27001 Implementation Guide: Building an Information Security Management System

ISO 27001 provides a framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This guide provides practical implementation guidance for technology organizations.

ISMS Scope and Context

Defining ISMS Scope

# isms_scope.yaml
isms_scope:
  organization:
    name: "Example Technology Inc."
    locations:
      - name: "Headquarters"
        address: "123 Tech Street, San Francisco, CA"
        type: "office"
      - name: "Cloud Infrastructure"
        provider: "AWS"
        regions: ["us-east-1", "eu-west-1"]
        type: "cloud"
 
  included_services:
    - name: "SaaS Platform"
      description: "Customer-facing web application"
      data_classification: "confidential"
    - name: "API Gateway"
      description: "API services for integrations"
      data_classification: "confidential"
    - name: "Data Analytics"
      description: "Internal analytics platform"
      data_classification: "internal"
 
  excluded:
    - name: "Marketing Website"
      justification: "No customer data processed"
    - name: "Sales Demo Environment"
      justification: "Uses synthetic data only"
 
  interfaces:
    external:
      - "Customer integrations via API"
      - "Third-party SaaS tools"
      - "Cloud service providers"
    internal:
      - "Corporate network"
      - "Development environments"
 
  interested_parties:
    - party: "Customers"
      requirements:
        - "Data protection"
        - "Service availability"
        - "Compliance certifications"
    - party: "Regulators"
      requirements:
        - "GDPR compliance"
        - "Industry regulations"
    - party: "Employees"
      requirements:
        - "Clear security policies"
        - "Security awareness training"
    - party: "Shareholders"
      requirements:
        - "Risk management"
        - "Business continuity"

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment Framework

# risk_assessment.py
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import List, Dict, Optional
from enum import Enum
from datetime import datetime
 
class Likelihood(Enum):
    RARE = 1
    UNLIKELY = 2
    POSSIBLE = 3
    LIKELY = 4
    ALMOST_CERTAIN = 5
 
class Impact(Enum):
    NEGLIGIBLE = 1
    MINOR = 2
    MODERATE = 3
    MAJOR = 4
    CATASTROPHIC = 5
 
@dataclass
class Asset:
    """Information asset."""
    asset_id: str
    name: str
    description: str
    owner: str
    classification: str
    value: int  # 1-5 scale
    location: str
 
@dataclass
class Threat:
    """Threat to information assets."""
    threat_id: str
    name: str
    description: str
    source: str  # internal, external, environmental
    likelihood: Likelihood
 
@dataclass
class Vulnerability:
    """Vulnerability in controls."""
    vuln_id: str
    name: str
    description: str
    affected_assets: List[str]
    severity: int  # 1-5 scale
 
@dataclass
class Risk:
    """Information security risk."""
    risk_id: str
    name: str
    description: str
    asset: Asset
    threat: Threat
    vulnerability: Vulnerability
    likelihood: Likelihood
    impact: Impact
    inherent_risk_score: float
    existing_controls: List[str]
    residual_risk_score: float
    risk_owner: str
    treatment: str  # accept, mitigate, transfer, avoid
    treatment_plan: Optional[str]
 
class RiskAssessmentFramework:
    """ISO 27001 risk assessment framework."""
 
    def __init__(self):
        self.assets: Dict[str, Asset] = {}
        self.threats: Dict[str, Threat] = {}
        self.vulnerabilities: Dict[str, Vulnerability] = {}
        self.risks: Dict[str, Risk] = {}
        self.risk_acceptance_threshold = 12
 
    def register_asset(self, asset: Asset):
        """Register an information asset."""
        self.assets[asset.asset_id] = asset
 
    def identify_threat(self, threat: Threat):
        """Identify a threat."""
        self.threats[threat.threat_id] = threat
 
    def identify_vulnerability(self, vulnerability: Vulnerability):
        """Identify a vulnerability."""
        self.vulnerabilities[vulnerability.vuln_id] = vulnerability
 
    def assess_risk(
        self,
        asset_id: str,
        threat_id: str,
        vuln_id: str,
        impact: Impact,
        existing_controls: List[str],
        control_effectiveness: float = 0.5
    ) -> Risk:
        """Assess a specific risk scenario."""
 
        asset = self.assets[asset_id]
        threat = self.threats[threat_id]
        vulnerability = self.vulnerabilities[vuln_id]
 
        # Calculate inherent risk
        inherent_risk = self._calculate_risk_score(
            threat.likelihood, impact, asset.value
        )
 
        # Calculate residual risk (after controls)
        residual_risk = inherent_risk * (1 - control_effectiveness)
 
        # Determine treatment
        treatment = self._determine_treatment(residual_risk)
 
        risk = Risk(
            risk_id=f"R-{len(self.risks) + 1:04d}",
            name=f"{threat.name} to {asset.name}",
            description=f"Risk of {threat.description} exploiting {vulnerability.name}",
            asset=asset,
            threat=threat,
            vulnerability=vulnerability,
            likelihood=threat.likelihood,
            impact=impact,
            inherent_risk_score=inherent_risk,
            existing_controls=existing_controls,
            residual_risk_score=residual_risk,
            risk_owner=asset.owner,
            treatment=treatment,
            treatment_plan=None
        )
 
        self.risks[risk.risk_id] = risk
        return risk
 
    def _calculate_risk_score(
        self,
        likelihood: Likelihood,
        impact: Impact,
        asset_value: int
    ) -> float:
        """Calculate risk score."""
        base_score = likelihood.value * impact.value
        weighted_score = base_score * (asset_value / 5)
        return round(weighted_score, 2)
 
    def _determine_treatment(self, risk_score: float) -> str:
        """Determine risk treatment approach."""
 
        if risk_score <= 4:
            return 'accept'
        elif risk_score <= 8:
            return 'mitigate'
        elif risk_score <= 16:
            return 'mitigate'  # Higher priority
        else:
            return 'avoid'
 
    def generate_risk_register(self) -> List[Dict]:
        """Generate risk register."""
 
        register = []
 
        for risk in sorted(
            self.risks.values(),
            key=lambda r: r.residual_risk_score,
            reverse=True
        ):
            register.append({
                'risk_id': risk.risk_id,
                'name': risk.name,
                'asset': risk.asset.name,
                'threat': risk.threat.name,
                'vulnerability': risk.vulnerability.name,
                'likelihood': risk.likelihood.name,
                'impact': risk.impact.name,
                'inherent_risk': risk.inherent_risk_score,
                'existing_controls': risk.existing_controls,
                'residual_risk': risk.residual_risk_score,
                'risk_owner': risk.risk_owner,
                'treatment': risk.treatment,
                'above_threshold': risk.residual_risk_score > self.risk_acceptance_threshold
            })
 
        return register
 
    def generate_statement_of_applicability(
        self,
        controls: List[Dict]
    ) -> List[Dict]:
        """Generate Statement of Applicability."""
 
        soa = []
 
        for control in controls:
            applicable_risks = [
                r for r in self.risks.values()
                if control['id'] in r.existing_controls or
                   control['id'] in (r.treatment_plan or '')
            ]
 
            soa.append({
                'control_id': control['id'],
                'control_name': control['name'],
                'applicable': len(applicable_risks) > 0,
                'justification': control.get('justification', ''),
                'implementation_status': control.get('status', 'not_implemented'),
                'related_risks': [r.risk_id for r in applicable_risks]
            })
 
        return soa

Control Implementation

Annex A Control Framework

# control_implementation.py
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import List, Dict, Optional
from enum import Enum
from datetime import datetime
 
class ControlStatus(Enum):
    NOT_IMPLEMENTED = "not_implemented"
    PARTIALLY_IMPLEMENTED = "partially_implemented"
    IMPLEMENTED = "implemented"
    NOT_APPLICABLE = "not_applicable"
 
@dataclass
class Control:
    """ISO 27001 Annex A control."""
    control_id: str
    category: str
    name: str
    description: str
    status: ControlStatus
    implementation_evidence: List[str]
    owner: str
    review_date: Optional[datetime]
 
class AnnexAControls:
    """ISO 27001:2022 Annex A control framework."""
 
    CONTROL_CATEGORIES = {
        'A.5': 'Organizational controls',
        'A.6': 'People controls',
        'A.7': 'Physical controls',
        'A.8': 'Technological controls'
    }
 
    def __init__(self):
        self.controls = self._initialize_controls()
 
    def _initialize_controls(self) -> Dict[str, Control]:
        """Initialize Annex A controls."""
 
        controls = {}
 
        # A.5 Organizational controls
        organizational = [
            ('A.5.1', 'Policies for information security'),
            ('A.5.2', 'Information security roles and responsibilities'),
            ('A.5.3', 'Segregation of duties'),
            ('A.5.4', 'Management responsibilities'),
            ('A.5.5', 'Contact with authorities'),
            ('A.5.6', 'Contact with special interest groups'),
            ('A.5.7', 'Threat intelligence'),
            ('A.5.8', 'Information security in project management'),
            ('A.5.9', 'Inventory of information and other associated assets'),
            ('A.5.10', 'Acceptable use of information and other associated assets'),
            ('A.5.11', 'Return of assets'),
            ('A.5.12', 'Classification of information'),
            ('A.5.13', 'Labelling of information'),
            ('A.5.14', 'Information transfer'),
            ('A.5.15', 'Access control'),
            ('A.5.16', 'Identity management'),
            ('A.5.17', 'Authentication information'),
            ('A.5.18', 'Access rights'),
            ('A.5.19', 'Information security in supplier relationships'),
            ('A.5.20', 'Addressing information security within supplier agreements'),
            ('A.5.21', 'Managing information security in the ICT supply chain'),
            ('A.5.22', 'Monitoring, review and change management of supplier services'),
            ('A.5.23', 'Information security for use of cloud services'),
            ('A.5.24', 'Information security incident management planning and preparation'),
            ('A.5.25', 'Assessment and decision on information security events'),
            ('A.5.26', 'Response to information security incidents'),
            ('A.5.27', 'Learning from information security incidents'),
            ('A.5.28', 'Collection of evidence'),
            ('A.5.29', 'Information security during disruption'),
            ('A.5.30', 'ICT readiness for business continuity'),
            ('A.5.31', 'Legal, statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements'),
            ('A.5.32', 'Intellectual property rights'),
            ('A.5.33', 'Protection of records'),
            ('A.5.34', 'Privacy and protection of PII'),
            ('A.5.35', 'Independent review of information security'),
            ('A.5.36', 'Compliance with policies, rules and standards for information security'),
            ('A.5.37', 'Documented operating procedures'),
        ]
 
        for control_id, name in organizational:
            controls[control_id] = Control(
                control_id=control_id,
                category='Organizational',
                name=name,
                description='',
                status=ControlStatus.NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
                implementation_evidence=[],
                owner='',
                review_date=None
            )
 
        # A.6 People controls
        people = [
            ('A.6.1', 'Screening'),
            ('A.6.2', 'Terms and conditions of employment'),
            ('A.6.3', 'Information security awareness, education and training'),
            ('A.6.4', 'Disciplinary process'),
            ('A.6.5', 'Responsibilities after termination or change of employment'),
            ('A.6.6', 'Confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements'),
            ('A.6.7', 'Remote working'),
            ('A.6.8', 'Information security event reporting'),
        ]
 
        for control_id, name in people:
            controls[control_id] = Control(
                control_id=control_id,
                category='People',
                name=name,
                description='',
                status=ControlStatus.NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
                implementation_evidence=[],
                owner='',
                review_date=None
            )
 
        # A.7 Physical controls
        physical = [
            ('A.7.1', 'Physical security perimeters'),
            ('A.7.2', 'Physical entry'),
            ('A.7.3', 'Securing offices, rooms and facilities'),
            ('A.7.4', 'Physical security monitoring'),
            ('A.7.5', 'Protecting against physical and environmental threats'),
            ('A.7.6', 'Working in secure areas'),
            ('A.7.7', 'Clear desk and clear screen'),
            ('A.7.8', 'Equipment siting and protection'),
            ('A.7.9', 'Security of assets off-premises'),
            ('A.7.10', 'Storage media'),
            ('A.7.11', 'Supporting utilities'),
            ('A.7.12', 'Cabling security'),
            ('A.7.13', 'Equipment maintenance'),
            ('A.7.14', 'Secure disposal or re-use of equipment'),
        ]
 
        for control_id, name in physical:
            controls[control_id] = Control(
                control_id=control_id,
                category='Physical',
                name=name,
                description='',
                status=ControlStatus.NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
                implementation_evidence=[],
                owner='',
                review_date=None
            )
 
        # A.8 Technological controls
        technological = [
            ('A.8.1', 'User endpoint devices'),
            ('A.8.2', 'Privileged access rights'),
            ('A.8.3', 'Information access restriction'),
            ('A.8.4', 'Access to source code'),
            ('A.8.5', 'Secure authentication'),
            ('A.8.6', 'Capacity management'),
            ('A.8.7', 'Protection against malware'),
            ('A.8.8', 'Management of technical vulnerabilities'),
            ('A.8.9', 'Configuration management'),
            ('A.8.10', 'Information deletion'),
            ('A.8.11', 'Data masking'),
            ('A.8.12', 'Data leakage prevention'),
            ('A.8.13', 'Information backup'),
            ('A.8.14', 'Redundancy of information processing facilities'),
            ('A.8.15', 'Logging'),
            ('A.8.16', 'Monitoring activities'),
            ('A.8.17', 'Clock synchronization'),
            ('A.8.18', 'Use of privileged utility programs'),
            ('A.8.19', 'Installation of software on operational systems'),
            ('A.8.20', 'Networks security'),
            ('A.8.21', 'Security of network services'),
            ('A.8.22', 'Segregation of networks'),
            ('A.8.23', 'Web filtering'),
            ('A.8.24', 'Use of cryptography'),
            ('A.8.25', 'Secure development life cycle'),
            ('A.8.26', 'Application security requirements'),
            ('A.8.27', 'Secure system architecture and engineering principles'),
            ('A.8.28', 'Secure coding'),
            ('A.8.29', 'Security testing in development and acceptance'),
            ('A.8.30', 'Outsourced development'),
            ('A.8.31', 'Separation of development, test and production environments'),
            ('A.8.32', 'Change management'),
            ('A.8.33', 'Test information'),
            ('A.8.34', 'Protection of information systems during audit testing'),
        ]
 
        for control_id, name in technological:
            controls[control_id] = Control(
                control_id=control_id,
                category='Technological',
                name=name,
                description='',
                status=ControlStatus.NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
                implementation_evidence=[],
                owner='',
                review_date=None
            )
 
        return controls
 
    def update_control_status(
        self,
        control_id: str,
        status: ControlStatus,
        evidence: List[str],
        owner: str
    ):
        """Update control implementation status."""
 
        if control_id in self.controls:
            control = self.controls[control_id]
            control.status = status
            control.implementation_evidence = evidence
            control.owner = owner
            control.review_date = datetime.utcnow()
 
    def generate_control_report(self) -> Dict:
        """Generate control implementation report."""
 
        total = len(self.controls)
        by_status = {status: 0 for status in ControlStatus}
        by_category = {}
 
        for control in self.controls.values():
            by_status[control.status] += 1
 
            if control.category not in by_category:
                by_category[control.category] = {'total': 0, 'implemented': 0}
 
            by_category[control.category]['total'] += 1
            if control.status == ControlStatus.IMPLEMENTED:
                by_category[control.category]['implemented'] += 1
 
        return {
            'total_controls': total,
            'by_status': {s.value: c for s, c in by_status.items()},
            'by_category': by_category,
            'implementation_percentage': (
                by_status[ControlStatus.IMPLEMENTED] / total * 100
            ),
            'controls_needing_attention': [
                {
                    'id': c.control_id,
                    'name': c.name,
                    'status': c.status.value
                }
                for c in self.controls.values()
                if c.status in [
                    ControlStatus.NOT_IMPLEMENTED,
                    ControlStatus.PARTIALLY_IMPLEMENTED
                ]
            ]
        }

Documentation Requirements

Policy Document Structure

# documentation_structure.yaml
isms_documentation:
  level_1_policies:
    - name: "Information Security Policy"
      owner: "CISO"
      review_frequency: "annual"
      approval: "Board"
 
  level_2_standards:
    - name: "Access Control Standard"
      related_controls: ["A.5.15", "A.5.16", "A.5.17", "A.5.18"]
    - name: "Cryptography Standard"
      related_controls: ["A.8.24"]
    - name: "Network Security Standard"
      related_controls: ["A.8.20", "A.8.21", "A.8.22"]
    - name: "Secure Development Standard"
      related_controls: ["A.8.25", "A.8.26", "A.8.27", "A.8.28"]
 
  level_3_procedures:
    - name: "User Access Management Procedure"
    - name: "Incident Response Procedure"
    - name: "Change Management Procedure"
    - name: "Backup and Recovery Procedure"
    - name: "Vulnerability Management Procedure"
 
  level_4_records:
    - name: "Risk Assessment Records"
    - name: "Audit Logs"
    - name: "Training Records"
    - name: "Incident Records"
    - name: "Change Records"
 
  mandatory_documents:
    - "ISMS Scope"
    - "Information Security Policy"
    - "Risk Assessment Methodology"
    - "Risk Assessment Report"
    - "Risk Treatment Plan"
    - "Statement of Applicability"
    - "Information Security Objectives"
    - "Competence Evidence"
    - "Documented Operating Procedures"
    - "Results of Monitoring and Measurement"
    - "Internal Audit Program and Results"
    - "Management Review Minutes"
    - "Nonconformities and Corrective Actions"

Internal Audit Program

Audit Planning and Execution

# internal_audit.py
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import List, Dict, Optional
from datetime import datetime, timedelta
from enum import Enum
 
class FindingSeverity(Enum):
    MAJOR_NC = "major_nonconformity"
    MINOR_NC = "minor_nonconformity"
    OBSERVATION = "observation"
    OPPORTUNITY = "opportunity_for_improvement"
 
@dataclass
class AuditFinding:
    """Internal audit finding."""
    finding_id: str
    audit_id: str
    control_id: str
    severity: FindingSeverity
    description: str
    evidence: str
    root_cause: Optional[str]
    corrective_action: Optional[str]
    due_date: Optional[datetime]
    status: str  # open, in_progress, closed, verified
 
class InternalAuditProgram:
    """ISO 27001 internal audit program."""
 
    def __init__(self):
        self.audits = {}
        self.findings = {}
 
    def create_audit_plan(
        self,
        audit_year: int,
        controls: List[str]
    ) -> Dict:
        """Create annual audit plan."""
 
        # Ensure all controls are audited at least once per year
        audits_per_year = 4  # Quarterly audits
        controls_per_audit = len(controls) // audits_per_year + 1
 
        plan = {
            'year': audit_year,
            'audits': []
        }
 
        for quarter in range(1, 5):
            start_idx = (quarter - 1) * controls_per_audit
            end_idx = min(start_idx + controls_per_audit, len(controls))
 
            audit_month = (quarter - 1) * 3 + 2  # Feb, May, Aug, Nov
 
            plan['audits'].append({
                'audit_id': f'AUDIT-{audit_year}-Q{quarter}',
                'quarter': quarter,
                'scheduled_date': datetime(audit_year, audit_month, 15),
                'controls_in_scope': controls[start_idx:end_idx],
                'status': 'planned'
            })
 
        return plan
 
    def record_finding(
        self,
        audit_id: str,
        control_id: str,
        severity: FindingSeverity,
        description: str,
        evidence: str
    ) -> AuditFinding:
        """Record audit finding."""
 
        finding = AuditFinding(
            finding_id=f'F-{len(self.findings) + 1:04d}',
            audit_id=audit_id,
            control_id=control_id,
            severity=severity,
            description=description,
            evidence=evidence,
            root_cause=None,
            corrective_action=None,
            due_date=self._calculate_due_date(severity),
            status='open'
        )
 
        self.findings[finding.finding_id] = finding
        return finding
 
    def _calculate_due_date(self, severity: FindingSeverity) -> datetime:
        """Calculate corrective action due date based on severity."""
 
        days_map = {
            FindingSeverity.MAJOR_NC: 30,
            FindingSeverity.MINOR_NC: 60,
            FindingSeverity.OBSERVATION: 90,
            FindingSeverity.OPPORTUNITY: 120
        }
 
        return datetime.utcnow() + timedelta(days=days_map[severity])
 
    def assign_corrective_action(
        self,
        finding_id: str,
        root_cause: str,
        corrective_action: str
    ):
        """Assign corrective action to finding."""
 
        finding = self.findings.get(finding_id)
        if finding:
            finding.root_cause = root_cause
            finding.corrective_action = corrective_action
            finding.status = 'in_progress'
 
    def verify_closure(self, finding_id: str, verification_evidence: str) -> bool:
        """Verify corrective action and close finding."""
 
        finding = self.findings.get(finding_id)
        if finding and finding.status == 'in_progress':
            finding.status = 'verified'
            return True
        return False
 
    def generate_audit_report(self, audit_id: str) -> Dict:
        """Generate audit report."""
 
        audit_findings = [
            f for f in self.findings.values()
            if f.audit_id == audit_id
        ]
 
        return {
            'audit_id': audit_id,
            'total_findings': len(audit_findings),
            'by_severity': {
                severity.value: len([
                    f for f in audit_findings
                    if f.severity == severity
                ])
                for severity in FindingSeverity
            },
            'findings': [
                {
                    'id': f.finding_id,
                    'control': f.control_id,
                    'severity': f.severity.value,
                    'description': f.description,
                    'status': f.status
                }
                for f in audit_findings
            ]
        }

Certification Preparation

Readiness Assessment Checklist

# certification_readiness.py
from dataclasses import dataclass
from typing import List, Dict
from datetime import datetime
 
@dataclass
class ReadinessItem:
    """Certification readiness checklist item."""
    item_id: str
    category: str
    requirement: str
    status: str  # not_started, in_progress, complete
    evidence: List[str]
    notes: str
 
class CertificationReadiness:
    """ISO 27001 certification readiness assessment."""
 
    def __init__(self):
        self.checklist = self._initialize_checklist()
 
    def _initialize_checklist(self) -> List[ReadinessItem]:
        """Initialize readiness checklist."""
 
        items = [
            # Context and Leadership
            ('CTX-01', 'Context', 'ISMS scope document defined and approved'),
            ('CTX-02', 'Context', 'Interested parties identified with requirements'),
            ('CTX-03', 'Context', 'Context of organization documented'),
            ('LDR-01', 'Leadership', 'Information security policy approved by management'),
            ('LDR-02', 'Leadership', 'Roles and responsibilities assigned'),
            ('LDR-03', 'Leadership', 'Management commitment documented'),
 
            # Planning
            ('PLN-01', 'Planning', 'Risk assessment methodology defined'),
            ('PLN-02', 'Planning', 'Risk assessment completed'),
            ('PLN-03', 'Planning', 'Risk treatment plan developed'),
            ('PLN-04', 'Planning', 'Statement of Applicability completed'),
            ('PLN-05', 'Planning', 'Information security objectives defined'),
 
            # Support
            ('SUP-01', 'Support', 'Resources allocated'),
            ('SUP-02', 'Support', 'Competence requirements defined'),
            ('SUP-03', 'Support', 'Security awareness program implemented'),
            ('SUP-04', 'Support', 'Communication procedures established'),
            ('SUP-05', 'Support', 'Document control implemented'),
 
            # Operation
            ('OPR-01', 'Operation', 'Operational planning and control implemented'),
            ('OPR-02', 'Operation', 'Risk treatment implemented'),
            ('OPR-03', 'Operation', 'Controls from SoA implemented'),
 
            # Performance Evaluation
            ('PER-01', 'Performance', 'Monitoring and measurement defined'),
            ('PER-02', 'Performance', 'Internal audit program established'),
            ('PER-03', 'Performance', 'At least one audit cycle completed'),
            ('PER-04', 'Performance', 'Management review conducted'),
 
            # Improvement
            ('IMP-01', 'Improvement', 'Nonconformity process defined'),
            ('IMP-02', 'Improvement', 'Corrective actions tracked'),
            ('IMP-03', 'Improvement', 'Continual improvement process documented'),
        ]
 
        return [
            ReadinessItem(
                item_id=item_id,
                category=category,
                requirement=requirement,
                status='not_started',
                evidence=[],
                notes=''
            )
            for item_id, category, requirement in items
        ]
 
    def assess_readiness(self) -> Dict:
        """Assess overall certification readiness."""
 
        total = len(self.checklist)
        complete = len([i for i in self.checklist if i.status == 'complete'])
        in_progress = len([i for i in self.checklist if i.status == 'in_progress'])
 
        by_category = {}
        for item in self.checklist:
            if item.category not in by_category:
                by_category[item.category] = {'total': 0, 'complete': 0}
            by_category[item.category]['total'] += 1
            if item.status == 'complete':
                by_category[item.category]['complete'] += 1
 
        readiness_percentage = (complete / total) * 100
 
        return {
            'assessment_date': datetime.utcnow().isoformat(),
            'overall_readiness': readiness_percentage,
            'total_items': total,
            'complete': complete,
            'in_progress': in_progress,
            'not_started': total - complete - in_progress,
            'by_category': {
                cat: {
                    'percentage': (data['complete'] / data['total']) * 100,
                    **data
                }
                for cat, data in by_category.items()
            },
            'gaps': [
                {
                    'id': item.item_id,
                    'category': item.category,
                    'requirement': item.requirement
                }
                for item in self.checklist
                if item.status != 'complete'
            ],
            'ready_for_stage_1': readiness_percentage >= 80,
            'ready_for_stage_2': readiness_percentage >= 95
        }

Conclusion

ISO 27001 implementation requires systematic attention to:

  1. Scope Definition - Clear boundaries and context
  2. Risk Assessment - Comprehensive threat and vulnerability analysis
  3. Control Implementation - Annex A controls tailored to identified risks
  4. Documentation - Policies, procedures, and records
  5. Internal Auditing - Regular compliance verification
  6. Continual Improvement - Ongoing enhancement of the ISMS

Successful certification depends on demonstrating both implementation effectiveness and management commitment to information security.

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