There are many different stages when implementing a system like ISO 27001 – Information Security Management System.
The Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) process originates from quality assurance and now a requirement in the ISMS standard ISO 27001 (ISMS – Information Security Management System). PDCA is also known as an internal audit check that could be conducted before understanding the requirement processes of ISO 27001.
ISO 27001, if analyzed by a PDCA cycle, will give you a better vision of implementing governance and alignment with improved business objectives. The ISO 27001 framework has rapidly grown worldwide, where you don’t need to find anyone locally. Best practice allows you to achieve your certification virtually and globally.
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Stages of ISO 27001:
As per clauses from 4 to 10 of the ISO 27001 standard, before you plan to implement ISO 27001 to your organization systems, you need to run an internal audit, including PDCA – PLAN, DO, CHECK, and ACT Cycle. What is this PDCA? This cycle will help you recognize internal and external issues, where you have a gap between them, and how you can fill this?
Plan: Establishing the ISMS
This phase of the ISO 27001 helps an organization to establish the scope of ISMS objectives and controls. A lot of companies around the world are going into the clinches of cyberattacks. In the ISO 27001 standard, clause 4.2 determines the context of the organization. While implementing the planning phase, you must analyze the external and internal issues of the company. The identification of these issues could really help your organization to implement the ISO 27001 ISMS procedures and eliminate the obstacles. External issues are the list of threats that could be the organization’s outer part, such as the legal, economic, and political requirements. The internal issues are the internal part, such as organizational structure, values, cultures, ICT infrastructure, available resources, etc.
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Do: Implementing the ISMS
This phase is where an organization implements and exploits the ISMS policy, controls, process, and procedures. In the DO phase, an organization creates a risk assessment and evaluates the reasons behind it’s each structure. They must prepare a series of procedures indicating the risks and their treatment. They must ensure that the procedure and policy documents are available and adequately protected, distributed, and stored in the managed system. The documents of external origin must cover under the scope of ISMS 27001. That’s how the Do phase will be accomplished.
Check: Monitoring and review of the ISMS
This phase covers monitoring, measuring, analysis, and evaluation checks within the organization. The responsible persons must measure the processes’ performances against the policies, objectives, and practical experience in a documented procedure established in the earlier phase. Responsible leaders must submit any outcome followed by the implementation of these policy results. It is the best way to check where the issues have been identified, treated, eliminated, and required to revise and improve.
Act: Updates & Improvements to the ISMS
An organization must undertake corrective and preventive actions based on the ISMS internal audit and management review results. A Chief Information Officer can be appointed who will be responsible for monitoring and measuring information security. The CIO must act on any finding that relates to the breach of information security. Continual improvement is an integral part of ISO 27001. The standard requires that organizations must be continually improving to eliminate further threats.
Now we have recognized the PDCA elements and their applicability to the ISO 27001 ISMS. It also communicates that everyone who is responsible needs to be a part while implementing ISO 27001. All the improvements require updating and documentation, respectively.
