Having good indicators in ISO 27001 is crucial not only for ensuring compliance but also for maintaining the effectiveness of the Information Security Management System (ISMS).
This is because a lack of solid metrics can lead to various issues, such as the inability to demonstrate compliance, poorly informed or incorrect decisions, difficulties in promoting continuous improvement, and even failures in identifying system vulnerabilities. However, the biggest problem is that all these challenges can leave the company extremely exposed to cybersecurity risks, endangering critical information of the organization, its clients, and other stakeholders.
In today’s article, we will discuss the 3 key indicators in ISO 27001 and how they can strengthen your ISMS. It’s worth noting that monitoring the indicators suggested here (as well as others that may be relevant) will provide a clear view of your company’s information security (IS) performance and help identify risks and areas for improvement. With that said, let’s dive into the content!
1 – Number and Frequency of Information Security Incidents
This indicator measures the number of security incidents the company has recorded over a specific period. The idea is to quantify and categorize these incidents, with the monitoring period depending on the company’s context and its ISMS; for example, it could be “Number of information security incidents per month.”
This metric can help identify vulnerabilities in the security system or in specific stages or aspects of the system. Suppose, for instance, that our company experiences a significant increase in the number of incidents. This could indicate a need for ISMS reviews and even lead to the implementation of new security measures or awareness initiatives.
Therefore, it’s crucial to have a well-structured process to ensure that the company records, analyzes, and addresses every incident. This process, in turn, will generate important data for the system and the company, such as the number of incidents, and also our next indicator.
2 – Average Incident Resolution Time
Among the ISO 27001 indicators, the average incident resolution time is one of the most fundamental and plays several roles in the ISMS. One role, for example, is evaluating the effectiveness of the ISMS itself. After all, a compliant and effective system not only has a resolution time within safe and established limits for the company but also tends to improve (reduce) this time over time with the implementation of improvement actions.
More importantly, the average time is directly linked to the continuity of the company’s business and processes. In more severe cases, this time is vital!
Imagine, for example, a ransomware attack (a type of software that blocks access to data stored on a computer or network). If this attack occurs, your company may be unable to access important information and could even be inoperative for a certain period. Imagine a very high average response time; this means that your company will be impacted even more severely and for a longer period.
Thus, understanding the average time to resolve an incident is crucial for making more informed decisions and developing strategies that could make the difference in your business’s survival! In some cases, for example, it may be necessary to address certain risks more quickly than the average response time, allowing resources and efforts to be applied more specifically and efficiently.
3 – Compliance with Organizational Policies
Policies provide the company’s direction on specific matters, guiding how people should act when something happens. In ISO 27001, they define how the company will respond to risks and opportunities within the ISMS and related to information security itself.
Therefore, it’s essential to monitor process compliance with these policies. This not only strengthens the company’s practices but can also be highly beneficial during audits, for example. Additionally, effectively using this indicator helps align strategic goals with day-to-day operations and improve the ISMS and its best practices.
“You can’t manage what you don’t measure”
According to William Edwards Deming, one of the greatest quality gurus of all time, monitoring is the start of management. His most famous quote reinforces this: “You can’t manage what you don’t measure, you can’t measure what you don’t define, you can’t define what you don’t understand, and there is no success in what you don’t manage.”
Therefore, having good indicators in ISO 27001 is not just a normative or audit requirement but a crucial factor for effective management and the promotion of continuous improvement. Monitoring the ISMS allows us to find better ways to act and ensure greater information security! Ignoring this best practice can have severe consequences, both in terms of security and business continuity.
It’s now up to you to review your management system and understand how these indicators are performing in your processes. If you don’t have them in place, we suggest implementing them right away to take a decisive step toward a more secure, reliable, and prosperous company!
