Achieving and maintaining ISO/IEC 27001 certification proves your organisation is serious about information security — but getting there isn’t always straightforward. Whether you’re preparing for your first audit or a recertification, understanding common weaknesses can help you avoid delays, nonconformities, or worse — data breaches.
Here are three common InfoSec gaps frequently uncovered during ISO 27001 audits:
Weak or Incomplete Risk Assessments
The Problem:
Organisations often treat the risk assessment as a one-off exercise — or worse, rely on vague or generic risk statements that don’t reflect real threats.
Why It Matters:
ISO 27001 requires a structured approach to identifying, analysing, and evaluating risks relevant to your information assets. If you can’t clearly show how risks are identified, prioritised, and addressed, auditors will raise a nonconformity.
Fix It:
- Use a clear risk methodology (e.g. likelihood x impact)
- Make sure assessments are asset-specific, not just general IT risks
- Review and update regularly — especially after changes in operations or incidents
Poorly Implemented Controls from Annex A
The Problem:
Controls from Annex A (especially technical ones like access controls, encryption, or backup procedures) are either missing, weakly enforced, or not supported by evidence.
Why It Matters:
Auditors don’t just check if you’ve selected the controls — they want to see that they’re fully implemented, monitored, and effective.
Fix It:
- Conduct internal audits against your Statement of Applicability (SoA)
- Gather evidence: logs, screenshots, policies, user access reviews
- Test effectiveness: e.g. simulate backup restoration or password resets
Lack of Employee Awareness and Training
The Problem:
Employees don’t know their InfoSec responsibilities — and there’s no evidence of regular training or awareness campaigns.
Why It Matters:
Human error remains the biggest security risk. ISO 27001 requires that all staff are aware of the ISMS, their roles, and how to act securely. If this isn’t evident, it’s a red flag.
Fix It:
- Run regular, documented InfoSec awareness training
- Include all staff — not just IT
- Reinforce through internal comms, posters, phishing simulations, etc.
Final Thoughts
ISO 27001 isn’t about having a perfect system — it’s about having a structured, risk-based approach to securing information. These gaps are common, but avoidable with proper planning, evidence gathering, and internal oversight.
Spot them before the auditor does — and turn your InfoSec efforts into a real business asset.
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