ISO 27001 Clause 6.1

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) is built on understanding and managing risks. Clause 6.1 of ISO 27001:2022 focuses on identifying information security risks and opportunities, and taking appropriate actions to address them.

To get customised support specific to your organisation, please get in touch with us.

What is ISO 27001 Clause 6.1?

Clause 6.1 requires organisations to:

• Identify risks that could affect the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information.
• Determine opportunities to enhance the ISMS and improve information security performance.
• Plan actions to address both risks and opportunities.
• Integrate these actions into the organisation’s processes and evaluate their effectiveness.

This clause ensures that risk management is proactive and systematic, rather than reactive or ad hoc.

Why It Matters

Managing risks and opportunities is essential to:

• Prevent security incidents and breaches.
• Protect sensitive information and organisational assets.
• Maintain regulatory and contractual compliance.
• Support continual improvement of the ISMS.

Without a structured approach to risk, organisations are vulnerable to threats and may miss chances to strengthen their information security posture.

How to Address Clause 6.1

To comply with Clause 6.1, organisations should:

1. Identify risks and opportunities using risk assessment methodologies suitable for your business.
2. Analyse and evaluate risks based on likelihood and impact.
3. Determine treatment options such as avoidance, mitigation, transfer, or acceptance.
4. Plan and implement actions to manage risks and exploit opportunities.
5. Monitor and review effectiveness to ensure actions are achieving intended outcomes.

Example

A financial services company might identify the risk of phishing attacks targeting staff. Actions could include:

• Conducting regular staff awareness training.
• Implementing multi-factor authentication.
• Monitoring and responding to suspicious email activity.

At the same time, opportunities could include automating security monitoring to improve response times.

Final Thoughts

Clause 6.1 emphasises proactive risk management as the foundation of a successful ISMS. By identifying risks and opportunities and taking structured actions, organisations can safeguard their information assets and strengthen their security posture.

Need expert guidance on implementing risk-based actions for your ISMS? Candy Management Consultants can help you identify risks, plan effective treatments, and ensure ISO 27001 compliance.

Get your free quote today!