Management reviews are a vital part of maintaining and improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Clause 9.3 of ISO 27001:2022 ensures that top management regularly evaluates the performance of the ISMS and makes decisions to enhance its effectiveness.
To get customised support specific to your organisation, please get in touch with us.
What is ISO 27001 Clause 9.3?
Clause 9.3 requires organisations to:
- Conduct periodic reviews of the ISMS by top management.
- Assess the continuing suitability, adequacy, and effectiveness of the system.
- Consider inputs such as audit results, risk assessments, corrective actions, and performance metrics.
- Make decisions on improvements, resource allocation, and changes to policies or objectives.
Management reviews help ensure that the ISMS remains aligned with the organisation’s strategic goals and responds to evolving risks.
Why Management Reviews Matter
Management reviews:
- Provide leadership oversight of the ISMS.
- Ensure resources and priorities support information security objectives.
- Identify opportunities for improvement and respond to changes in risk.
- Demonstrate commitment to continual improvement and ISO 27001 compliance.
Without regular management reviews, the ISMS may become outdated, misaligned with organisational goals, or ineffective in addressing risks.
How to Address Clause 9.3
To comply with Clause 9.3, organisations should:
- Schedule regular management reviews (typically annually or biannually).
- Prepare inputs such as audit results, risk treatment progress, security incidents, and performance metrics.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of controls, objectives, and resource allocation.
- Decide on actions to improve the ISMS, update objectives, or allocate resources.
- Document the outcomes and follow up on decisions and assigned actions.
Example
A manufacturing company might:
- Review internal audit reports and risk assessment results quarterly.
- Discuss the effectiveness of security training programs and incident response procedures.
- Approve additional resources to address emerging risks.
- Document review minutes and assigned follow-up actions.
This ensures that leadership actively drives continual improvement of the ISMS.
Final Thoughts
Clause 9.3 highlights that top management oversight is critical for an effective ISMS. Regular management reviews help organisations respond to changes, improve processes, and maintain compliance with ISO 27001.
Need help conducting ISO 27001 management reviews? Candy Management Consultants can guide your leadership team through structured reviews that strengthen your ISMS and support continual improvement.
Request a call back now
