ISO 27001:2013 is developed mainly for the IT industry to secure their Information Security Management System.

ISO 27001:2013 specifies the requirements for establishing, implementing, maintaining and continually improving an information security management system within the context of the organization. It also includes requirements for the assessment and treatment of information security risks tailored to the needs of the organization. The requirements set out in ISO 27001:2013 are generic and are intended to be applicable to all organizations, regardless of type, size or nature.

The standard covers all types of organizations (e.g. commercial enterprises, government agencies, non-profits), all sizes (from micro-businesses to huge multinationals), and all industries or markets (e.g. retail, banking, defense, healthcare, education, and government). This is clearly a very wide brief.

This standard has following clauses:

  1. Scope
  2. Normative References
  3. Terms & Definitions
  4. Context of the organization
  5. Leadership
  6. Planning
  7. Support
  8. Operational
  9. Performance Evaluation
  10. Improvement

The benefits from ISO 27001:2013 are as follows:

  • Keeps confidential information secure
  • Provides customers and stakeholders with confidence in how you manage risk
  • Allows for secure exchange of information
  • Allows you to ensure you are meeting your legal obligations
  • Helps you to comply with other regulations (e.g. SOX)
  • Provide you with a competitive advantage
  • Enhanced customer satisfaction that improves client retention
  • Consistency in the delivery of your service or product
  • Manages and minimize risk exposure
  • Builds a culture of security
  • Protects the company, assets, shareholders, and directors