ISO/IEC 27002:2013 — Code of Practice for Information Security Controls

Why it Matters

ISO/IEC 27002:2013 provides comprehensive guidance for establishingeffective information security controls to safeguard organizationaldata and support regulatory obligations.

Key benefits include:

• Strengthen information security governance

Enableorganizations to systematically manage and oversee cybersecurityrisks through structured control selection and management processes.

• Enhance compliance readiness

Support alignmentwith global regulatory requirements and industry standards,simplifying compliance reporting and external audit processes.

• Improve incident response capabilities

Facilitate timelyidentification and effective management of security incidents,reducing potential impact on business operations.

• Support continuous improvement

Encourage ongoingassessment and refinement of security practices as threats evolve andorganizational needs change.

• Promote protection of sensitive data

Implement robustmeasures to protect proprietary, personal, and confidentialinformation against unauthorized access, misuse, or disclosure.

How it Works

ISO/IEC 27002:2013 organizes information security guidance into acatalog of security controls grouped across fourteen domains,aligning with the ISO 27000 series and supporting an ISMS underISO/IEC 27001. It outlines control objectives and implementationguidance across areas such as access control, asset management,cryptography, operations, supplier relationships, and incidentmanagement, and structures selection of safeguards around riskmanagement and governance requirements.

Organizations apply ISO/IEC 27002:2013 by mapping its controls totheir risk assessment and treatment plans, establishing policies, andimplementing technical and procedural security practices. Typicalactivities include control implementation, gap analysis, continuousmonitoring, evidence collection for compliance, periodic audits, andintegration with incident response and business continuity processesto maintain an auditable security posture.

In SmartSuite, teams operationalize ISO/IEC 27002:2013 using controllibraries and configurable risk registers to link controls to assetsand risks, policy governance modules for versioned procedures,automated evidence collection, compliance tracking, and remediationworkflows. Dashboards and reporting support audit readiness,monitoring of control effectiveness, and coordination of governanceand compliance activities.

Key Elements

• Information Security Policy Domain

Establishesorganizational rules, guidelines, and objectives for managing andsafeguarding information assets.

• Human Resource Security Controls

Describesmeasures addressing personnel responsibilities through all phases ofemployment regarding information security.

• Asset Management Practices

Specifiesprotocols for identifying, classifying, and handling informationsystems, hardware, and data resources.

• Access Control Structures

Organizesrequirements for managing user permissions, authenticationmechanisms, and restricting data access.

• Cryptography Management

Defines standardsfor encryption, key management, and secure communication of sensitivedata.

• Physical and Environmental Security

Outlinesprotective measures for physical premises, equipment, and supportinginfrastructure.

• Operations Security Processes

Describesprocedures for managing technical operations, monitoring systems, andensuring operational resilience.

Framework Scope

ISO/IEC 27002:2013 is commonly implemented by companies seekingstructured information security management and data protection acrossenterprise systems, cloud solutions, and sensitive informationassets. The framework is typically applied when improvingcybersecurity practices, addressing risk management requirements, andsupporting assurance programs within compliance and regulatoryenvironments.

Framework Objectives

ISO/IEC 27002:2013 provides comprehensive guidance for organizationsto establish effective information security controls and improve riskmanagement.

Enhance cybersecurity risk management through structured selection ofsecurity controls

Safeguard sensitive data and maintain high standards of dataprotection

Strengthen security governance and enable ongoing monitoring ofinformation assets

Support compliance with regulatory and industry requirements forinformation security

Promote operational resilience by mitigating threats and minimizingincidents

Demonstrate audit readiness through clear documentation andcontinuous control improvement ISO/IEC 27002:2013 offers controlguidance complementing ISO/IEC 27001 and is often mapped toframeworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and CIS Controls. Organizations use27002 to select and implement controls for ISO 27001 certification,regulatory compliance, security governance, and operational securityimprovements across IT and privacy programs.

Framework in Context

ISO/IEC 27002:2013offers control guidance complementing ISO/IEC 27001 and is oftenmapped to frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and CIS Controls.Organizations use 27002 to select and implement controls for ISO27001 certification, regulatory compliance, security governance, andoperational security improvements across IT and privacy programs.

Common Framework Mappings

Organizations map ISO/IEC 27002 controls to complementary frameworksto streamline governance, demonstrate multi-regime compliance, andharmonize control implementation and auditability.

Mapped frameworks include:

CIS Critical Security Controls

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27003

ISO/IEC 27017

ISO/IEC 27018

ISO/IEC 27701

NIST Cybersecurity Framework

NIST SP 800-53

SOC 2 Cybersecurity