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

Overview

ISO/IEC27002:2013 is an international code of practice for informationsecurity controls that helps organizations select, implement, andmanage security measures to protect sensitive information and supportrisk management efforts.

Published by theInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO) and theInternational Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO/IEC 27002provides guidance on a broad set of cybersecurity controls coveringareas such as access management, cryptography, physical security,operations security, and incident response. The framework is widelyadopted across various industries by organizations seeking tostrengthen their cybersecurity posture and align with best practicesfor data protection and regulatory compliance.

Organizationstypically use ISO/IEC 27002 to guide the development of internalsecurity controls within their information security managementsystems (ISMS), often alongside ISO/IEC 27001 certification programs.The framework supports risk assessments, control selection, and thecontinuous improvement of security practices to help meet complianceobligations and mitigate evolving cyber threats.

Why it Matters

ISO/IEC27002:2013 provides comprehensive guidance for establishing effectiveinformation security controls to safeguard organizational data andsupport regulatory obligations.

Key benefitsinclude:

•  Strengthen information security governance

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

•  Enhance compliance readiness

Supportalignment with global regulatory requirements and industry standards,simplifying compliance reporting and external audit processes.

•  Improve incident response capabilities

Facilitatetimely identification and effective management of security incidents,reducing potential impact on business operations.

•  Support continuous improvement

Encourageongoing assessment and refinement of security practices as threatsevolve and organizational 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/IEC27002:2013 organizes information security guidance into a catalog ofsecurity controls grouped across fourteen domains, aligning with theISO 27000 series and supporting an ISMS under ISO/IEC 27001. Itoutlines control objectives and implementation guidance across areassuch as access control, asset management, cryptography, operations,supplier relationships, and incident management, and structuresselection of safeguards around risk management and governancerequirements.

Organizationsapply ISO/IEC 27002:2013 by mapping its controls to their riskassessment 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 control libraries andconfigurable risk registers to link controls to assets and risks,policy governance modules for versioned procedures, automatedevidence collection, compliance tracking, and remediation workflows.Dashboards and reporting support audit readiness, monitoring ofcontrol effectiveness, and coordination of governance and complianceactivities.

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

Definesstandards for encryption, key management, and secure communication ofsensitive data.

•  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/IEC27002:2013 is commonly implemented by companies seeking structuredinformation security management and data protection across enterprisesystems, cloud solutions, and sensitive information assets. Theframework is typically applied when improving cybersecuritypractices, addressing risk management requirements, and supportingassurance programs within compliance and regulatory environments.

Framework Objectives

ISO/IEC27002:2013 provides comprehensive guidance for organizations toestablish effective information security controls and improve riskmanagement.

•  Enhance cybersecurity risk management through structuredselection of security 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 andminimizing incidents

•  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.

Common Framework Mappings

Organizationsmap ISO/IEC 27002 controls to complementary frameworks to streamlinegovernance, demonstrate multi-regime compliance, and harmonizecontrol implementation and auditability.

Mappedframeworks include:

CIS CriticalSecurity Controls

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27003

ISO/IEC 27017

ISO/IEC 27018

ISO/IEC 27701

NISTCybersecurity Framework

NIST SP 800-53

SOC 2Cybersecurity