ISO/IEC 27002:2022 — Information Security Controls

Overview

ISO/IEC27002:2022 is an international information security control frameworkthat helps organizations select, implement, and manage controls toprotect information assets and address cybersecurity risks. Itprovides a comprehensive set of best-practice guidelines supportingeffective data protection, risk management, and operational security.

Published by theInternational Organization for Standardization (ISO) and theInternational Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO/IEC 27002 isused by organizations of all sizes and industries seeking toestablish or improve their information security management systems(ISMS). The standard covers topics such as organizational controls,people controls, physical controls, and technological controls,aligning closely with ISO/IEC 27001 and supporting compliance withregulatory requirements.

In practice,organizations apply ISO/IEC 27002 to develop and maintain securitypolicies, conduct risk assessments, and implement specific controlsas part of their ISMS or broader cybersecurity programs. Theframework also supports audit readiness, policy enforcement, andintegration with other security and compliance standards.

Why it Matters

ISO/IEC27002:2022 provides organizations with structured guidance tosystematically manage information security risks and protect keyassets.

Key benefitsinclude:

•  Strengthen information security governance

Enableorganizations to establish clear security policies, roles, andresponsibilities supporting a culture of security accountability.

•  Enhance risk management practices

Support ongoingidentification, assessment, and treatment of security risks toaddress evolving threats and vulnerabilities.

•  Improve regulatory compliance

Alignorganizational controls with international standards, easingcompliance with data protection laws and industry-specificregulations.

•  Increase audit readiness

Facilitate thedocumentation and monitoring of controls, processes, and proceduresneeded for successful internal and external audits.

•  Promote operational resilience

Improve theorganization’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to securityincidents and disruptions, reducing potential impact and downtime.

How it Works

ISO/IEC27002:2022 structures its guidance into a comprehensive catalog ofsecurity controls grouped into four primary control domains:Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological. Each domainaddresses specific aspects of information security governance, riskmanagement, and operational safeguards, providing detailed objectivesand implementation guidance for each control. The revised structureaims to align controls with evolving cybersecurity threats andregulatory requirements, facilitating an integrated approach toestablishing security practices across industries.

Organizationsadopt ISO/IEC 27002:2022 by evaluating relevant security controls,performing risk assessments to prioritize implementation, andintegrating these controls into their existing governance andcompliance programs. They map control requirements to businessprocesses, develop supporting policies, deploy necessarytechnologies, and conduct regular monitoring and assessments toensure ongoing effectiveness. This practical application supportsregulatory compliance, strengthens security posture, and enableseffective incident response and continuous improvement within riskmanagement frameworks.

UsingSmartSuite, organizations can operationalize ISO/IEC 27002:2022 byleveraging an integrated control library, maintaining a centralizedrisk register, and supporting policy governance across departments.SmartSuite enables the collection of compliance evidence, tracking ofcontrol implementation status, streamlined remediation workflows, andpreparation for internal or external audits. Reporting dashboardsfacilitate real-time monitoring of security controls and compliancemetrics, supporting proactive governance and a measurable approach toinformation security management.

Key Elements

•  Organizational Security Controls

Establishesrequirements for governance, information security policies, andmanagement responsibilities throughout the organization.

•  Human Resource Controls

Describesmeasures to ensure personnel security and manage risks related tohiring, training, and termination processes.

•  Physical Safeguards

Specifiescontrols for protecting facilities, equipment, and environmentshousing information assets.

•  Technological Security Measures

Outlinessafeguards for systems, networks, and applications to preventunauthorized access and data breaches.

•  Information Asset Protection

Definesprocesses for classifying, handling, and managing information tosafeguard confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

•  Operational Security Processes

Organizespractices addressing incident response, business continuity, anddaily monitoring activities.

Framework Scope

ISO/IEC27002:2022 guides entities managing sensitive information, technologyinfrastructures, and diverse business operations across on-premises,cloud, and hybrid environments. The framework is commonly implementedwhen enhancing information security controls, addressing operationalor compliance risks, and supporting certification or regulatoryobligations through robust policy development and control selection.

Framework Objectives

ISO/IEC27002:2022 provides guidance for selecting and managing informationsecurity controls to address cybersecurity risks and compliancedemands.

•  Enhance data protection through comprehensive informationsecurity controls and practices

•  Strengthen cybersecurity risk management and organizationalgovernance structures

•  Support compliance with legal, regulatory, and contractualinformation security requirements

•  Promote operational resilience by mitigating threats andminimizing potential business disruptions

•  Improve audit readiness through systematic documentation andevaluation of controls

•  Enable organizations to demonstrate effective oversight andaccountability in safeguarding assets ISO/IEC 27002:2022 providesbest-practice information security controls complementing ISO/IEC27001 and is frequently mapped to NIST SP 800-53, the NISTCybersecurity Framework, or CIS Controls. Organizations use it toimplement and tailor controls for ISO 27001 certification, regulatorycompliance, security governance, and operational securityimprovements.

Organizationsmap ISO/IEC 27002 to other recognized frameworks to streamlinecontrol alignment, reduce audit duplication, support privacy andcloud-specific requirements, and facilitate regulatory andthird-party assurance across enterprise programs.

Mappedframeworks include:

CIS CriticalSecurity Controls

ISO/IEC 27001

ISO/IEC 27013

ISO/IEC 27017

ISO/IEC 27018

ISO/IEC 27701

NISTCybersecurity Framework

NIST SP 800-53

SOC 2