The ISO/IEC 27000 series is a family of international standards that provide best-practice guidance for managing information security. Together, they help organisations protect information assets, manage cyber and operational risks, and demonstrate effective governance of confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The series includes certifiable standards (such as ISO/IEC 27001) and supporting guidance standards that address specific security, privacy, and risk topics.
What is the ISO/IEC 27000 series?
The ISO/IEC 27000 series is jointly published by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission.
Its purpose is to provide a consistent, risk-based framework for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving information security management systems (ISMS) and related controls.
What does the ISO/IEC 27000 series cover?
Across the family, the standards address:
- Information security governance and policy
- Risk assessment and risk treatment
- Technical, organisational, and physical controls
- Supplier and third-party security
- Incident management and business continuity
- Privacy and personal data protection
- Audit, measurement, and continual improvement
The standards are designed to be modular: organisations select the standards that match their risks, data, and regulatory environment.
Core standards in the ISO/IEC 27000 series
ISO/IEC 27001 – Information security management systems
The certifiable standard that defines requirements for an ISMS. It is the foundation of the entire series.
ISO/IEC 27002 – Information security controls
Provides detailed guidance on selecting and implementing information security controls that support ISO/IEC 27001.
ISO/IEC 27000 – Overview and vocabulary
Defines key concepts and terminology used across the 27000 series.
These three standards form the backbone of most ISO/IEC 27000 implementations.
Privacy and personal data standards
ISO/IEC 27701 – Privacy information management
Extends ISO/IEC 27001 and 27002 to cover privacy controls for organisations acting as data controllers and/or processors.
ISO/IEC 27018 – Protection of personal data in cloud services
Focuses on personal data protection for cloud service providers acting as processors.
These standards are widely used where privacy accountability and data protection expectations are high.
Risk, resilience, and sector-specific standards
The ISO/IEC 27000 series also includes guidance for specific risk areas and use cases, such as:
- ISO/IEC 27005 – Information security risk management
- ISO/IEC 27017 – Cloud security controls
- ISO/IEC 27019 – Information security for energy utilities
- ISO/IEC 27031 – ICT readiness for business continuity
- ISO/IEC 27035 – Information security incident management
These standards help organisations tailor security controls to their operating context.
Who is the ISO/IEC 27000 series for?
The ISO/IEC 27000 series is suitable for:
- Organisations of any size or sector
- Businesses handling sensitive or confidential information
- Technology, cloud, and SaaS providers
- Financial, healthcare, and regulated organisations
- Organisations with contractual or regulatory security requirements
The standards are scalable, from small teams to complex, multi-site enterprises.
Certifiable vs non-certifiable standards
| Certifiable | Guidance only |
|---|---|
| ISO/IEC 27001 | ISO/IEC 27002 |
| ISO/IEC 27005 | |
| ISO/IEC 27017 | |
| ISO/IEC 27018 | |
| ISO/IEC 27701 (extension) |
Only ISO/IEC 27001 can be certified on its own. Other standards support, extend, or deepen the ISMS.
How organisations use the ISO/IEC 27000 series
Organisations typically:
- Certify to ISO/IEC 27001 as a baseline
- Use ISO/IEC 27002 to select and implement controls
- Add ISO/IEC 27701 for privacy management
- Apply specialist standards for cloud, risk, or sector needs
- Integrate security with business continuity and compliance systems
This layered approach improves coverage without unnecessary complexity.
Benefits of using the ISO/IEC 27000 series
Organisations commonly achieve:
- Reduced risk of data breaches and security incidents
- Clearer governance and accountability for information security
- Improved customer and stakeholder trust
- Better control of suppliers and third parties
- Stronger alignment between security, privacy, and business objectives
- Easier integration with other ISO management systems
The series supports continual improvement, not one-off compliance.
Common misunderstandings about the ISO/IEC 27000 series
- “All 27000 standards are certifiable” – only ISO/IEC 27001 is
- “The standards are purely technical” – governance and people are central
- “The series is only for IT companies” – it applies to all sectors
- “ISO/IEC 27701 replaces ISO/IEC 27001” – it extends it
Understanding these distinctions helps organisations choose the right standards.
How the ISO/IEC 27000 series integrates with other ISO standards
The series integrates well with:
- ISO 22301 (business continuity)
- ISO 31000 (risk management)
- ISO 9001 (quality management)
- ISO 37301 (compliance management)
This enables integrated management systems covering security, privacy, risk, and resilience.
Next steps
If you are exploring the ISO/IEC 27000 series:
- Identify the information assets and risks you need to protect
- Decide whether ISO/IEC 27001 certification is required
- Select supporting standards that match your environment (cloud, privacy, risk)
- Plan a phased, risk-based implementation
ISOcertified.net provides detailed guidance on the ISO/IEC 27000 series, including how to choose the right standards, certification requirements, costs, and ongoing information security best practice.