ISO/IEC 27004:2016 is an international data security standard that offers a framework for measuring and improving information security within organizations. Part of the ISO 27000 series, it focuses specifically on how to assess the performance and effectiveness of an organization’s Information Security Management System (ISMS).
This standard provides clear guidance on which security metrics and indicators to use, allowing organizations to track how well their ISO 27001-compliant security measures are working. It offers guidelines on establishing key metrics, assessing controls using these metrics, and accurately recording and communicating these metrics.
ISO 27004:2009 forms part of the ISO 27000 family of standards, first introduced in 2009. Over the years, the standard has been updated and has become known as ISO 27004:2016.
While ISO 27001 is a certification standard for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), ISO 27004 differs in that it provides guidelines for measuring the performance of an ISMS.
Measuring ISMS performance can be complex which is why organizations often use various methods to assess it. As ISO 27004 was designed to evaluate ISMS performance using a clearly defined set of criteria, the introduction of this standard has helped to ensure accurate and standardized assessments, making many older methods obsolete.
ISO 27004 compliance helps organizations ensure their Information Security Management System (ISMS) is performing effectively. It allows businesses to identify vulnerabilities, manage third-party risks, and prevent security breaches.
Compliance with ISO 27004 also offers numerous benefits as it helps organizations build customer trust, meet demanding customer requirements, and gain a competitive advantage. Additionally, it helps organizations win more deals and expand into new markets by showcasing their strong security practices to key stakeholders, giving them the confidence that their investment in information security is working as intended.
Businesses of all types and sizes that already have or are implementing an ISO 27001-compliant ISMS can benefit from ISO 27004, as it helps measure and improve the organization’s ISMS performance. It provides guidelines that are particularly useful for businesses looking to continuously enhance their security measures and ensure their ISMS functions at its best.
No, ISO 27004 is not mandatory. While it is not required for ISO 27001 certification, ISO 27004 helps organizations evaluate and track their progress in achieving their information security goals. This facilitates continuous improvement and compliance with ISO 27001. It is, therefore, not a standard that organizations can certify against, but it complements the other ISO 27000 standards.
By understanding ISO 27004 metrics and results, organizations can gain insight into their information security posture, analyze how well risks are being managed under ISO 27001, and make informed decisions about their security strategies and investments. It helps ensure that security practices are not only effective but also continuously improving to meet evolving threats and organizational needs.
ISO 27004 consists of 8 clauses and 3 annexes. Clauses 1-4 are introductory, while Clauses 5-8 are key clauses, which are summarized in the table below.
| Clause | Description |
| Clause 5: Rationale | Rationale defines the need for measuring performance and how it fulfills the requirements of ISO 27001. |
| Clause 6: Characteristics | This clause outlines the specific aspects of performance monitoring, measurement, and analysis, specifying what, when, and who is involved in these activities. |
| Clause 7: Types of Measures | This clause classifies measures into two categories: performance measures and effectiveness measures. It clarifies the distinct aspects of measurement in the context of the standard. |
| Clause 8: Processes | Processes outline the steps required to evaluate ISMS performance and effectiveness, including monitoring and measuring controls, analyzing results, evaluating measures, reviewing processes, and retaining documented information. |
In addition to the 8 clauses, ISO 27004 consists of 3 annexes which are informative.
ISO 27004 Annex A: An information security measurement model
ISO 27004 Annex B: Provides 37 measurement construct examples
B.1 General
B.2 Resource allocation
B.3 Policy review
B.4 Management commitment
B.5 Risk exposure
B.6 Audit programme
B.7 Improvement actions
B.8 Security incident cost
B.9 Learning from information security incidents
B.10 Corrective action implementation
B.11 ISMS training or ISMS awareness
B.12 Information security training
B.13 Information security awareness compliance
B.14 ISMS awareness campaigns effectiveness
B.15 Social engineering preparedness
B.16 Password quality – manual
B.17 Password quality – automated
B.18 Review of user access rights
B.19 Physical entry controls system evaluation
B.20 Physical entry controls effectiveness
B.21 Management of periodic maintenance
B.22 Change management
B.23 Protection against malicious code
B.24 Anti-malware
B.25 Total availability
B.26 Firewall rules
B.27 Log files review
B.28 Device configuration
B.29 Pentest and vulnerability assessment
B.30 Vulnerability landscape
B.31 Security in third party agreements – A
B.32 Security in third party agreements – B
B.33 Information security incident management effectiveness
B.34 Security incidents trend
B.35 Security event reporting
B.36 ISMS review process
B.37 Vulnerability coverage
ISO 27004 Annex C: Sets out an example of free-text form measurement construction
Here’s a complete ISO 27004 compliance checklist to help organizations in achieving ISO 27004 compliance:
It is important to note that compliance automation software enables organizations to streamline these processes, making it easier to achieve and maintain the stringent regulatory requirements for key security frameworks like ISO 27001 and ISO 27004.
