Pen Testing versus Vulnerability Assessment

Feeling confused about security assessments? Are you unsure if a Vulnerability Assessment or Penetration Test is the right assessment for your organization? While both aim to test your defenses and security postures, they take very different approaches. This blog will untangle the mysteries of Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing, helping you choose the ideal champion to evaluate your security posture.

Vulnerability Assessments (VAs) leverage automated tools to scan for known vulnerabilities in your software and systems. They provide a high-level view of potential issues based on documented weaknesses. This approach is cost-effective and efficient, making it ideal for regular checkups.

Penetration Testing (PT) simulates real-world attacker behavior, actively exploiting existing vulnerabilities to measure their impact. This in-depth assessment reveals how attackers might gain access and cause damage. However, Penetration Tests are more complex, requiring specialized skills and manual effort, leading to higher costs.

Organizations look for these security assessments usually for legal, contractual or regulatory purposes. Once you understand the business objective(s) for your assessment, you can select the right option or probably conduct both tests. However, in our experience as cybersecurity professionals for over 12 years, leveraging the strengths of both VA and PT at different times is ideal for your cybersecurity strategy. 

 

Comparing Pen Testing and Vulnerability Assessment

Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (Pen Testing) are both critical components of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, but they serve different purposes and have distinct methodologies. Here’s a comparison of the two: 

Comparing Pen Testing & Vulnerability Assessment

1. Purpose

Vulnerability Assessment: The primary goal of a vulnerability assessment is to identify, assess, and categorize vulnerabilities in an organization’s systems, networks, and applications. It focuses on finding weaknesses in the security posture without exploiting them. It aims to provide a snapshot of potential weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers.

Pen Testing: Pen Testing, on the other hand, involves actively simulating real-world cyberattacks to exploit vulnerabilities and determine the extent to which an attacker can gain unauthorized access or compromise systems. The primary purpose is to evaluate an organization’s security posture and measure its ability to withstand attacks if they are attacked.

 

2. Scope & Frequency of Testing

Vulnerability Assessment: It usually has a broader scope, focusing on identifying as many vulnerabilities as possible, including low-risk ones. It provides a comprehensive list of potential weaknesses.

Pen Testing: Pen testing has a narrower scope and typically focuses on a specific target or set of targets. It aims to demonstrate the impact of exploited vulnerabilities and assess the overall security posture.

 

3. Methodology

Vulnerability Assessment: It typically involves automated or manual scans of systems and networks to identify known vulnerabilities. The assessment can include vulnerability scanning tools, configuration reviews, and system analysis.

Pen Testing: Pen testing involves ethical hackers (penetration testers) actively trying to exploit vulnerabilities to understand their potential impact and determine if unauthorized access or data breaches are possible. This may include attempting to gain unauthorized access, privilege escalation, social engineering, network probing, data exfiltration, or other attack scenarios.

 

4. Reporting

Vulnerability Assessment: The output of a vulnerability assessment is a list of identified vulnerabilities, their severity ratings, and recommendations for remediation. It provides a roadmap for improving security but doesn’t include detailed exploitation scenarios.

Pen Testing: Pen testing reports include information on the vulnerabilities exploited, the impact of successful attacks, the techniques used, and recommendations for mitigating the risks. These reports are more in-depth and provide actionable insights based on actual attack simulations.

5. Regulatory Compliance

Vulnerability Assessment: Vulnerability assessments are often almost required to comply with various regulations and standards, such as PCI DSS, ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800-171, CMMC 2.0, etc. This is considered as the minimum required security program for several organizations.

Pen Testing: Penetration testing is also required, at times, by regulations and security standards, and it is more focused in the areas where customer data is stored. Organizations in the finance industry, product/cloud companies and the healthcare sector are required to conduct the pen testing as the cost of breaches is too high if the services/products are not secured properly. Pen testing is required in any certification audit including SOC 2 & ISO 27001, apart from several compliance standards including PCI DSS, HIPAA, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST 800-171, CMMC 2.0, etc.

 

6. Cost & Time

Vulnerability Assessment: Typically carried out through automated processes, this operation can take anywhere from a few hours to several hours to complete. The process, which includes identifying vulnerabilities and validating the results, is generally completed within a few days. The cost for this engagement usually begins at around USD 2,500.

Pen Testing: A considerable amount of work goes into collecting public information, conducting analysis, identifying vulnerabilities, and executing exploitation, including privilege escalation. Depending on the type of penetration testing – whether it’s network, application, or other asset types – the engagement typically spans 2 to 6 weeks. The cost for these services starts at approximately USD 15,000.

 

7. Benefit to your Cybersecurity Strategy

Vulnerability Assessment: The assessment tells you how your systems are configured and which policies & procedures you need to be changed to enhance security.

Pen Testing: It tells you how secure your systems are and which security controls are not implemented. After a Pen Test, you need to review your security tech & industry-specific best practices.

Do you need Pen Testing and Vulnerability Assessment or just one?

Vulnerability assessments are focused on identifying vulnerabilities, while penetration testing involves actively exploiting these vulnerabilities to assess their real-world impact. Both approaches are valuable in a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, with vulnerability assessments providing continuous monitoring and early detection of weaknesses and penetration testing helping organizations understand their readiness to defend against sophisticated attacks. Both are valuable tools in a cybersecurity program, and organizations often use a combination of both to strengthen their overall security posture.

Compliance Driven Decisions: If legal, contractual, or regulatory requirements demand specific assessments, you need to follow the mandated standards or clauses.

Understanding Your Needs: If the decision isn’t dictated by external factors, consider your specific needs. Vulnerability Assessments are excellent for regular scanning and identifying broad areas for improvement. They are cost effective and help you categorize vulnerabilities. Pen Testing is invaluable for uncovering deeper vulnerabilities and understanding their real-world consequences.

How databrackets can help you with Vulnerability Assessment & Pen Testing

Our Vulnerability Assessment & Pen Testing capabilities have been accredited by the A2LA for ISO 17020 Conformity assessment for inspection bodies. Our cybersecurity experts have several years of experience helping organizations across industries to meet regulatory and customer requirements.

Our client engagement starts with your business objective in mind. Vulnerability Assessment & Pen Testing is requested for several reasons:

  1. To secure your environment
  2. To meet certain regulatory compliance or certification requirements
  3. To fulfill a request made by your customer
  4. A combination of the reasons mentioned above

Once we understand what you require, our exercise focuses primarily on scoping of the engagement and setting expectations. We use a variety of tools depending on the type of test and systems in which we need to identify vulnerabilities & conduct pen testing. Our process includes:

  1. Discovery
  2. Identifying and finalizing assets
  3. Identifying vulnerabilities
  4. Exploitation of the vulnerabilities (Pen Testing)
  5. Validation of the issues identified
  6. Remediation/Recommendations
  7. Re-testing

We conduct a wide variety of Penetration Tests for our clients to evaluate the level of security in the following:

  1. Internal Network
  2. External Network
  3. Web Application
  4. Mobile Apps
  5. Cloud Infrastructure
  6. IoT Devices

Apart from using the tools best in the industry, we also focus on remediation and retesting of the environment. We just don’t give hundreds of pages of reports without any help to eliminate the risks. We help our clients prioritize the risks based on the context, patch the systems and select security tech, policies and procedures that are considered best practices in their industry. We also set up continuous monitoring after our tests to track any changes to your environment & send you timely alerts.

As we continue to work with our clients, we sharpen our understanding of your specific environment and system. This helps us to design cadence for continuous protection and monitoring using the right tools to ensure continual improvement and proactive identification of issues for the future. You can contact us for a customized quote or schedule a consultation.

 

databrackets overview

Our team of security experts has supported organizations across a wide variety of industries to align their processes with security frameworks like ISO 27001:2022, SOC 2, HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11, NIST SP 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST SP 800-171, GDPR, CMMC 2.0 etc.

We are constantly expanding our library of assessments and services to serve organizations across industries. Schedule a Consultation if you would like to Connect with an Expert to understand how we can customize our services to meet your specific requirements.

Connect with an Expert
Schedule a Consultation
Start for Free

Related Links:

Technologies To Detect And Prevent Ransomware Attacks 

Sources of Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Systems

What are the new controls added to ISO 27001 in 2022?

How to Select a Security Vendor

Author: Aditi Salhotra, Digital Marketing and Business Development, databrackets.com

Aditi is a Digital Marketing and Business Development Professional at databrackets.com. She graduated with honors in Marketing from Sheridan College, Canada. In addition to her current profile, she contributes to Product Development and Content Creation. She is a strong advocate of Good Cyber Hygiene and white hat SEO techniques. She is proud of the company’s mission to safeguard organizations from cyber threats and ensure their business continuity in adverse situations. 

Technical Expert: Srini Kolathur, Director, databrackets.com

The technical information presented in this blog has been carefully reviewed and verified by our Director, Srini Kolathur. Srini is results-driven security and compliance professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, leading, and managing global IT security, compliance, support, and risk assessment in fortune 100 companies. Some of his key areas of focus are SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework,  HIPAA, Security Risk Assessment, CMMC 2.0 among others. He is a CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP), CISSP, CISA, CISM, MBA. He is active in several community groups including Rotary International and TiE.

Can you submit a SOC 2 Report instead of a Vendor Security Questionnaire?

Over the last decade, service organizations have been asked to prove their level of cyber hygiene before they are awarded a contract. The RFQs and contracts of small-medium sized businesses, particularly SaaS providers typically include an annual Vendor Security Questionnaire, which is extensive and time-consuming. To save time, optimize costs and streamline resources, many SaaS providers have been opting to undergo a SOC 2 Examination and prove their compliance with industry-preferred Trust Services Criteria and security controls. This single report serves as proof since it is given by an independent and authorized CPA after their controls have been tested and it serves as an alternative to the Vendor Security Questionnaire. This blog is intended to help you compare a SOC 2 Report and a Vendor Security Questionnaire and decide which option works for you.  


Comparing a SOC 2 Report and a Vendor Security Questionnaire

A SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) report and a Vendor Security Questionnaire have some overlaps in terms of the controls they refer to. However, for some customers, they are not interchangeable. Here’s a brief overview of each:

SOC 2 Report

  • A SOC 2 report is an assessment of an organization’s controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.
  • SOC 2 reports are conducted by independent third-party auditors and are designed to provide assurance to customers and partners about the security and privacy practices of a service provider.
  •  SOC 2 reports provide detailed information about the controls and processes in place, along with an auditor’s opinion on their effectiveness.
  • These reports are often requested by customers to assess a vendor’s security and compliance posture.

Vendor Security Assessment Questionnaire

  • These are typically questions answered  by vendors to their customers or partners. The number of questions can vary between 30 to 300, contingent upon the vendor’s risk profile. 
  • Vendor security questionnaires are used to gather information about a vendor’s security practices, policies, and controls.
  • They may be customized by the customer to align with their specific security requirements and concerns.
  • These documents help customers assess a vendor’s security readiness, but they are based on self-reported information provided by the vendor.

In most cases, a SOC 2 report provides more comprehensive and independent assurance about a vendor’s security practices compared to a vendor security questionnaire. However, some organizations may still require vendors to complete their own security questionnaires or submit a SOC 2 Report and provide additional documentation to address specific security concerns or requirements.


How a SOC 2 Report streamlines the Vendor Assessment Process

B2B Contracts & RFQs rely on a SOC 2 Report because it can streamline their vendor assessment process in several ways. Here’s how a SOC 2 report can achieve this: 

Benefits of a SOC 2 Report compared to a Vendor Security Questionnaire

1. Comprehensive Assessment: A SOC 2 audit involves a thorough examination of an organization’s controls and processes related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. The resulting report provides a comprehensive overview of the vendor’s security posture and compliance with industry standards.

 

2. Third-Party Verification: SOC 2 audits are conducted by authorized and independent third-party auditors, which enhances the credibility and reliability of the assessment. The fact that an impartial auditor has validated the vendor’s controls can reduce the need for the requesting organization to conduct its own extensive assessments.

 

3. Standardized Reporting: SOC 2 reports follow a standardized format with fixed criteria established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This consistency makes it easier for the requesting organization to review and compare different vendors’ assessments, as they are presented in a comparable format.

 

4. Reduced Documentation Requests: Having a SOC 2 report implies that the vendor has already provided detailed documentation and evidence of its controls to the auditor. When requesting a SOC 2 report, the requesting organization can typically access this documentation, reducing the need for additional, redundant requests for the same information.

 

5. Saves Time and Cost: Conducting a full-scale security assessment of a vendor can be time-consuming and costly for both the vendor and the requesting organization. A SOC 2 report can expedite the assessment process, saving time and resources for both parties.

6. Trust and Confidence: A SOC 2 examination builds trust and confidence among customers and partners. It demonstrates the vendor’s commitment to security and compliance, which can lead to more successful and long-lasting business relationships.

 

7. Competitive Advantage: Having a SOC 2 report can give vendors a competitive advantage. Many customers prioritize vendors with SOC 2 certification because it simplifies the assessment process and reduces their own compliance and security risks.

 

While a SOC 2 report can streamline the vendor assessment process, it’s important to note that it may not completely eliminate the need for additional assessments or specific requirements tailored to the requesting organization’s needs. The level of scrutiny and specific requirements can still vary based on the nature of the vendor relationship and the sensitivity of the data or services involved. However, having a SOC 2 report as a foundation can significantly simplify and expedite the assessment process. 

 

Our Client Experience

We have numerous clients who have shared that they have had to dedicate considerable amounts of time to complete a range of vendor assessment questionnaires for their customers in regulated sectors. Their experienced security analysts or consultants from our team have dedicated 10-30 hours for each questionnaire and submitted an average of 10-20 questionnaires annually. However, strategic acquisition of third-party reports such as SOC 2 has allowed our clients to completely bypass this time-consuming process, thereby freeing up their schedule to focus on business-critical tasks. By being able to prove their commitment to security and privacy of data using a standardized format, they have been able to retain their customers and meet the requirement for documentation & evidence. 

How databrackets can help you with a Vendor Security Questionnaire

Our team of security experts conducts a thorough security assessment of your environment to understand your security controls, tools, techniques, processes & procedures. After this analysis, our customers can outsource the entire exercise of filling up Vendor Security Questionnaires to our team, as and when required. This has resulted in saving them an average of 400 hours of effort or 3-4 months, on an annual basis. Our team also engages with their customers on a need by need basis, to ensure they are fully supported in this endeavor. 

A SOC 2 Examination takes a much shorter amount of time compared to repetitive filling of Vendor Security Questionnaires. Based on our recommendation, several clients have undergone a SOC 2 Readiness Assessment with our experts followed by their SOC 2 Audit by an authorized CPA. Our SOC 2 package has helped them to present their evidence and company information in a streamlined manner through dbACE, our GRC Platform. Through this optimized process, they have saved precious time & money. 

While we recommend a SOC 2 Examination compared to an annual average of 400 hours of effort and time spent in repetitive filling of Vendor Security Questionnaires, we would also like to share that all SOC 2 Reports are not the same. A SOC 2 report provides detailed information about your security controls and processes, along with your auditor’s opinion of their effectiveness. The clarity and depth of your SOC 2 report depends on the expertise and reputation of the organization that has helped you prepare for your SOC 2 Audit and properly presented the evidence of how effective your controls are. When your evidence is presented with depth and accuracy, your auditor is able to gain a better understanding and evaluate your documentation. This clarity and depth impacts their opinion and subsequently your SOC 2 Report. 

Additionally, the quality of testing varies between SOC 2 Auditors. Some auditors go in-depth and this thorough evaluation discovers issues that you may not be aware of otherwise. This helps you to identify the risk and implement measures to help your organization. 

Hence, to have a SOC 2 Report that truly reflects your commitment to security and privacy, and which you can submit instead of a Vendor Security Questionnaire, you need to invest time and resources in the readiness process & work with a SOC 2 auditor who prioritizes a thorough evaluation.

How databrackets can help you with SOC 2 Readiness & Examination

databrackets works in conjunction with certified CPA firms to prepare our customers to get ready for a SOC 2 Examination and obtain a SOC 2 report. Some of the services by our security experts are:

  • Readiness Assessment & Recommendations
  • Testing of Controls, Vulnerability Assessment and Security Risk Assessment
  • Support to draft the Management Assertion for your SOC 2 Report

SOC 2 Examination by a certified CPA includes 

  • Selecting the Trust Services Criteria 
  • Finalizing the SOC 2 Audit Period
  • Scoping of the systems and applications
  • Sampling & reviewing the evidence and policies & procedures
  • Interviewing process owners
  • Analyzing the results 
  • Documenting & reporting

The CPA that you chose to work with can access all your evidence in a streamlined manner on dbACE – our GRC Platform.

databrackets overview

Our team of security experts has supported organizations across a wide variety of industries to align their processes with security frameworks like HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 27001:2022, SOC 2, NIST SP 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST SP 800-171, GDPR, CMMC etc.

We are constantly expanding our library of assessments and services to serve organizations across industries. Schedule a Consultation if you would like to Connect with an Expert to understand how we can customize our services to meet your specific requirements.

Connect with an Expert
Schedule a Consultation
Start for Free

Related Links:

Technologies To Detect And Prevent Ransomware Attacks 

Sources of Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Systems

What are the new controls added to ISO 27001 in 2022?

How to Select a Security Vendor

Author: Aditi Salhotra, Digital Marketing and Business Development, databrackets.com

Aditi is a Digital Marketing and Business Development Professional at databrackets.com. She graduated with honors in Marketing from Sheridan College, Canada. In addition to her current profile, she contributes to Product Development and Content Creation. She is a strong advocate of Good Cyber Hygiene and white hat SEO techniques. She is proud of the company’s mission to safeguard organizations from cyber threats and ensure their business continuity in adverse situations. 

Technical Expert: Srini Kolathur, Director, databrackets.com

The technical information presented in this blog has been carefully reviewed and verified by our Director, Srini Kolathur. Srini is results-driven security and compliance professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, leading, and managing global IT security, compliance, support, and risk assessment in fortune 100 companies. Some of his key areas of focus are SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework,  HIPAA, Security Risk Assessment, CMMC 2.0 among others. He is a CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP), CISSP, CISA, CISM, MBA. He is active in several community groups including Rotary International and TiE.

SOC 2 versus ISO 27001

Organizations frequently face a tough choice between SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications as a means to showcase their security maturity. Comparing the two security standards can be tough and the decision-making process can be complex, as each certification brings its own set of advantages and challenges. As certified security experts who regularly work with both frameworks, we will discuss details about each security standard to help you make an informed choice that aligns with your business objectives, industry standards, and the risk tolerance demanded by your customers.

 

What is SOC 2?

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) is a security standard for service organizations, developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). The SOC 2 framework is applicable to all technology service providers or SaaS Product companies that work with customer data. It specifies aspects of security that they need to follow while managing customer data.

SOC 2 Certification is based on 5 Trust Services Criteria: security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality and privacy of customer data. The SOC 2 framework does not provide a specific list of controls and tools. It merely cites the criteria required to maintain a high level of information security. It is up to each organization to establish the practices and processes relevant to their own objectives and operations. A SOC 2 report provides detailed information about the controls and processes in place, along with an auditor’s opinion on their effectiveness.

 

What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is a globally respected information security standard. It was designed, regulated and continues to be updated by the International Organization for Standardization. It is officially referred to as ‘ISO/IEC 27001’ and is part of the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards.

Even though ISO 27001 isn’t a legal mandate, organizations around the world prefer to work with B2B partners and vendors who are ISO 27001 certified. Its popularity is attributed to the fact that ISO 27001 controls evaluate the strength of an organization’s Information Security Management System (ISMS) and the 2022 version is designed to prevent advanced persistent threats.

 

Comparing SOC 2 and ISO 27001

SOC 2 compared to ISO 27001

SOC 2 (System and Organization Controls 2) and ISO 27001 are two different frameworks B2B companies use for assessing the ISMS of potential vendors and partners. While they share some similarities, they also have distinct differences. Here’s a comparison of SOC 2 and ISO 27001 in terms of their similarities and differences. 

Similarities between SOC 2 and ISO 27001

1. Information Security Focus:

Both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are focused on information security management. They aim to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data and systems.

2. Risk Management: Both frameworks emphasize the importance of identifying, assessing, and mitigating information security risks. They require organizations to have risk management processes in place.

3. Third-Party Audits:

Both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications involve third-party audits conducted by independent auditors or certification bodies to verify compliance with their respective standards.

4. Control Objectives: Both frameworks provide a set of control objectives or requirements that organizations must meet to achieve certification. These control objectives address various aspects of information security.

5. Continuous Improvement:

Both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 promote a culture of continuous improvement by requiring organizations to regularly assess and update their security measures.

 

Differences between SOC 2 and ISO 27001

1. Scope

SOC 2: Primarily focuses on service organizations, particularly those that provide services to other businesses like SaaS providers. SOC 2 reports are often used by customers to evaluate the security of service providers.

ISO 27001: Can be applied to any type of organization, including service providers and manufacturing companies. It is not limited to service organizations.

2. Origin of the Framework

SOC 2: Developed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) and is widely recognized in the United States.

ISO 27001: Developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and is an international standard recognized globally.

3. Certification versus Attestation

SOC 2: SOC 2 is not technically a certification; it is officially called a SOC 2 Examination. A SOC 2 Audit results in an attestation report, which provides information about the controls in place but does not result in certification. Organizations receive a SOC 2 Type 1 or Type 2 report.

ISO 27001: Results in certification, indicating that an organization’s Information Security Management System (ISMS) complies with the ISO 27001 standard. Organizations receive ISO 27001 certification.

4. Control Framework

SOC 2: It does not provide a specific control framework but relies on predefined trust service criteria (e.g., security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy) that organizations must address.

ISO 27001: Provides a comprehensive set of controls and control objectives which organizations have to implement.

5. Reporting Structure

SOC 2: Typically results in a Type 1 or Type 2 report that outlines the controls in place and their effectiveness during a specific period (Type 1 for a point in time, Type 2 for a period of time).

ISO 27001: Results in a certificate issued by a certification body indicating that an organization’s ISMS complies with ISO 27001. It does not provide specific details on individual control effectiveness.

6. Cost

SOC 2 : Readiness & Implementation Cost:  Starting at $15,000 +   

              Certification Cost: Starting at $10,000 +

ISO 27001: Readiness & Implementation Cost: Starting at $20,000 +

                   Certification Cost: Starting at $10,000 +

7. Time

SOC 2: Readiness & Implementation: 3-4 months for SMBs, maybe longer for large enterprises

             Certification: 3-6 months depending on the period of observation and 4-8 weeks subsequently for testing and reporting

ISO 27001: Readiness & Implementation: 3-4 months for SMBs, maybe longer for large enterprises

                   Certification: 3-6 weeks
 

In summary, both SOC 2 and ISO 27001 are valuable frameworks for managing information security, but they differ in terms of scope, origin, certification vs. attestation, control framework, and reporting structure. Organizations should choose the framework that aligns best with their specific needs, industry, and geographic considerations. Additionally, some organizations may choose to pursue both certifications to meet the needs of different stakeholders.

How databrackets can help you with SOC 2

databrackets works in conjunction with certified CPA firms to prepare our customers to get ready for a SOC 2 Examination and obtain a SOC 2 report. Some of the services by our security experts are:

  • Readiness Assessment & Recommendations
  • Testing of Controls, Vulnerability Assessment and Security Risk Assessment
  • Support to draft the Management Assertion for your SOC 2 Report

SOC 2 Examination by a certified CPA includes 

  • Selecting the Trust Services Criteria 
  • Finalizing the SOC 2 Audit Period
  • Scoping of the systems and applications
  • Sampling & reviewing the evidence and policies & procedures
  • Interviewing process owners
  • Analyzing the results 
  • Documenting and reporting

The CPA that you chose to work with can access all your evidence in a streamlined manner on dbACE – our GRC Platform.

How databrackets can help you with ISO 27001

databrackets has a team of certified ISO Lead Auditors. We help organizations achieve their ISO goals by supporting them with:

  1. ISO 27001 Certification
  2. Do-It-Yourself ISO 27001 assessment toolkit

In our DIY (Do It Yourself) assessment toolkit all the clauses and controls stipulated by ISO 27001 standards are uploaded on our GRC Platform – dbACE. Customers need to upload their data along with evidence and mark the clause/controls’ ‘implementation’ status for Stage 1 and Stage 2 Assessments.

Our ISO Lead auditors conduct an impartial assessment based on the evidence provided and record their findings on dbACE. This helps them communicate the results and seek corrective measures wherever necessary – all in one location. The dbACE interface makes the turnaround quicker and saves time, effort and, thereby, costs. The documentation for the audit from start-to-finish takes place on this platform. This includes the final report that reflects the status of the customer’s adherence to ISO 27001 standards and guidelines.

databrackets overview

Our team of security experts has supported organizations across a wide variety of industries to align their processes with security frameworks like HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11, ISO 27001:2022, SOC 2, NIST SP 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, NIST SP 800-171, GDPR, CMMC etc.

We are constantly expanding our library of assessments and services to serve organizations across industries. Schedule a Consultation if you would like to Connect with an Expert to understand how we can customize our services to meet your specific requirements.

Connect with an Expert
Schedule a Consultation
Start for Free

Related Links:

Technologies To Detect And Prevent Ransomware Attacks 

Sources of Ransomware Attacks on Healthcare Systems

What are the new controls added to ISO 27001 in 2022?

How to Select a Security Vendor

Author: Aditi Salhotra, Digital Marketing and Business Development, databrackets.com

Aditi is a Digital Marketing and Business Development Professional at databrackets.com. She graduated with honors in Marketing from Sheridan College, Canada. In addition to her current profile, she contributes to Product Development and Content Creation. She is a strong advocate of Good Cyber Hygiene and white hat SEO techniques. She is proud of the company’s mission to safeguard organizations from cyber threats and ensure their business continuity in adverse situations. 

Technical Expert: Srini Kolathur, Director, databrackets.com

The technical information presented in this blog has been carefully reviewed and verified by our Director, Srini Kolathur. Srini is results-driven security and compliance professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, leading, and managing global IT security, compliance, support, and risk assessment in fortune 100 companies. Some of his key areas of focus are SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework,  HIPAA, Security Risk Assessment, CMMC 2.0 among others. He is a CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP), CISSP, CISA, CISM, MBA. He is active in several community groups including Rotary International and TiE.

Transition to ISO 27001:2022

The ISO 27001:2022 certification standard was released in October 2022. It has replaced the ISO 27001:2013 edition via a three-year transition period, which ends on October 31, 2025. Companies with an ISO 27001:2013 certification are required to transition to ISO 27001:2022 by October 31, 2025. All ISO 27001:2013 certifications will expire or be withdrawn at the end of the transition period.

It is imperative for companies to connect with their ISO 27001 Certifying Body to undergo a transition audit and confirm that they comply with the new security requirements applicable to the ISO 27001 standard.

By May 1, 2024, all new certifications must be issued against the ISO 27001:2022 edition by the certifying bodies. After this date, all recertification audits must also utilize the ISO 27001:2022 edition. While there are changes to the list of controls, ISO 27002:2022 also defines a purpose for individual controls to better explain each control’s intent. The options for the existing and new customers are given below.

If you are a current ISO 27001-certified organization: 

a) If your full recertification audit is due before May 1, 2024:

        1. You could continue with the 2013 version 
        2. You could transition to the 2022 version 

b) If your full recertification audit is due after May 1, 2024, you can only be certified against ISO 27001:2022 

c) If your surveillance audit is due before Oct 31, 2025

        1. You have the choice to continue with your 2013 version
        2. You also have the option to transition to 2022 and get your transition to 2022 audit completed along with your surveillance audit

d) However, all transition audits to 27001:2022 need to be completed by Oct 31, 2025 from the ISO 27001:2013 version. 

If you are considering getting ISO 27001 certified:

        1. You can get the 2013 version certified until May 1, 2024
        2. After May 1, 2024 you can get certified only against the 2022 version

Changes to ISO 27001:2022

A summary of the changes to the ISO 27001 standard are:
Changes have been made to the following requirements:

        • 4.2 Understanding the needs and expectations of interested parties
        • 4.4 Information Security Management System
        • 6.2 Information security objectives and planning to achieve them
        • 6.3 Planning of changes
        • 8.1 Operational planning and control
        • 9.1 Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation
        • 9.3.2 Management review inputs
        • 10 Improvement

Annex A controls

        • The overall number of controls within Annex A is now 93 compared to the 114 controls in the previous edition.
        • They have been regrouped from 14 control objectives to 4 broad themes: Organizational, People, Physical, and Technological Controls.
        • Several previous controls have been consolidated into broader new controls, and 11 new controls have been added, including:
        1. Threat Intelligence
        2. Information Security for the use of Cloud Services
        3. Physical Security Monitoring
        4. Configuration Management
        5. Information Deletion
        6. Data Masking
        7. Data Leakage Prevention
        8. Web Filtering
        9. Secure Coding

In ISO 27002:2022, there are five control attributes that include:

        • Control Type
        • Information Security Properties
        • Cybersecurity Concepts
        • Operational Capabilities
        • Security Domains

Transition Audit Timelines

As per the guidelines of the IAF, certifying bodies are required to ensure their clients are made aware of the Transition Audit timelines as outlined below:

        • Minimum of 0.5 auditor days for the transition audit when it is carried out in conjunction with a recertification audit
        • Minimum of 1.0 auditor day for the transition audit when it is carried out in conjunction with a surveillance audit or as a separate audit
        • When the certification document is updated because the client successfully completes only the transition audit, the expiration of their current certification cycle will not be changed.
        • All certifications based on ISO/IEC 27001:2013 shall expire or be withdrawn at the end of the transition period.

Prepare for your ISO 27001 Transition Audit

B2B contracts that are based on the ISO 27001 standard require clients to maintain the validity of their certification. As per the IAF guidelines, certified organizations have the option to undergo their transition audit while their ISO 27001:2013 certification cycle is valid. When they apply for recertification, they must undergo their certification audit per ISO 27001:2022 edition.

To ensure that you comply with the new controls and documentation requirements, your organization needs to prepare for the transition audit and ensure that your ISMS complies with ISO 27001:2022 controls and processes.

To ensure you are ready for your transition audit, you need to conduct an internal audit for a thorough gap analysis. This can be done with an organization that offers consulting services and is aware of the protocols of the ISO 27001:2022 edition. Organizations that provide consulting services are not authorized to offer certification services.

It is advisable to prepare for your annual surveillance audit along with your transition audit since the IAF guidelines highlight the importance of completing them together before your ISO 27001:2013 certification expires. Preparing for both will also ensure that you are poised to succeed in your recertification audit and maintain your certification status. This will ensure you are compliant with the security requirements of your B2B contracts that rely on it.

Undergo your Transition Audit and ISO 27001:2022 Certification with databrackets

databrackets holds the distinction of being recognized as an authorized certifying body for ISO 27001:2022 by IAS Online. Our certification is consistently renewed as per IAF Guidelines, and it is a testament to our commitment to excellence in information security management.

This prestigious certification signifies that our team of ISO Auditors possesses the expertise, rigor, and credibility to assess and confirm your organization’s compliance with the latest ISO 27001 standards.

Our certification services not only validate that you have implemented robust security measures to protect sensitive data but also provide assurance to stakeholders, clients, and partners that their information assets are in trustworthy hands. Our role as an authorized certifying body highlights our dedication to promoting best practices in data security and helping businesses navigate the complex landscape of information security management.

Contact us to book your transition audit from ISO 27001:2013 to ISO 27001:2022 today!

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Author: Srini Kolathur, Director, databrackets.com

The technical information presented in this blog has been carefully reviewed and verified by our Director, Srini Kolathur. Srini is results-driven security and compliance professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, leading, and managing global IT security, compliance, support, and risk assessment in fortune 100 companies. Some of his key areas of focus are SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework,  HIPAA, Security Risk Assessment, CMMC 2.0 among others. He is a CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP), CISSP, CISA, CISM, MBA. He is active in several community groups including Rotary International and TiE.

What are the new controls added to ISO 27001 in 2022?

New Controls added to ISO 27001 in 2022ISO 27001 is a globally respected information security standard. It is officially referred to as ‘ISO/IEC 27001’ and is part of the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards for information security management. It is designed, updated and regulated by the International Organization for Standardization. 

While ISO 27001 Certification is popular for the enhanced level of security it ensures in an organization’ Information Security Management System (ISMS), it is also preferred by Senior Management because of the contracts they can apply for with an ISO 27001 Certificate. Organizations around the world prefer to work with B2B partners and vendors who comply with ISO 27001 controls. They tend to include this certification or a proof of compliance in their RFQs / RFPs. 

The latest ISO 27001 update in 2022 introduced several changes starting with the name. The current edition of this standard is now referred to as ‘ISO/IEC 27001:2022’. Organizations certified against the 2013 revision (the previous edition) have till Oct 21, 2025 to transition to the new update. 

While the Structure of ISO 27001 has not changed, major changes have been introduced in Annex A, starting with the introduction of 11 new controls. Other changes include splitting one control, renaming 23 controls and merging 53 controls. Let’s explore the controls added to ISO 27001 in the 2022 update. 

Threat Intelligence:

Threat intelligence is the process of gathering, analyzing, and sharing information about potential and actual cybersecurity threats. It involves collecting data from various sources, including vulnerability databases, vendor-supplied patches, external threat feeds, social media, and other open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools, and using it to identify and mitigate potential risks to your organization’s network, systems, and data. You can use threat intelligence for various functions, including identifying and blocking malware, tracking and analyzing the activities of cybercriminals, detecting and responding to security incidents, and improving your security posture. Effective threat intelligence helps organizations better understand the nature and scope of potential threats and improve their ability to respond to them.

Information Security for use of Cloud Services:

Information security is crucial when using cloud services because these services involve storing and processing sensitive data on third-party servers that are not under your direct control. The security of your data and systems depends on the security measures put in place by your cloud service provider. Cloud service providers typically offer a range of security features, including encryption, access control, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention, and regular security audits. The shared security responsibilities of the cloud model requires customers to evaluate the efficacy of the security features offered and ensure their policies and procedures are in sync with the level of security you have promised your clients.

In addition to relying on the security measures provided by your cloud service provider, you can take several steps to further enhance the security of your data and systems in the cloud. These may include implementing multi-factor authentication, using strong passwords and regularly changing them, limiting access to sensitive data, monitoring user activity, and periodically reviewing and updating your security policies and procedures.

ICT Readiness for business continuity:

ICT (Information and Communication Technology) readiness refers to the preparedness of an organization’s technological infrastructure and systems to respond to unexpected events or disruptions, such as natural disasters, cyber-attacks, or power outages. On the other hand, business continuity refers to an organization’s ability to continue its essential functions and operations during such events, minimizing the impact of the disruption on its operations, customers, and stakeholders. ICT readiness is crucial for business continuity because it enables organizations to maintain communication, data, and information flows even in challenging circumstances. Some ways in which ICT readiness can support business continuity are:

  • Data backup and recovery

  • Remote Access

  • Redundancy and failover systems

  • Cybersecurity

Physical Security Monitoring:

Physical security monitoring is a critical component of an organization’s information security management system (ISMS) in compliance with ISO 27001. It is the process of monitoring, evaluating, and controlling physical access to an organization’s premises, data centers, and other critical areas that house sensitive information. Physical security monitoring aims to prevent unauthorized access, theft, damage, or destruction of an organization’s assets, including its people, facilities, and equipment. Some of the key components of physical security monitoring for ISO 27001 include:

  • Access control

  • Security surveillance

  • Monitoring and Physical barriers such as fences, walls, gates, or locks

  • Alarm systems such as fire alarms, intrusion detection systems, or panic

  • Incident response procedures

  • Training and Awareness

Configuration Management:

Configuration Management is critical for ensuring the security of an organization’s information assets, including hardware, software, and data. In ISO 27001, Configuration Management is part of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) defined in clause 7.5.1. Its purpose is to ensure that information systems and assets are identified, controlled, and maintained throughout their life cycle. This includes identifying and documenting the configuration of information systems, maintaining the integrity of information assets, and ensuring that changes to information systems are properly authorized and controlled.

The configuration management process typically involves the following steps:

  • Identification

    of all hardware and software components

  • Establishing a baseline

    configuration for each component

  • Implementing controls

    to ensure that all changes made to the system components are authorized, documented, and tracked.

  • Monitoring the system

    components and configurations to ensure they comply with the established baseline configuration.

  • Reporting on the configuration management

    process and its effectiveness to ensure that the organization’s information system remains secure and in compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and standards.

Information Deletion:

Information deletion is an essential component of information security. It involves securely and permanently removing information from all storage devices, including hard drives, USB drives, memory cards, and other digital storage media.

ISO 27001 provides guidelines on how organizations can ensure that information is deleted securely. These guidelines include the following:

  • Defining deletion procedures

    , including identifying the types of information that need to be deleted, the methods of deletion, and the roles and responsibilities of individuals involved in the deletion process.

  • Use secure deletion methods

    that render the information unrecoverable. This can include overwriting the information with random data, physically destroying the storage device, or using specialized software to erase the data securely.

  • Ensure secure disposal of storage devices

    through physical destruction or secure disposal methods that prevent the information from being recovered.

  • Maintain records of all deletion activities

    , including the type of information deleted, the date and time of deletion, the method used, and the individuals involved in the deletion process.

Data masking:

Data masking is a security technique used to protect sensitive data by replacing it with a fake value while keeping its original format and structure intact. The purpose of data masking is to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information, such as personally identifiable information (PII) or confidential business data.

To implement data masking for ISO 27001, organizations can use a variety of techniques, such as:

  • Substitution

    involves replacing sensitive data with a fictitious value, such as a random string of characters or a fake name.

  • Shuffling

    involves reordering the values of a dataset while maintaining its overall structure.

  • Encryption

    involves transforming sensitive data into an unreadable format, which can only be accessed with a decryption key.

  • Redaction

    involves removing sensitive information from a document or file. For example, blacking out a customer’s social security number on a printed document.

Data Leakage Prevention:

Data leakage prevention (DLP) is a critical component of information security management in ISO 27001. It refers to the process of identifying, monitoring, and controlling sensitive data that may be at risk of being disclosed or exposed to unauthorized parties.

To prevent data leakage, an organization can implement various technical and procedural controls such as:

  • Network segmentation:

    Network segmentation is a technique that divides a network into smaller subnetworks, which helps to control the flow of data between different segments. By segmenting the network, an organization can create a boundary that can be monitored and controlled to prevent unauthorized data transfer.

  • Access control:

    Access control is a mechanism that ensures that only authorized personnel can access sensitive data. This can be done by using strong authentication mechanisms, such as two-factor authentication, and by implementing strict access control policies.

  • Data encryption:

    Data encryption is the process of transforming data into an unreadable format, which can only be decrypted with a secret key. By encrypting sensitive data, an organization can prevent unauthorized access to the data in case of data leakage.

  • Data loss prevention software:

    Data loss prevention (DLP) software is designed to monitor and control the flow of sensitive data within an organization. DLP software can detect and prevent unauthorized data transfer, block access to unauthorized devices, and provide alerts for suspicious activities.

  • Employee training:

    Employees are often the weakest link in an organization’s security chain. Providing employees with regular training on data security policies, procedures, and best practices can help prevent data leakage.

Monitoring Activities:

Monitoring activities are essential to maintaining the effectiveness of the ISMS and ensuring that information security risks are identified and addressed promptly. Here are some of the monitoring activities that organizations should consider while implementing controls to comply with ISO 27001:

  1. Security Incident Monitoring

    to identify potential threats or vulnerabilities and to take steps to prevent them from occurring in the future.

  2. Access Control Monitoring

    to ensure that policies are working as intended to detect and prevent any unauthorized access attempts or other security breaches

  3. Monitoring Compliance

    with the organization’s policies and procedures, as well as with legal and regulatory requirements

  4. Vulnerability Scanning

    to identify and address vulnerabilities before they can be exploited

  5. Monitoring System Logs

    for unusual activity that could indicate a security breach

  6. Risk Assessment

    to ensure that the organization’s information security remains effective in the face of evolving threats

Web Filtering:

Web filtering is a mechanism used to control or restrict access to websites and online content based on predefined policies and prevent a security risk to an organization’s information systems. It is one of the controls that can be implemented to protect an organization’s information assets from unauthorized access, use, disruption,  disclosure, modification, or destruction.

ISO 27001 requires that organizations establish policies and procedures for web filtering to protect their information assets from security threats such as malware, phishing, and other cyber attacks. These policies should be designed to meet the organization’s specific security needs and regularly reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the threat landscape.

Web filtering can be implemented using a variety of techniques, such as content filtering, URL filtering, and IP filtering. Content filtering involves examining the content of web pages and filtering out unwanted or harmful content based on predefined criteria such as keywords, categories, and file types. URL filtering involves blocking or allowing access to specific websites based on their URL address or domain name. IP filtering involves blocking or allowing access based on the IP address of the user’s computer or the website they are trying to access.

Web filtering policies should be implemented to strike a balance between security and user productivity. The policies should be reasonable, effective, and practical while allowing users to access the resources they need to do their jobs. ISO 27001 also requires organizations to provide awareness training to employees on the risks associated with browsing the web and the importance of following web filtering policies.

Secure Coding: Secure coding is a software development practice that aims to minimize the risk of vulnerabilities and weaknesses that could be exploited by attackers. It refers to the practice of writing software code that is resilient against security vulnerabilities. 

When it comes to secure coding, ISO 27001 emphasizes the importance of incorporating security measures into the software development lifecycle (SDLC) from the outset. This means ensuring that security considerations are integrated into every phase of the SDLC, including requirements gathering, design, coding, testing, and maintenance. 

To comply with the ISO 27001 standard, organizations must implement secure coding practices that include:

  • Secure design principles:

    Software design must include security considerations from the outset, including secure architecture, security protocols, and security controls.

  • Threat modeling:

    The software must be analyzed for potential vulnerabilities and threats, and appropriate security controls must be implemented to mitigate those threats.

  • Code review:

    All code must be thoroughly reviewed to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

  • Testing:

    The software must undergo rigorous testing to identify and address potential security issues before it is released.

  • Secure coding standards:

    Developers must adhere to established secure coding standards such as the OWASP Top 10 to ensure that the code is developed in a secure and consistent manner.

  • Training:

    All developers must be trained in secure coding practices to ensure they know the latest threats and best practices.

databrackets and ISO 27001:2022

databrackets has a team of certified ISO Lead Auditors. We are accredited to certify organizations who clear the final assessment for their ISO/IEC 27001 Certificate. However, our entire range of services for ISO 27001 includes:

  1. ISO 27001 Certification
  2. Do-It-Yourself ISO 27001 assessment toolkit

All our ISO services involve the use of our secure, user-friendly online assessment platform called ‘dbACE’. To help organizations who have a strong IT team and who only need a checklist to get ready for the final assessment, we have a DIY (Do It Yourself) assessment toolkit with all the clauses and controls stipulated by ISO 27001:2022. Customers need to upload their data along with evidence and mark the clause/controls’ ‘implementation’ status for Stage 1 and Stage 2 Assessments.

Our auditors conduct an impartial assessment based on the evidence provided and record their findings on our platform. This helps them communicate the results and seek corrective measures wherever necessary – all in one location. The dbACE interface makes the turnaround quicker and saves time, effort and, thereby, costs. The documentation for the audit from start-to-finish takes place on this platform. This includes the final report that reflects the status of the customer’s adherence to ISO 27001 standards and guidelines.

Author: Aditi Salhotra, Digital Marketing and Business Development, databrackets.com

Aditi is a Digital Marketing and Business Development Professional at databrackets.com. She graduated with honors in Marketing from Sheridan College, Canada. In addition to her current profile, she contributes to Product Development and Content Creation. She is a strong advocate of Good Cyber Hygiene and white hat SEO techniques. She is proud of the company’s mission to safeguard organizations from cyber threats and ensure their business continuity in adverse situations. 

Technical Expert: Srini Kolathur, Director, databrackets.com

The technical information presented in this blog has been carefully reviewed and verified by our Director, Srini Kolathur. Srini is results-driven security and compliance professional with over 20 years of experience supporting, leading, and managing global IT security, compliance, support, and risk assessment in fortune 100 companies. Some of his key areas of focus are SOC 2, ISO 27001, NIST 800-171, NIST 800-53, NIST Cybersecurity Framework,  HIPAA, Security Risk Assessment, CMMC 2.0 among others. He is a CMMC Registered Practitioner (RP), CISSP, CISA, CISM, MBA. He is active in several community groups including Rotary International and TiE.

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