What is ISO 27001 Clause 10.1 in ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 Clause 10.1 requires the organisation to improve the suitability and effectiveness of the ISMS. This process must be a documented activity. It should integrate with existing tools like Jira or SharePoint. Auditors look for human intent in these records rather than automated software outputs.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Automated compliance platforms often create a “green tick” culture. This culture decouples security from actual business operations. Auditors see these systems as a shortcut. We prefer to see improvement records within your native document repositories. Using SharePoint or Jira proves that the management team owns the security process. Do not let software hide your lack of manual oversight.
| Feature | ISO 27001:2013 | ISO 27001:2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Clause Number | Clause 10.2 | Clause 10.1 |
| Requirement Focus | Continual improvement of ISMS. | Suitability, adequacy and effectiveness. |
| Documentation | Implied in Clause 7.5. | Explicitly links to Clause 9.3 results. |
How to Implement ISO 27001 Clause 10.1 (Step-by-Step)
Identify areas where the ISMS fails to meet objectives. You must document these gaps and act on them. Use existing business tools to manage this growth. This approach ensures security becomes a cultural habit. Follow these steps to ensure compliance without external SaaS tools. Lead with the core requirement of active evaluation.
Step 1: Centralise Improvement Inputs
Create a master log in a SharePoint list. Populate this log with data from internal audits and management reviews. Include security incidents that reveal control weaknesses. This list serves as your primary evidence of system monitoring.
Step 2: Operationalise Actions in Jira
Convert improvement opportunities into Jira tickets. Assign these tickets to specific department heads. Track the progress of these security enhancements within your standard workflows. This proves that security is part of daily business-as-usual operations.
Step 3: Verify Action Effectiveness
Review the results of completed actions in your next management meeting. Record whether the improvement actually fixed the underlying issue. Document this evaluation in your meeting minutes. Save these minutes in a version-controlled SharePoint library.
ISO 27001 Clause 10.1 Audit Evidence Checklist
Focus on records that prove human oversight. Auditors want to see that you manually review your system. Provide these items during your audit:
- A live continual improvement register in SharePoint.
- Jira ticket history showing resolved security enhancements.
- Management review minutes discussing the effectiveness of changes.
- Internal audit reports linked to specific improvement tasks.
- Version history of security policies following annual reviews.
Relational Mapping
Clause 10.1 is the final stage of the PDCA cycle. It takes data from Clause 9.1 Monitoring and Clause 9.2 Internal Audit. The outputs of Clause 9.3 Management Review drive these improvements. Every action must support the objectives defined in Clause 6.2. This ensures a closed loop of security governance.
Auditor Interview: Direct Improvement Management
Question: How does the organisation identify needed improvements?
Answer: We review our Jira incident logs and internal audit results.
Question: Where do you record the results of improvement actions?
Answer: We update our central SharePoint improvement register with outcomes.
Question: How do you know if an improvement worked?
Answer: We evaluate results during our quarterly management review sessions.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Cause | Auditor Finding |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on a SaaS tool for generic updates. | Major NC: No evidence of internal business oversight. |
| Static System | No recorded improvements for over twelve months. | Minor NC: Failure to demonstrate continual improvement. |
| Lack of Evidence | Making changes without documenting the effectiveness. | Minor NC: Incomplete improvement records. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the bottom line for ISO 27001 Clause 10.1?
The organisation must show the ISMS is getting better. You must identify weaknesses and fix them. Document these actions in your internal repositories. This proves that the management team owns the system. Avoid black-box platforms that hide this manual work.
How can Jira support continual improvement?
Jira tracks the lifecycle of an improvement task. It records who did the work and when. It provides a clear audit trail of security changes. Auditors prefer this integrated approach over external compliance software. It proves security is part of your daily work.
Why is effectiveness evaluation vital for Clause 10.1?
Making a change is not enough. You must prove the change actually improved security. This requires a manual review of the outcome. Document this review in your management minutes. This shows auditors that you are making informed security decisions.