ISO 27001 Clause 4.4 is about building and keeping up your company’s information security management system, or ISMS. This system is a collection of documents, rules, and people that work together to protect your data. It’s about making sure that the right people have the right access to the right data at the right time. This is also known as the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.
What is ISO 27001 Clause 4.4 Information Security Management System (ISMS)?
The latest version of the ISO 27001 standard is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 (published in October 2022).
In the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Standard the control is titled “Information Security Management System (ISMS)”.
What is the ISO 27001 Clause 4.4 control objective?
The formal definition and control objective in the standard is: “The organisation shall establish, implement, maintain and continually improve an information security management system, including the processes needed and their interactions, in accordance with the requirements of this document.”
What is the purpose of ISO 27001 Clause 4.4?
The purpose of ISO 27001 Clause 4.4 is “To make sure you have an actual information security management system in place and that it is established, implemented and continually improved.“
The main goal of this clause is to make sure you have a working security plan. This plan should be put in place, used, and made better over time. It shows that you are serious about protecting your data. The ISO 27001 rule states that you must set up, use, keep, and always make better an ISMS.
Is ISO 27001 Clause 4.4 Mandatory?
ISO 27001 Clause 4.4 (Information Security Management System (ISMS) in the 2022 standard) is a mandatory clause in the main body of the standard.
Key Parts of the Rule
To follow this rule, you should have clear plans and policies. To do this, you can follow these steps:
- Get Support: You need the help and backing of senior leaders. Without them, the whole process might fail.
- Make a Plan: Figure out the parts of the company that will be in the security system.
- Create Your ISMS: Build the system by writing down your rules and processes.
- Put It to Use: Start using the security rules and give people the right training.
- Watch and Check: Look at how the system is working. You should check it often and make improvements.
What an Auditor Will Check
An auditor will want to see proof that you are following these rules. They will:
- Check if you have a security system in place.
- Look for evidence that it is working as it should be.
- Check to see if you are making it better over time.
You can learn more about the Information Security Management System (ISMS) and ISO 27001 by watching this video: ISO 27001 Clause 4.4 Information Security Management System Explained.


