Your security and compliance glossary

All the terms you need to know when you’re trying to get compliance audit ready, fast.

Show filters

What is an Information Security Management System (ISMS)?

An Information Security Management System (ISMS) establishes a systematic approach to managing an organization’s information security. As a documented management system, ISMS provides a set of security controls a company can record in policies, procedures, and other kinds of documents; it may also consist of established processes and technologies that are not documented. The ISO 27001 standard defines which documents must exist at a minimum. 


Implementing an ISMS provides a structured approach to integrating information security into an organization’s business processes. Helping to manage and minimize risks to acceptable levels increases the organization’s resiliency against evolving security threats and ensures the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational and customer information. 


In any implementation, companies need to define and document a risk assessment method and state the protection of specific business assets. The scope of an organization’s ISMS can be as small or as large as is necessary; the ISMS can cover part of an organization, such as a specific function or service or the entire organization.

{{cta_withimage2="/cta-modules"}}

Additional resources you might like:

Compliance
Events
Live Demo: Automating Compliance for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and More

Discover how Vanta’s automation and AI tools can help your team simplify compliance, strengthen security, and scale trust across frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more.

AWS
Events
Turn security into your startup’s secret sales weapon

In this joint session with AWS, Vanta, and BreachRx, you’ll learn how early-stage teams are turning that pressure into an advantage.

Compliance
Events
Inside the FedRAMP 20x Pilot: Lessons Learned with Vanta

Join Vanta’s GRC team for an inside look at our journey submitting the first FedRAMP 20x pilot submission - a new initiative that fast-tracks the path to FedRAMP Low authorization without the need for an agency sponsor.

Additional resources you might like:

Compliance
Events
Live Demo: Automating Compliance for SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and More

Discover how Vanta’s automation and AI tools can help your team simplify compliance, strengthen security, and scale trust across frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, and more.

AWS
Events
Turn security into your startup’s secret sales weapon

In this joint session with AWS, Vanta, and BreachRx, you’ll learn how early-stage teams are turning that pressure into an advantage.

Compliance
Events
Inside the FedRAMP 20x Pilot: Lessons Learned with Vanta

Join Vanta’s GRC team for an inside look at our journey submitting the first FedRAMP 20x pilot submission - a new initiative that fast-tracks the path to FedRAMP Low authorization without the need for an agency sponsor.

Product updates
Blog
Introducing the all-new Vanta AI Agent to supercharge GRC teams

The Vanta AI Agent guides you through key compliance workflows and takes action on your behalf.

NIS 2
Events
Simplify Your Path to NIS 2 Compliance

Join us to explore Vanta’s NIS 2 solution, which automates up to 65% of compliance tasks through pre-built controls, templates, and cross-framework integrations—all with continuous monitoring for complete visibility over your security posture.

HIPAA
Blog
SOC 2 vs. HIPAA: Everything you need to know

How to tackle both certifications with ongoing security monitoring

HIPAA
Blog
5 practical tips to navigate AI, security, and compliance in healthcare

Healthcare companies must balance AI innovation with risk mitigation to provide the best solutions and care without introducing additional risk.

SOC 2
Events
Live Demo: Simplify ISO 27001 and SOC 2 compliance with Vanta

Watch our on-demand demo to learn how Vanta can help simplify compliance needs across over 35 frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001!

GRC
Events
Scaling Governance, Risk, and Compliance with Trust

Hear from ShipBob’s Heidi Pili and CMG’s Josh Wasserman on scaling your GRC program, with insights on key trends, Vanta use cases, and effective communication strategies.