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 the ISO 27001 security standard?

The ISO/IEC 27001 standard provides requirements for information security management systems (ISMS). Published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the ISO 27001 security standard is a set of best practices that support organizations in managing their information security by addressing people, processes, and technology. The standard applies to organizations of any size or type and is technology- and vendor-neutral.

‍The ISO/IEC 27001 standard engages a risk-based approach to information security, requiring organizations to identify information security risks pertinent to their organization and the space in which they operate, and to select the appropriate controls to address those risks.

‍ISO 27001 comprises 114 controls divided into 14 categories. There is no requirement to implement the full list of ISO 27001’s controls; rather, they are possibilities for an organization to consider based on its particular needs. The 14 categories are:

  • Information security policies
  • Organization of information security and assignment of responsibility
  • Human resource security
  • Information asset management
  • Employee access control
  • Encryption and management of sensitive information
  • Physical and environmental security
  • Operations security
  • Communications security
  • System acquisition, development, and maintenance
  • Supplier relationships
  • Information security incident management
  • Information security aspects of business continuity management
  • Compliance

‍ISO 27001 is a world-class standard that can support an organization in proving its security practices to potential customers. The full standard provides a wide range of controls an organization can utilize to ensure its approach to information security is comprehensive.

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

Additional resources you might like:

Security
Blog
How to request security budget from your CFO and exec teams

Bridge security and finance, show risk in dollars, and secure budgets.

Product updates
Blog
New in Vanta | March 2026

Vanta’s newest updates help you automate SSPs, unlock deeper integrations, and more.

Compliance
Blog
Government contracting compliance 101: Everything you should know

Understand the regulations and standards government contractors must meet—and the challenges involved.

Additional resources you might like:

Security
Blog
How to request security budget from your CFO and exec teams

Bridge security and finance, show risk in dollars, and secure budgets.

Product updates
Blog
New in Vanta | March 2026

Vanta’s newest updates help you automate SSPs, unlock deeper integrations, and more.

Compliance
Blog
Government contracting compliance 101: Everything you should know

Understand the regulations and standards government contractors must meet—and the challenges involved.

SOC 2
Events
Learn How to Automate Compliance for SOC 2, ISO 27001, and More

Register to see how Vanta helps fast-moving startups and security teams get audit-ready fast and stay continuously compliant, turning compliance into a deal accelerator, not a blocker.

Compliance
Events
Beyond the Checkbox: Scaling Compliance Across European Regulations

Register to learn how to scale your compliance program across NIS2, DORA, and the EU AI Act — without duplicating controls or overwhelming your team.

Product updates
Events
Goodbye, Audit Chaos. Hello, Calm-pliance.

Watch this edition of Vanta Delivers to see how we’re putting audit chaos behind us and moving forward into Calm-pliance.

Product updates
Blog
New in Vanta | February 2026

Vanta’s latest releases give teams more control over audits, automated TPRM evidence collection, and more.

Compliance
Events
Getting Ready for APRA CPS 230/234 Compliance

Watch this on demand session to learn the most common CPS 234 readiness questions, and undersand how CPS 230 builds on these foundations.

Compliance
Events
Committed to Trust: How Our Customers Turn Promises into Proof

Watch on demand as leaders from GitHub, Modern Treasury, and Vanta’s own GRC team, dig into what it really takes to build trust into the way you work.