Recruiter's Glossary

Examples: Basel III • SEC Regulations • Whistleblower

ISO 27001

Term from Compliance industry explained for recruiters

ISO 27001 is an internationally recognized standard for managing information security. Think of it as a detailed rulebook that organizations follow to keep their information safe. When companies say they are "ISO 27001 certified," it means they have proven they follow strict security practices to protect sensitive data. This is similar to getting a safety certificate for a building, but instead, it's for how a company handles information. Companies often seek this certification to show clients and partners they take security seriously, especially when handling sensitive data or working with government contracts.

Examples in Resumes

Led company-wide ISO 27001 certification project, achieving compliance within 12 months

Maintained ISO 27001 compliance and performed internal audits for a financial services firm

Created and updated security policies in line with ISO 27001 requirements

Successfully managed annual ISO 27001 surveillance audits

Implemented ISO/IEC 27001 controls across IT infrastructure

Typical job title: "Information Security Managers"

Also try searching for:

Information Security Manager Compliance Manager Security Compliance Officer ISMS Manager Information Security Specialist IT Auditor Risk & Compliance Manager Security Operations Manager

Where to Find Information Security Managers

Professional Organizations

• ISO (International Organization for Standardization)
• ISACA
• ISC2

Online Communities

Job Boards

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How would you implement an ISO 27001 program in an organization that has never had formal security policies?

Expected Answer: A senior professional should discuss a phased approach: starting with gap analysis, getting management support, creating basic policies, training staff, implementing controls gradually, and preparing for certification audit. They should emphasize the importance of company culture and change management.

Q: How do you measure the effectiveness of an ISO 27001 program?

Expected Answer: Should mention key performance indicators like security incident numbers, audit findings, employee training completion rates, and risk assessment results. Should also discuss regular management reviews and continuous improvement processes.

Mid Level Questions

Q: What are the main components of ISO 27001?

Expected Answer: Should explain the basic structure: leadership commitment, risk assessment, security controls, documentation requirements, and internal audits. Should be able to explain these in simple business terms.

Q: How do you conduct an internal ISO 27001 audit?

Expected Answer: Should describe the process of reviewing documentation, interviewing staff, checking security controls, recording findings, and creating improvement recommendations. Should emphasize the importance of independence in auditing.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the purpose of ISO 27001?

Expected Answer: Should explain that it's a framework to protect company information, maintain security, and show clients/partners the organization takes security seriously. Should mention basic concepts like confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Q: What is the role of documentation in ISO 27001?

Expected Answer: Should explain that documentation proves the security program exists and is followed. Should mention basic required documents like security policy, risk assessments, and procedures.