Applied AI & Cybersecurity
What is the difference between ISO 31000 and ISO 27001?
One is risk management guidance, the other is an information security management system you can be certified to.
Every great mission starts with reconn.
ISO 31000 gives guidelines for managing any kind of risk, and an organization cannot be certified to it. ISO/IEC 27001 sets the requirements for an information security management system, and an organization can be certified to it. ISO/IEC 27005 links the two by applying risk guidance to information security.
Side by side
| Topic | ISO 31000 | ISO/IEC 27001 |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Guidelines for managing any kind of risk | Requirements for an information security management system |
| Certifiable | No. ISO says it cannot be used for certification | Yes. Organizations can be certified |
| Edition | Edition 2, February 2018 | Edition 3, October 2022 |
| Best for | One risk language across the organization | A certifiable information security program |
How they fit together
ISO 31000 is the general method for thinking about risk: set the context, assess, treat, monitor and communicate. ISO/IEC 27001 is a management system for information security, and risk is a core input to it. ISO/IEC 27005:2022 supports the concepts in 27001 and adapts ISO 31000 guidance for information security risk, which is why it is the natural bridge.
From my side of the table. Teams sometimes ask which one to implement. They are not alternatives. If a customer wants a certificate for information security, that is ISO/IEC 27001. If you want one risk language across security, finance, operations and projects, that is ISO 31000. For the wider comparison, including COSO ERM and NIST, read the framework comparison.
Ways to learn with reconn
I teach these courses myself as a PECB Certified Trainer, with more than 20 years in cybersecurity. I am a practitioner, not a slide reader.
Want more structure? The eLearning+, Live Online Sprint, Live Online and Classroom packages add live teaching and extra benefits. Contact me to ask what is available for your course.
Which PECB course fits your role?
Risk Manager
Run the ISO 31000 risk process day to day.
For people who run assessments and the risk register.
Lead Risk Manager
Lead a risk management program built on ISO 31000.
For people who own the framework and report on it.
ISO/IEC 27005 Risk Manager
Manage information security risk with ISO/IEC 27005.
For people whose risk work centers on information security.
Chief Information Security Officer
Lead the information security program across the organization.
For people moving from risk work to leading security.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between ISO 31000 and ISO 27001?
ISO 31000 gives guidelines for managing any kind of risk and cannot be certified. ISO/IEC 27001 sets requirements for an information security management system and can be certified.
How are they related?
ISO/IEC 27005:2022 adapts ISO 31000 guidance for information security risk, so it is the natural bridge between them.
Which one should I implement?
They are not alternatives. A customer who wants a certificate for information security means ISO/IEC 27001. One risk language across the organization means ISO 31000.
Can I be certified to ISO 31000?
An organization cannot. PECB certifies people.