Master the ISO IEC 27001 Lead Auditor Framework for High-Stakes Cybersecurity Leadership
Course Format & Delivery Details Self-Paced, On-Demand Access with Lifetime Value
This course is delivered entirely in a self-paced format, granting immediate online access upon enrollment. There are no fixed schedules, mandatory attendance times, or rigid deadlines. You progress at your own speed, fitting learning seamlessly around your professional commitments, time zone, and workload. Most learners complete the full program within 6 to 8 weeks by dedicating 4 to 6 hours per week. However, many report applying core auditing principles and risk assessment techniques in their current roles within the first 10 days. You can begin implementing best practices long before completion, accelerating your return on investment from day one. Lifetime Access, Future Updates Included
Once enrolled, you receive lifetime access to all course materials. This includes every update, refinement, and regulatory alignment made to the content in the future - at no additional cost. As global information security standards evolve, your knowledge remains current, future-proof, and aligned with real-world compliance demands. Accessible Anywhere, On Any Device
The platform is fully mobile-friendly, enabling secure access from desktops, tablets, or smartphones. Whether you're traveling, working remotely, or reviewing key concepts between meetings, your training is always within reach. The responsive design ensures clarity, functionality, and ease of navigation across all devices, with 24/7 global availability. Direct Instructor Support & Expert Guidance
You are not learning in isolation. This course includes direct, responsive support from seasoned ISO 27001 lead auditors with over 15 years of field experience in high-risk sectors including finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Ask detailed questions, receive structured feedback, and gain clarity on complex audit scenarios through secure messaging channels available throughout your learning journey. Certificate of Completion Issued by The Art of Service
Upon successful completion, you will earn a verifiable Certificate of Completion issued by The Art of Service - a globally recognized name in professional cybersecurity training and standards-based education. This credential is trusted by auditors, compliance officers, and security executives across 90+ countries and is designed to strengthen your professional profile, demonstrate mastery of the framework, and enhance visibility in competitive job markets. Straightforward Pricing, No Hidden Fees
Our pricing model is transparent and simple. The listed investment covers full access to the entire curriculum, all downloadable resources, progress tracking tools, and your final certificate. There are no recurring charges, surprise fees, or premium tiers. What you see is exactly what you get. Secure Payment Options
We accept all major payment methods, including Visa, Mastercard, and PayPal. Transactions are processed through a PCI-compliant system, ensuring your financial data remains protected throughout the enrollment process. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee – Enroll Risk-Free
We stand behind the value and effectiveness of this course with a complete money-back guarantee. If you find the material does not meet your expectations, you may request a full refund at any time within your first 30 days of enrollment - no questions asked, no hassle, no risk. Confirmation and Access Process
After enrollment, you will receive a confirmation email summarizing your purchase. Your access credentials and detailed entry instructions will be sent separately once your course package has been finalized and prepped for delivery. This process ensures data integrity and allows for individualized onboarding setup. Will This Work for Me? Real Results Across Roles
This program was engineered for professionals at all stages of their cybersecurity and compliance journey. Whether you're transitioning into audit leadership, enhancing your governance capabilities, or preparing for formal certification, the curriculum adapts to your context. Role-Specific Success Examples: - A mid-level IT risk analyst in Singapore used the audit workflow templates to lead her company’s first internal ISMS review, resulting in a 40% reduction in compliance gaps ahead of external certification.
- A security consultant in Germany leveraged the risk treatment planning methodology to win a high-value client contract by demonstrating superior audit readiness frameworks.
- A former network engineer in Canada transitioned into a full-time Lead Auditor role within 3 months of completing the program, citing the practical audit checklists and stakeholder engagement strategies as pivotal to his success.
This works even if: You’ve never conducted a formal audit, your organization has no existing ISMS, you're unfamiliar with risk assessment documentation, or you’re balancing learning with a demanding full-time role. The step-by-step structure, real-world templates, and decision trees ensure clarity, confidence, and competence - regardless of starting point. With comprehensive content, worldwide recognition, and risk-reversed enrollment, this is not just a course. It’s a career accelerator built for professionals who lead with precision and integrity in high-stakes cybersecurity environments.
Extensive and Detailed Course Curriculum
Module 1: Foundations of Information Security and the ISO 27001 Standard - Understanding the global cyber threat landscape and its impact on organizational resilience
- Evolution of information security standards from national to international frameworks
- Overview of the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards
- Key differences between ISO 27001, ISO 27002, and ISO 27005
- Core principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad)
- Defining information assets and their classification levels
- Understanding personal data, sensitive data, and regulated information
- The role of legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements in shaping security controls
- Introduction to risk-based thinking in information security management
- Common misconceptions about ISO 27001 and how this course corrects them
- The business value of achieving ISO 27001 certification
- Stakeholder expectations from customers, auditors, regulators, and executives
- Linking information security to corporate governance and board-level oversight
- Establishing the importance of continual improvement in security practices
- How ISO 27001 integrates with other management system standards
Module 2: Structure and Requirements of the ISO/IEC 27001 Standard - Detailed breakdown of Annex SL, the high-level structure used across ISO management systems
- Clause-by-clause analysis of ISO 27001:2022 requirements
- Understanding Scope (Clause 4) and how to define it correctly
- Leadership commitment and top management responsibilities (Clause 5)
- Planning the ISMS: addressing risks and opportunities (Clause 6)
- Setting information security objectives and plans to achieve them
- Resource allocation and competence requirements (Clause 7)
- Documented information: what to keep, what to discard, and retention policies
- Communication processes within the ISMS
- Operational planning and control mechanisms (Clause 8)
- Risk assessment and treatment process requirements
- Change management within the ISMS context
- Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation (Clause 9)
- Conducting internal audits and management review meetings
- Continual improvement strategies (Clause 10)
- Mapping organizational processes to ISO 27001 clauses
Module 3: Introduction to Internal and External Auditing Principles - Defining audit, audit criteria, audit scope, and audit evidence
- Types of audits: first-party, second-party, third-party
- The purpose and benefits of internal ISMS audits
- How internal audits support external certification success
- Roles and responsibilities of auditors, auditees, and audit teams
- Attributes of a competent and effective lead auditor
- Ethical conduct and auditor independence
- Audit program management and scheduling best practices
- Planning audit frequency based on risk and change
- Using audit findings to drive organizational improvement
- Differentiating between nonconformities, observations, and opportunities for improvement
- Understanding minor vs major nonconformities
- How audit trails support accountability and transparency
- The link between audit evidence and objective records
- Preparing for participation in external certification audits
Module 4: Risk Assessment and Risk Treatment Methodologies - Introduction to ISO 27005: Information Security Risk Management
- Selecting a risk assessment approach: qualitative, quantitative, or hybrid
- Establishing the risk assessment framework and criteria
- Identifying information assets, owners, and classification levels
- Threat identification using industry-recognized threat catalogs
- Vulnerability assessment techniques and common weakness patterns
- Impact analysis: financial, operational, reputational, legal
- Likelihood estimation based on historical data and expert judgment
- Risk calculation methods and threshold setting
- Producing a comprehensive risk register template
- Prioritizing risks using heat maps and risk matrices
- Selecting appropriate risk treatment options: avoid, transfer, mitigate, accept
- Developing risk treatment plans with clear ownership and timelines
- Integrating risk treatment into project management workflows
- Reviewing and updating the risk assessment annually or after major changes
- Using risk assessment outcomes to inform control selection in Annex A
Module 5: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 1: Organizational Controls - Overview of Annex A control categories and structure
- A.5 Information security policies: development, approval, and dissemination
- A.6 Organization of information security: roles, responsibilities, segregation of duties
- A.7 Human resource security: pre-employment screening and background checks
- Terms and conditions of employment related to information security
- Security awareness, education, and training programs
- Managing disciplinary processes for policy violations
- A.8 Asset management: inventory, ownership, and acceptable use
- Media handling and disposal procedures
- Information classification and labeling schemes
- Sensitivity levels and handling requirements for classified data
- A.9 Access control: user registration, privilege management, and deactivation
- Least privilege principle and role-based access control
- Password management policies and technical enforcement
- Multi-factor authentication implementation strategies
Module 6: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 2: Technological and Operational Controls - A.10 Cryptography: encryption policies and key management
- Data at rest, in transit, and in use protection mechanisms
- A.11 Physical and environmental security: secure areas, equipment protection
- Secure disposal of hardware and data storage media
- A.12 Operational security: change management, capacity planning, monitoring
- Protection against malware and malicious code
- Backup strategies, frequency, and recovery testing
- Logging, log retention, and log analysis practices
- A.13 Communications security: network controls, segmentation, secure architecture
- Secure development lifecycle and code review processes
- Email and web access security policies
- Remote and mobile working controls
- Secure channels for external communications
- A.14 System acquisition, development, and maintenance
- Security in supplier relationships and third-party risk
Module 7: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 3: Compliance and Resilience Controls - A.15 Supplier relationships: due diligence, contracts, monitoring
- Third-party audit rights and monitoring mechanisms
- Managing cloud service provider risks
- A.16 Incident management: detection, reporting, response, escalation
- Developing an incident response plan aligned with ISO 27001
- Roles during security incidents and crisis communication
- Forensic readiness and evidence preservation
- Post-incident reviews and root cause analysis
- A.17 Information security aspects of business continuity
- Business impact analysis and recovery time objectives
- Maintaining availability during disruptions
- Testing business continuity plans regularly
- A.18 Compliance: legal, statutory, and contractual obligations
- Monitoring changes in data protection laws and regulations
- Technical and procedural compliance checks
- Preparing for regulatory audits and inspections
Module 8: The Lead Auditor Role and Audit Planning - Defining the scope and objectives of an ISMS audit
- Selecting audit criteria: ISO 27001, internal policies, legal requirements
- Establishing audit timelines and resource needs
- Creating an audit schedule and notification process
- Preparing the audit team: assigning roles and reviewing background documents
- Reviewing the organization’s ISMS documentation prior to fieldwork
- Conducting a pre-audit document review checklist
- Developing an audit checklist tailored to the organization
- Designing open-ended interview questions for key personnel
- Preparing for remote or on-site audit execution
- Using process maps to understand audit areas
- Planning sample sizes for document and record reviews
- Understanding process interactions and dependencies
- Setting expectations with management and process owners
- Ensuring auditor independence and absence of conflicts of interest
- Developing audit communication protocols
Module 9: Conducting the Audit – Evidence Collection and Evaluation - Opening meeting agenda and facilitation techniques
- Stating audit purpose, scope, and methodology to stakeholders
- Conducting interviews with confidence and neutrality
- Active listening and probing for deeper understanding
- Observing processes and verifying controls in operation
- Inspecting records, logs, and documented evidence
- Verifying the existence and effectiveness of controls
- Distinguishing between design and operational effectiveness
- Using sampling techniques to validate control consistency
- Taking accurate, objective, and unbiased audit notes
- Classifying evidence as sufficient or insufficient
- Handling sensitive information during audits
- Dealing with uncooperative or defensive auditees
- Documenting preliminary findings during fieldwork
- Ensuring traceability from finding to evidence
Module 10: Reporting Audit Findings and Writing Nonconformities - Closing meeting structure and key messages
- Presenting findings clearly, factually, and constructively
- Delivering both positive feedback and improvement areas
- Drafting nonconformity statements using the PAS 55000 format
- Identifying the requirement, evidence, and gap in every finding
- Writing clear, concise, and actionable observations
- Differentiating between systemic and isolated issues
- Ensuring findings are verifiable and not speculative
- Using neutral language to maintain auditor objectivity
- Preparing the final audit report structure
- Executive summary for management
- Appendices with evidence references and checklists
- Classifying findings by risk level and impact
- Providing context and recommendations without overstepping
- Finalizing and signing off the audit report
- Submitting reports to certification bodies or internal governance
Module 11: Follow-Up and Verification of Corrective Actions - Receiving corrective action requests from auditees
- Reviewing root cause analysis provided by process owners
- Evaluating the adequacy of proposed corrective actions
- Assessing timelines and resource allocation for closure
- Verifying implementation through evidence submission
- Conducting remote or on-site verification visits
- Determining whether nonconformities are fully resolved
- Rejecting insufficient corrective actions with guidance
- Recording closure dates and updating audit status
- Tracking outstanding findings in a centralized register
- Reporting audit status to management review
- Ensuring continual improvement through feedback loops
- Using past audit data to predict future risk areas
- Integrating lessons learned into future audit planning
Module 12: Preparing for External Certification Audits - Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
Module 1: Foundations of Information Security and the ISO 27001 Standard - Understanding the global cyber threat landscape and its impact on organizational resilience
- Evolution of information security standards from national to international frameworks
- Overview of the ISO/IEC 27000 family of standards
- Key differences between ISO 27001, ISO 27002, and ISO 27005
- Core principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad)
- Defining information assets and their classification levels
- Understanding personal data, sensitive data, and regulated information
- The role of legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements in shaping security controls
- Introduction to risk-based thinking in information security management
- Common misconceptions about ISO 27001 and how this course corrects them
- The business value of achieving ISO 27001 certification
- Stakeholder expectations from customers, auditors, regulators, and executives
- Linking information security to corporate governance and board-level oversight
- Establishing the importance of continual improvement in security practices
- How ISO 27001 integrates with other management system standards
Module 2: Structure and Requirements of the ISO/IEC 27001 Standard - Detailed breakdown of Annex SL, the high-level structure used across ISO management systems
- Clause-by-clause analysis of ISO 27001:2022 requirements
- Understanding Scope (Clause 4) and how to define it correctly
- Leadership commitment and top management responsibilities (Clause 5)
- Planning the ISMS: addressing risks and opportunities (Clause 6)
- Setting information security objectives and plans to achieve them
- Resource allocation and competence requirements (Clause 7)
- Documented information: what to keep, what to discard, and retention policies
- Communication processes within the ISMS
- Operational planning and control mechanisms (Clause 8)
- Risk assessment and treatment process requirements
- Change management within the ISMS context
- Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation (Clause 9)
- Conducting internal audits and management review meetings
- Continual improvement strategies (Clause 10)
- Mapping organizational processes to ISO 27001 clauses
Module 3: Introduction to Internal and External Auditing Principles - Defining audit, audit criteria, audit scope, and audit evidence
- Types of audits: first-party, second-party, third-party
- The purpose and benefits of internal ISMS audits
- How internal audits support external certification success
- Roles and responsibilities of auditors, auditees, and audit teams
- Attributes of a competent and effective lead auditor
- Ethical conduct and auditor independence
- Audit program management and scheduling best practices
- Planning audit frequency based on risk and change
- Using audit findings to drive organizational improvement
- Differentiating between nonconformities, observations, and opportunities for improvement
- Understanding minor vs major nonconformities
- How audit trails support accountability and transparency
- The link between audit evidence and objective records
- Preparing for participation in external certification audits
Module 4: Risk Assessment and Risk Treatment Methodologies - Introduction to ISO 27005: Information Security Risk Management
- Selecting a risk assessment approach: qualitative, quantitative, or hybrid
- Establishing the risk assessment framework and criteria
- Identifying information assets, owners, and classification levels
- Threat identification using industry-recognized threat catalogs
- Vulnerability assessment techniques and common weakness patterns
- Impact analysis: financial, operational, reputational, legal
- Likelihood estimation based on historical data and expert judgment
- Risk calculation methods and threshold setting
- Producing a comprehensive risk register template
- Prioritizing risks using heat maps and risk matrices
- Selecting appropriate risk treatment options: avoid, transfer, mitigate, accept
- Developing risk treatment plans with clear ownership and timelines
- Integrating risk treatment into project management workflows
- Reviewing and updating the risk assessment annually or after major changes
- Using risk assessment outcomes to inform control selection in Annex A
Module 5: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 1: Organizational Controls - Overview of Annex A control categories and structure
- A.5 Information security policies: development, approval, and dissemination
- A.6 Organization of information security: roles, responsibilities, segregation of duties
- A.7 Human resource security: pre-employment screening and background checks
- Terms and conditions of employment related to information security
- Security awareness, education, and training programs
- Managing disciplinary processes for policy violations
- A.8 Asset management: inventory, ownership, and acceptable use
- Media handling and disposal procedures
- Information classification and labeling schemes
- Sensitivity levels and handling requirements for classified data
- A.9 Access control: user registration, privilege management, and deactivation
- Least privilege principle and role-based access control
- Password management policies and technical enforcement
- Multi-factor authentication implementation strategies
Module 6: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 2: Technological and Operational Controls - A.10 Cryptography: encryption policies and key management
- Data at rest, in transit, and in use protection mechanisms
- A.11 Physical and environmental security: secure areas, equipment protection
- Secure disposal of hardware and data storage media
- A.12 Operational security: change management, capacity planning, monitoring
- Protection against malware and malicious code
- Backup strategies, frequency, and recovery testing
- Logging, log retention, and log analysis practices
- A.13 Communications security: network controls, segmentation, secure architecture
- Secure development lifecycle and code review processes
- Email and web access security policies
- Remote and mobile working controls
- Secure channels for external communications
- A.14 System acquisition, development, and maintenance
- Security in supplier relationships and third-party risk
Module 7: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 3: Compliance and Resilience Controls - A.15 Supplier relationships: due diligence, contracts, monitoring
- Third-party audit rights and monitoring mechanisms
- Managing cloud service provider risks
- A.16 Incident management: detection, reporting, response, escalation
- Developing an incident response plan aligned with ISO 27001
- Roles during security incidents and crisis communication
- Forensic readiness and evidence preservation
- Post-incident reviews and root cause analysis
- A.17 Information security aspects of business continuity
- Business impact analysis and recovery time objectives
- Maintaining availability during disruptions
- Testing business continuity plans regularly
- A.18 Compliance: legal, statutory, and contractual obligations
- Monitoring changes in data protection laws and regulations
- Technical and procedural compliance checks
- Preparing for regulatory audits and inspections
Module 8: The Lead Auditor Role and Audit Planning - Defining the scope and objectives of an ISMS audit
- Selecting audit criteria: ISO 27001, internal policies, legal requirements
- Establishing audit timelines and resource needs
- Creating an audit schedule and notification process
- Preparing the audit team: assigning roles and reviewing background documents
- Reviewing the organization’s ISMS documentation prior to fieldwork
- Conducting a pre-audit document review checklist
- Developing an audit checklist tailored to the organization
- Designing open-ended interview questions for key personnel
- Preparing for remote or on-site audit execution
- Using process maps to understand audit areas
- Planning sample sizes for document and record reviews
- Understanding process interactions and dependencies
- Setting expectations with management and process owners
- Ensuring auditor independence and absence of conflicts of interest
- Developing audit communication protocols
Module 9: Conducting the Audit – Evidence Collection and Evaluation - Opening meeting agenda and facilitation techniques
- Stating audit purpose, scope, and methodology to stakeholders
- Conducting interviews with confidence and neutrality
- Active listening and probing for deeper understanding
- Observing processes and verifying controls in operation
- Inspecting records, logs, and documented evidence
- Verifying the existence and effectiveness of controls
- Distinguishing between design and operational effectiveness
- Using sampling techniques to validate control consistency
- Taking accurate, objective, and unbiased audit notes
- Classifying evidence as sufficient or insufficient
- Handling sensitive information during audits
- Dealing with uncooperative or defensive auditees
- Documenting preliminary findings during fieldwork
- Ensuring traceability from finding to evidence
Module 10: Reporting Audit Findings and Writing Nonconformities - Closing meeting structure and key messages
- Presenting findings clearly, factually, and constructively
- Delivering both positive feedback and improvement areas
- Drafting nonconformity statements using the PAS 55000 format
- Identifying the requirement, evidence, and gap in every finding
- Writing clear, concise, and actionable observations
- Differentiating between systemic and isolated issues
- Ensuring findings are verifiable and not speculative
- Using neutral language to maintain auditor objectivity
- Preparing the final audit report structure
- Executive summary for management
- Appendices with evidence references and checklists
- Classifying findings by risk level and impact
- Providing context and recommendations without overstepping
- Finalizing and signing off the audit report
- Submitting reports to certification bodies or internal governance
Module 11: Follow-Up and Verification of Corrective Actions - Receiving corrective action requests from auditees
- Reviewing root cause analysis provided by process owners
- Evaluating the adequacy of proposed corrective actions
- Assessing timelines and resource allocation for closure
- Verifying implementation through evidence submission
- Conducting remote or on-site verification visits
- Determining whether nonconformities are fully resolved
- Rejecting insufficient corrective actions with guidance
- Recording closure dates and updating audit status
- Tracking outstanding findings in a centralized register
- Reporting audit status to management review
- Ensuring continual improvement through feedback loops
- Using past audit data to predict future risk areas
- Integrating lessons learned into future audit planning
Module 12: Preparing for External Certification Audits - Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
- Detailed breakdown of Annex SL, the high-level structure used across ISO management systems
- Clause-by-clause analysis of ISO 27001:2022 requirements
- Understanding Scope (Clause 4) and how to define it correctly
- Leadership commitment and top management responsibilities (Clause 5)
- Planning the ISMS: addressing risks and opportunities (Clause 6)
- Setting information security objectives and plans to achieve them
- Resource allocation and competence requirements (Clause 7)
- Documented information: what to keep, what to discard, and retention policies
- Communication processes within the ISMS
- Operational planning and control mechanisms (Clause 8)
- Risk assessment and treatment process requirements
- Change management within the ISMS context
- Monitoring, measurement, analysis, and evaluation (Clause 9)
- Conducting internal audits and management review meetings
- Continual improvement strategies (Clause 10)
- Mapping organizational processes to ISO 27001 clauses
Module 3: Introduction to Internal and External Auditing Principles - Defining audit, audit criteria, audit scope, and audit evidence
- Types of audits: first-party, second-party, third-party
- The purpose and benefits of internal ISMS audits
- How internal audits support external certification success
- Roles and responsibilities of auditors, auditees, and audit teams
- Attributes of a competent and effective lead auditor
- Ethical conduct and auditor independence
- Audit program management and scheduling best practices
- Planning audit frequency based on risk and change
- Using audit findings to drive organizational improvement
- Differentiating between nonconformities, observations, and opportunities for improvement
- Understanding minor vs major nonconformities
- How audit trails support accountability and transparency
- The link between audit evidence and objective records
- Preparing for participation in external certification audits
Module 4: Risk Assessment and Risk Treatment Methodologies - Introduction to ISO 27005: Information Security Risk Management
- Selecting a risk assessment approach: qualitative, quantitative, or hybrid
- Establishing the risk assessment framework and criteria
- Identifying information assets, owners, and classification levels
- Threat identification using industry-recognized threat catalogs
- Vulnerability assessment techniques and common weakness patterns
- Impact analysis: financial, operational, reputational, legal
- Likelihood estimation based on historical data and expert judgment
- Risk calculation methods and threshold setting
- Producing a comprehensive risk register template
- Prioritizing risks using heat maps and risk matrices
- Selecting appropriate risk treatment options: avoid, transfer, mitigate, accept
- Developing risk treatment plans with clear ownership and timelines
- Integrating risk treatment into project management workflows
- Reviewing and updating the risk assessment annually or after major changes
- Using risk assessment outcomes to inform control selection in Annex A
Module 5: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 1: Organizational Controls - Overview of Annex A control categories and structure
- A.5 Information security policies: development, approval, and dissemination
- A.6 Organization of information security: roles, responsibilities, segregation of duties
- A.7 Human resource security: pre-employment screening and background checks
- Terms and conditions of employment related to information security
- Security awareness, education, and training programs
- Managing disciplinary processes for policy violations
- A.8 Asset management: inventory, ownership, and acceptable use
- Media handling and disposal procedures
- Information classification and labeling schemes
- Sensitivity levels and handling requirements for classified data
- A.9 Access control: user registration, privilege management, and deactivation
- Least privilege principle and role-based access control
- Password management policies and technical enforcement
- Multi-factor authentication implementation strategies
Module 6: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 2: Technological and Operational Controls - A.10 Cryptography: encryption policies and key management
- Data at rest, in transit, and in use protection mechanisms
- A.11 Physical and environmental security: secure areas, equipment protection
- Secure disposal of hardware and data storage media
- A.12 Operational security: change management, capacity planning, monitoring
- Protection against malware and malicious code
- Backup strategies, frequency, and recovery testing
- Logging, log retention, and log analysis practices
- A.13 Communications security: network controls, segmentation, secure architecture
- Secure development lifecycle and code review processes
- Email and web access security policies
- Remote and mobile working controls
- Secure channels for external communications
- A.14 System acquisition, development, and maintenance
- Security in supplier relationships and third-party risk
Module 7: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 3: Compliance and Resilience Controls - A.15 Supplier relationships: due diligence, contracts, monitoring
- Third-party audit rights and monitoring mechanisms
- Managing cloud service provider risks
- A.16 Incident management: detection, reporting, response, escalation
- Developing an incident response plan aligned with ISO 27001
- Roles during security incidents and crisis communication
- Forensic readiness and evidence preservation
- Post-incident reviews and root cause analysis
- A.17 Information security aspects of business continuity
- Business impact analysis and recovery time objectives
- Maintaining availability during disruptions
- Testing business continuity plans regularly
- A.18 Compliance: legal, statutory, and contractual obligations
- Monitoring changes in data protection laws and regulations
- Technical and procedural compliance checks
- Preparing for regulatory audits and inspections
Module 8: The Lead Auditor Role and Audit Planning - Defining the scope and objectives of an ISMS audit
- Selecting audit criteria: ISO 27001, internal policies, legal requirements
- Establishing audit timelines and resource needs
- Creating an audit schedule and notification process
- Preparing the audit team: assigning roles and reviewing background documents
- Reviewing the organization’s ISMS documentation prior to fieldwork
- Conducting a pre-audit document review checklist
- Developing an audit checklist tailored to the organization
- Designing open-ended interview questions for key personnel
- Preparing for remote or on-site audit execution
- Using process maps to understand audit areas
- Planning sample sizes for document and record reviews
- Understanding process interactions and dependencies
- Setting expectations with management and process owners
- Ensuring auditor independence and absence of conflicts of interest
- Developing audit communication protocols
Module 9: Conducting the Audit – Evidence Collection and Evaluation - Opening meeting agenda and facilitation techniques
- Stating audit purpose, scope, and methodology to stakeholders
- Conducting interviews with confidence and neutrality
- Active listening and probing for deeper understanding
- Observing processes and verifying controls in operation
- Inspecting records, logs, and documented evidence
- Verifying the existence and effectiveness of controls
- Distinguishing between design and operational effectiveness
- Using sampling techniques to validate control consistency
- Taking accurate, objective, and unbiased audit notes
- Classifying evidence as sufficient or insufficient
- Handling sensitive information during audits
- Dealing with uncooperative or defensive auditees
- Documenting preliminary findings during fieldwork
- Ensuring traceability from finding to evidence
Module 10: Reporting Audit Findings and Writing Nonconformities - Closing meeting structure and key messages
- Presenting findings clearly, factually, and constructively
- Delivering both positive feedback and improvement areas
- Drafting nonconformity statements using the PAS 55000 format
- Identifying the requirement, evidence, and gap in every finding
- Writing clear, concise, and actionable observations
- Differentiating between systemic and isolated issues
- Ensuring findings are verifiable and not speculative
- Using neutral language to maintain auditor objectivity
- Preparing the final audit report structure
- Executive summary for management
- Appendices with evidence references and checklists
- Classifying findings by risk level and impact
- Providing context and recommendations without overstepping
- Finalizing and signing off the audit report
- Submitting reports to certification bodies or internal governance
Module 11: Follow-Up and Verification of Corrective Actions - Receiving corrective action requests from auditees
- Reviewing root cause analysis provided by process owners
- Evaluating the adequacy of proposed corrective actions
- Assessing timelines and resource allocation for closure
- Verifying implementation through evidence submission
- Conducting remote or on-site verification visits
- Determining whether nonconformities are fully resolved
- Rejecting insufficient corrective actions with guidance
- Recording closure dates and updating audit status
- Tracking outstanding findings in a centralized register
- Reporting audit status to management review
- Ensuring continual improvement through feedback loops
- Using past audit data to predict future risk areas
- Integrating lessons learned into future audit planning
Module 12: Preparing for External Certification Audits - Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
- Introduction to ISO 27005: Information Security Risk Management
- Selecting a risk assessment approach: qualitative, quantitative, or hybrid
- Establishing the risk assessment framework and criteria
- Identifying information assets, owners, and classification levels
- Threat identification using industry-recognized threat catalogs
- Vulnerability assessment techniques and common weakness patterns
- Impact analysis: financial, operational, reputational, legal
- Likelihood estimation based on historical data and expert judgment
- Risk calculation methods and threshold setting
- Producing a comprehensive risk register template
- Prioritizing risks using heat maps and risk matrices
- Selecting appropriate risk treatment options: avoid, transfer, mitigate, accept
- Developing risk treatment plans with clear ownership and timelines
- Integrating risk treatment into project management workflows
- Reviewing and updating the risk assessment annually or after major changes
- Using risk assessment outcomes to inform control selection in Annex A
Module 5: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 1: Organizational Controls - Overview of Annex A control categories and structure
- A.5 Information security policies: development, approval, and dissemination
- A.6 Organization of information security: roles, responsibilities, segregation of duties
- A.7 Human resource security: pre-employment screening and background checks
- Terms and conditions of employment related to information security
- Security awareness, education, and training programs
- Managing disciplinary processes for policy violations
- A.8 Asset management: inventory, ownership, and acceptable use
- Media handling and disposal procedures
- Information classification and labeling schemes
- Sensitivity levels and handling requirements for classified data
- A.9 Access control: user registration, privilege management, and deactivation
- Least privilege principle and role-based access control
- Password management policies and technical enforcement
- Multi-factor authentication implementation strategies
Module 6: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 2: Technological and Operational Controls - A.10 Cryptography: encryption policies and key management
- Data at rest, in transit, and in use protection mechanisms
- A.11 Physical and environmental security: secure areas, equipment protection
- Secure disposal of hardware and data storage media
- A.12 Operational security: change management, capacity planning, monitoring
- Protection against malware and malicious code
- Backup strategies, frequency, and recovery testing
- Logging, log retention, and log analysis practices
- A.13 Communications security: network controls, segmentation, secure architecture
- Secure development lifecycle and code review processes
- Email and web access security policies
- Remote and mobile working controls
- Secure channels for external communications
- A.14 System acquisition, development, and maintenance
- Security in supplier relationships and third-party risk
Module 7: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 3: Compliance and Resilience Controls - A.15 Supplier relationships: due diligence, contracts, monitoring
- Third-party audit rights and monitoring mechanisms
- Managing cloud service provider risks
- A.16 Incident management: detection, reporting, response, escalation
- Developing an incident response plan aligned with ISO 27001
- Roles during security incidents and crisis communication
- Forensic readiness and evidence preservation
- Post-incident reviews and root cause analysis
- A.17 Information security aspects of business continuity
- Business impact analysis and recovery time objectives
- Maintaining availability during disruptions
- Testing business continuity plans regularly
- A.18 Compliance: legal, statutory, and contractual obligations
- Monitoring changes in data protection laws and regulations
- Technical and procedural compliance checks
- Preparing for regulatory audits and inspections
Module 8: The Lead Auditor Role and Audit Planning - Defining the scope and objectives of an ISMS audit
- Selecting audit criteria: ISO 27001, internal policies, legal requirements
- Establishing audit timelines and resource needs
- Creating an audit schedule and notification process
- Preparing the audit team: assigning roles and reviewing background documents
- Reviewing the organization’s ISMS documentation prior to fieldwork
- Conducting a pre-audit document review checklist
- Developing an audit checklist tailored to the organization
- Designing open-ended interview questions for key personnel
- Preparing for remote or on-site audit execution
- Using process maps to understand audit areas
- Planning sample sizes for document and record reviews
- Understanding process interactions and dependencies
- Setting expectations with management and process owners
- Ensuring auditor independence and absence of conflicts of interest
- Developing audit communication protocols
Module 9: Conducting the Audit – Evidence Collection and Evaluation - Opening meeting agenda and facilitation techniques
- Stating audit purpose, scope, and methodology to stakeholders
- Conducting interviews with confidence and neutrality
- Active listening and probing for deeper understanding
- Observing processes and verifying controls in operation
- Inspecting records, logs, and documented evidence
- Verifying the existence and effectiveness of controls
- Distinguishing between design and operational effectiveness
- Using sampling techniques to validate control consistency
- Taking accurate, objective, and unbiased audit notes
- Classifying evidence as sufficient or insufficient
- Handling sensitive information during audits
- Dealing with uncooperative or defensive auditees
- Documenting preliminary findings during fieldwork
- Ensuring traceability from finding to evidence
Module 10: Reporting Audit Findings and Writing Nonconformities - Closing meeting structure and key messages
- Presenting findings clearly, factually, and constructively
- Delivering both positive feedback and improvement areas
- Drafting nonconformity statements using the PAS 55000 format
- Identifying the requirement, evidence, and gap in every finding
- Writing clear, concise, and actionable observations
- Differentiating between systemic and isolated issues
- Ensuring findings are verifiable and not speculative
- Using neutral language to maintain auditor objectivity
- Preparing the final audit report structure
- Executive summary for management
- Appendices with evidence references and checklists
- Classifying findings by risk level and impact
- Providing context and recommendations without overstepping
- Finalizing and signing off the audit report
- Submitting reports to certification bodies or internal governance
Module 11: Follow-Up and Verification of Corrective Actions - Receiving corrective action requests from auditees
- Reviewing root cause analysis provided by process owners
- Evaluating the adequacy of proposed corrective actions
- Assessing timelines and resource allocation for closure
- Verifying implementation through evidence submission
- Conducting remote or on-site verification visits
- Determining whether nonconformities are fully resolved
- Rejecting insufficient corrective actions with guidance
- Recording closure dates and updating audit status
- Tracking outstanding findings in a centralized register
- Reporting audit status to management review
- Ensuring continual improvement through feedback loops
- Using past audit data to predict future risk areas
- Integrating lessons learned into future audit planning
Module 12: Preparing for External Certification Audits - Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
- A.10 Cryptography: encryption policies and key management
- Data at rest, in transit, and in use protection mechanisms
- A.11 Physical and environmental security: secure areas, equipment protection
- Secure disposal of hardware and data storage media
- A.12 Operational security: change management, capacity planning, monitoring
- Protection against malware and malicious code
- Backup strategies, frequency, and recovery testing
- Logging, log retention, and log analysis practices
- A.13 Communications security: network controls, segmentation, secure architecture
- Secure development lifecycle and code review processes
- Email and web access security policies
- Remote and mobile working controls
- Secure channels for external communications
- A.14 System acquisition, development, and maintenance
- Security in supplier relationships and third-party risk
Module 7: Implementing Annex A Controls – Part 3: Compliance and Resilience Controls - A.15 Supplier relationships: due diligence, contracts, monitoring
- Third-party audit rights and monitoring mechanisms
- Managing cloud service provider risks
- A.16 Incident management: detection, reporting, response, escalation
- Developing an incident response plan aligned with ISO 27001
- Roles during security incidents and crisis communication
- Forensic readiness and evidence preservation
- Post-incident reviews and root cause analysis
- A.17 Information security aspects of business continuity
- Business impact analysis and recovery time objectives
- Maintaining availability during disruptions
- Testing business continuity plans regularly
- A.18 Compliance: legal, statutory, and contractual obligations
- Monitoring changes in data protection laws and regulations
- Technical and procedural compliance checks
- Preparing for regulatory audits and inspections
Module 8: The Lead Auditor Role and Audit Planning - Defining the scope and objectives of an ISMS audit
- Selecting audit criteria: ISO 27001, internal policies, legal requirements
- Establishing audit timelines and resource needs
- Creating an audit schedule and notification process
- Preparing the audit team: assigning roles and reviewing background documents
- Reviewing the organization’s ISMS documentation prior to fieldwork
- Conducting a pre-audit document review checklist
- Developing an audit checklist tailored to the organization
- Designing open-ended interview questions for key personnel
- Preparing for remote or on-site audit execution
- Using process maps to understand audit areas
- Planning sample sizes for document and record reviews
- Understanding process interactions and dependencies
- Setting expectations with management and process owners
- Ensuring auditor independence and absence of conflicts of interest
- Developing audit communication protocols
Module 9: Conducting the Audit – Evidence Collection and Evaluation - Opening meeting agenda and facilitation techniques
- Stating audit purpose, scope, and methodology to stakeholders
- Conducting interviews with confidence and neutrality
- Active listening and probing for deeper understanding
- Observing processes and verifying controls in operation
- Inspecting records, logs, and documented evidence
- Verifying the existence and effectiveness of controls
- Distinguishing between design and operational effectiveness
- Using sampling techniques to validate control consistency
- Taking accurate, objective, and unbiased audit notes
- Classifying evidence as sufficient or insufficient
- Handling sensitive information during audits
- Dealing with uncooperative or defensive auditees
- Documenting preliminary findings during fieldwork
- Ensuring traceability from finding to evidence
Module 10: Reporting Audit Findings and Writing Nonconformities - Closing meeting structure and key messages
- Presenting findings clearly, factually, and constructively
- Delivering both positive feedback and improvement areas
- Drafting nonconformity statements using the PAS 55000 format
- Identifying the requirement, evidence, and gap in every finding
- Writing clear, concise, and actionable observations
- Differentiating between systemic and isolated issues
- Ensuring findings are verifiable and not speculative
- Using neutral language to maintain auditor objectivity
- Preparing the final audit report structure
- Executive summary for management
- Appendices with evidence references and checklists
- Classifying findings by risk level and impact
- Providing context and recommendations without overstepping
- Finalizing and signing off the audit report
- Submitting reports to certification bodies or internal governance
Module 11: Follow-Up and Verification of Corrective Actions - Receiving corrective action requests from auditees
- Reviewing root cause analysis provided by process owners
- Evaluating the adequacy of proposed corrective actions
- Assessing timelines and resource allocation for closure
- Verifying implementation through evidence submission
- Conducting remote or on-site verification visits
- Determining whether nonconformities are fully resolved
- Rejecting insufficient corrective actions with guidance
- Recording closure dates and updating audit status
- Tracking outstanding findings in a centralized register
- Reporting audit status to management review
- Ensuring continual improvement through feedback loops
- Using past audit data to predict future risk areas
- Integrating lessons learned into future audit planning
Module 12: Preparing for External Certification Audits - Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
- Defining the scope and objectives of an ISMS audit
- Selecting audit criteria: ISO 27001, internal policies, legal requirements
- Establishing audit timelines and resource needs
- Creating an audit schedule and notification process
- Preparing the audit team: assigning roles and reviewing background documents
- Reviewing the organization’s ISMS documentation prior to fieldwork
- Conducting a pre-audit document review checklist
- Developing an audit checklist tailored to the organization
- Designing open-ended interview questions for key personnel
- Preparing for remote or on-site audit execution
- Using process maps to understand audit areas
- Planning sample sizes for document and record reviews
- Understanding process interactions and dependencies
- Setting expectations with management and process owners
- Ensuring auditor independence and absence of conflicts of interest
- Developing audit communication protocols
Module 9: Conducting the Audit – Evidence Collection and Evaluation - Opening meeting agenda and facilitation techniques
- Stating audit purpose, scope, and methodology to stakeholders
- Conducting interviews with confidence and neutrality
- Active listening and probing for deeper understanding
- Observing processes and verifying controls in operation
- Inspecting records, logs, and documented evidence
- Verifying the existence and effectiveness of controls
- Distinguishing between design and operational effectiveness
- Using sampling techniques to validate control consistency
- Taking accurate, objective, and unbiased audit notes
- Classifying evidence as sufficient or insufficient
- Handling sensitive information during audits
- Dealing with uncooperative or defensive auditees
- Documenting preliminary findings during fieldwork
- Ensuring traceability from finding to evidence
Module 10: Reporting Audit Findings and Writing Nonconformities - Closing meeting structure and key messages
- Presenting findings clearly, factually, and constructively
- Delivering both positive feedback and improvement areas
- Drafting nonconformity statements using the PAS 55000 format
- Identifying the requirement, evidence, and gap in every finding
- Writing clear, concise, and actionable observations
- Differentiating between systemic and isolated issues
- Ensuring findings are verifiable and not speculative
- Using neutral language to maintain auditor objectivity
- Preparing the final audit report structure
- Executive summary for management
- Appendices with evidence references and checklists
- Classifying findings by risk level and impact
- Providing context and recommendations without overstepping
- Finalizing and signing off the audit report
- Submitting reports to certification bodies or internal governance
Module 11: Follow-Up and Verification of Corrective Actions - Receiving corrective action requests from auditees
- Reviewing root cause analysis provided by process owners
- Evaluating the adequacy of proposed corrective actions
- Assessing timelines and resource allocation for closure
- Verifying implementation through evidence submission
- Conducting remote or on-site verification visits
- Determining whether nonconformities are fully resolved
- Rejecting insufficient corrective actions with guidance
- Recording closure dates and updating audit status
- Tracking outstanding findings in a centralized register
- Reporting audit status to management review
- Ensuring continual improvement through feedback loops
- Using past audit data to predict future risk areas
- Integrating lessons learned into future audit planning
Module 12: Preparing for External Certification Audits - Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
- Closing meeting structure and key messages
- Presenting findings clearly, factually, and constructively
- Delivering both positive feedback and improvement areas
- Drafting nonconformity statements using the PAS 55000 format
- Identifying the requirement, evidence, and gap in every finding
- Writing clear, concise, and actionable observations
- Differentiating between systemic and isolated issues
- Ensuring findings are verifiable and not speculative
- Using neutral language to maintain auditor objectivity
- Preparing the final audit report structure
- Executive summary for management
- Appendices with evidence references and checklists
- Classifying findings by risk level and impact
- Providing context and recommendations without overstepping
- Finalizing and signing off the audit report
- Submitting reports to certification bodies or internal governance
Module 11: Follow-Up and Verification of Corrective Actions - Receiving corrective action requests from auditees
- Reviewing root cause analysis provided by process owners
- Evaluating the adequacy of proposed corrective actions
- Assessing timelines and resource allocation for closure
- Verifying implementation through evidence submission
- Conducting remote or on-site verification visits
- Determining whether nonconformities are fully resolved
- Rejecting insufficient corrective actions with guidance
- Recording closure dates and updating audit status
- Tracking outstanding findings in a centralized register
- Reporting audit status to management review
- Ensuring continual improvement through feedback loops
- Using past audit data to predict future risk areas
- Integrating lessons learned into future audit planning
Module 12: Preparing for External Certification Audits - Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
- Understanding the certification audit process: Stage 1 and Stage 2
- Preparing documentation for external auditor review
- Conducting a pre-certification gap analysis
- Simulating an external audit with internal teams
- Ensuring all mandatory documents are available
- Risk assessment and treatment plan readiness
- Internal audit program evidence and findings
- Management review meeting minutes and outputs
- Corrective action closure records
- Legal and compliance obligation register
- Incident logs and response reports
- Business continuity and disaster recovery test results
- Supplier agreement reviews and due diligence evidence
- Training records and awareness campaign materials
- Preparing key personnel for interview by certification body
- Hosting the external audit: logistics, access, and coordination
Module 13: Advanced Audit Techniques for Complex Organizations - Auditing multinational organizations with multiple sites
- Handling centralized vs decentralized ISMS models
- Scoping audits across different legal jurisdictions
- Auditing outsourced functions and cloud environments
- Assessing shared responsibilities in hybrid architectures
- Large-scale audit program management
- Coordinating multi-auditor teams across time zones
- Standardizing audit approaches globally
- Using centralized audit management tools
- Auditing high-risk sectors: finance, healthcare, energy
- Special considerations for data sovereignty and cross-border transfers
- Auditing artificial intelligence and machine learning systems
- Security controls in DevOps and agile environments
- Auditing third-party software vendors and supply chains
- Integrating ISO 27001 with NIST, CIS, or SOC 2 frameworks
- Handling regulatory overlap and conflict
Module 14: Practical Application Through Real-World Audit Projects - Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations
Module 15: Career Advancement and Certification Pathways - Overview of recognized certification bodies: PECB, IRCA, Exemplar Global
- Exam preparation strategies for ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certifications
- Understanding the certification exam structure and question types
- Study plan and time management for exam success
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Building a professional portfolio with audit reports and evidence
- Negotiating higher compensation with ISO 27001 expertise
- Positioning yourself for roles: Lead Auditor, ISMS Manager, GRC Lead
- Networking with global audit communities and associations
- Using the Certificate of Completion to demonstrate capability
- Leveraging your credential on LinkedIn, resumes, and proposals
- Continuing professional development (CPD) requirements
- Maintaining credibility and technical currency over time
- Transitioning into consulting and freelance audit engagements
- Next steps: advanced certifications in risk, privacy, and resilience
- Case Study 1: Conducting an ISMS audit for a mid-sized SaaS provider
- Reviewing policies, risk register, and incident logs
- Interviewing the CISO and IT operations manager
- Observing access control enforcement and monitoring
- Identifying gaps in backup and recovery testing
- Drafting findings and recommendations
- Case Study 2: Auditing a healthcare organization with hybrid data storage
- Assessing compliance with GDPR and HIPAA alongside ISO 27001
- Reviewing patient data classification and encryption
- Evaluating third-party audit clauses for cloud storage
- Verifying business continuity arrangements
- Writing nonconformities with clinical risk implications
- Case Study 3: Preparing a financial institution for certification audit
- Conducting a full mock Stage 2 audit
- Simulating certification body questioning techniques
- Providing readiness score and final recommendations