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Unlock ISO 27001 Foundation Certification: Expert Interview Questions and Answers

Data handling, transmission, storage, and recording methods open doors to hackers in the cyber world. Loopholes existing in any of these processes can make businesses suffer unexpected losses. Individuals possessing ISO 27001 Foundation Certification come to the rescue by making organizations realize their current cybersecurity status. Large amounts of confidential data assets of a business make its competitors bent on stealing them. So, becoming ISO 27001-compliant is the safest for business enterprises.

Scrutiny of expertise is necessary for hiring proficient information security professionals. Therefore, while getting hired aspirants might come across several questions from the interviewer’s end. To ensure that they answer just right to win the confidence of the recruiter here is an opportunity for rehearsing the same. Even the most knowledgeable can become tongue-tied when questions come pouring in. These model questions give a hint of how brief or elaborate a candidate should be while answering them.

There isn’t much distinction between the initial ISO 27001 version of 2013 and 2022. The latest version elaborates on securing information assets, protecting privacy and cybersecurity related advancements. As IT is evolving rigorously, businesses have faced various challenges related to IS. the Standard’s latest version covers various requirements that organizations need to follow in order to maintain ISMS as per standard rules and regulations.

Annex A in the 2013 edition of ISO 27001 comprises 114 information security controls. These controls come under 14 categories each of which handles separate issues. Some of the issues are access management, physical security, data encryption and transmission, and training in information security. However, in the 2022 version of the standard, the Control were reduced to 93 and grouped into 4 sections of Organizational, People, Technology and Physical.

Listed below are some of the significant advantages of possessing ISO 27001 Certification.
  • Mitigation of potential IT risks.
  • Exposure and rectification of the problem areas in information security.
  • Reduced expenses and legal compliance.
  • Protection against data theft.
  • Prevention of financial loss and reputation damage.

ISO 27001 Certification encapsulates the processes that an organization must be adept at identifying potential IT risks. Besides, it also acts as a guide for techniques for changing the attitude of employees. Employee attitude directly influences operational procedures thereby, thereby preventing cyber attacks.

The myth about ISO 27001 Certification is that it is valuable to project managers and IT companies, solely. In this era of digitization, every successful business is dependent on information technology. Thus, data security breaches are no longer limited to any particular sector such as IT.

Whether it is a hospital chain or a pharmaceutical company, every organization related to medicare need data to function. Patient records, manufacturing procedures, medicine formulae, and data of several kinds are needed by employees working in these domains. This makes data security an integral part of such organizations.

ISO 27001 Certification compliance calls for employees’ awareness while retrieving, archiving, or storing data. This awareness is effective in executing their actions without leaving any gaps in the information security management system.

Apart from the identification of IT risks, ISO 27001 Certification also encompasses directives for the management of IT services. This certification is an all-in-one benchmark globally accepted for ISMS.

Organizations can take time until the next internal audit for completely migrating their ISMS as per the latest version of the standard. Additionally, ISO 27001 Foundation professionals can suggest to conduct the internal audit 3 months before the external audit to identify and mitigate the gaps present in the newer version of ISMS.

White and black hats are namely, two categories of cyber hackers. White hat hackers possess expertise in computer security. They apply different testing methods to ensure that the sensitive data of the organization is secure. On the other hand, black hat hackers are cybercriminals who intrude into secure networks unethically. Their motive is to modify or steal certain data to serve their interests.

Organizations need to ensure that their employees immediately report to the management on the occasion of any cyber attack. Besides, they should facilitate technical provisions to meet the needs of maintaining data confidentiality, authenticity, integrity, and availability. Their cyber networks must be equipped to observe the information security standards.

More than being a system, an ISMS is an approach involving human and technical factors. This approach would bring consistency to an organization’s data surveillance to meet its protection necessities throughout. ISO 27001 includes the ISMS documentation with details of how to implement it.

An organization of any size can incorporate an ISMS and maintain the same by complying with ISO 27001 guidelines. Thus, an enterprise must become ISO Certified to sustain it. The organization would then be needed to observe every rule of information security laid down by it.

ISO 27001 possesses 13 objectives. The objectives include guidelines and recommendations in multiple areas. These areas are namely, access control, structure, risk assessment, compliance, and staff-related security.

GDPR is a body of legal compliance while ISO 27001 isn’t. The former can impose a heavy monetary fine on an organization on the occasion of non-compliance with its terms. ISO 27001 doesn’t lay the instruction of paying money as a penalty.

An ISMS comprises associated activities and resources, policies, guidelines, and procedures. Each of these strives towards protecting the information assets of an organization against data security breaches that violate CIA principles.

Banks are realizing the necessity of becoming ISO 27001 Certified. The significant losses they have faced due to cyber security issues are making them well aware at present. Their functions are solely based on massive sensitive data that call for firm security to avoid any misfortune such as bankruptcy.

Here are the objectives of ISMS implementation:
  • Assistance to the organization in meeting regulatory and legal compliances.
  • Enhances the controls in maintaining a secure environment within the organization.
  • Assurance of data assets protection against thefts.
  • Provision of a risk assessment framework.

It is certainly not. Individuals aspiring for a career in the IT industry must opt for ISO 27001 Foundation. It provides the knowledge required to help an organization’s information security system interpret the ISO 27001 standard and their requirements.

Banks and financial institutions have to adhere to the most rigid data protection laws. Getting ISO certified causes them to implement information security management and follow its practices to the core. In the process, they also abide by legal regulations.

The areas assessed for the ISO 27001 certification are as follows:
  • Information security policies
  • Asset management
  • Supplier relationships
  • Cryptography
  • Compliance
  • Access control
  • Physical and environmental security
  • System development and maintenance
  • Communication security
  • Business continuity management
  • Operational security

The three principles of ISO 27001:
  • Confidentiality
  • Integrity
  • Availability

Yes, according to the ISO 27001 principle, companies must safeguard sensitive data from unauthorized access or disclosure. They must identify and categorize data in accordance with its sensitivity and implement the necessary controls to limit access to only authorized people or systems. Additionally, they should implement safety measures including user authentication, encryption, and access control rules.

The integrity principle emphasizes preserving the accuracy of data by guarding against unauthorized alteration. It also specifies that businesses must take precautions to prevent data tampering both during storage and transmission. Data must always be preserved precisely as it was when it was generated or received. Moreover, companies must set up procedures and controls to keep their data reliable and accurate.

Yes, businesses should always allow authorized users access to data. They should make sure that information is readily available and that the systems used to store and process it are working properly. In order to preserve the availability of data whenever needed, businesses must implement backup systems, disaster recovery plans, and redundancy measures.

There are 114 controls within the ISO 27001 standard. An organization should address 114 information security controls to receive and maintain its ISO 27001 certification. These controls cover a wide range of security aspects, including access control, risk management, human resources security, physical security, and more.

  • Company security policy
  • Asset management
  • Physical and environmental security
  • Access control
  • Incident management
  • Regulatory compliance

  • Information security policies
  • Organisation of information security
  • Human resource security
  • Asset management
  • Access control
  • Cryptography
  • Physical and environmental security
  • Operations security
  • Communications security
  • System acquisition, development and maintenance
  • Supplier relationships
  • Information security incident management
  • Information security aspects of business continuity management
  • Compliance

The ISO 27001 standard places a strong focus on efficient risk assessment and management within an organization's information security. It necessitates that businesses take an organized, methodical approach to risk assessment. They should additionally focus on detecting and assessing the risks related to information security, such as potential threats, deficiencies, and potential impacts of security events.

Symmetric and asymmetric encryption are two fundamental cryptographic techniques used to secure data. Symmetric encryption uses the same key for both encryption and decryption. Whereas asymmetric encryption employs two keys—a private key for decryption and a public key for encryption—to encrypt data. Moreover, symmetric encryption is appropriate for encrypting data since it is quicker and more effective. Asymmetric encryption, however, is slower but offers a higher degree of security.

Here are the steps involved in obtaining the ISO 27001 certification:
  • Define the context, scope, and objectives
  • Perform a risk assessment
  • Establish a management framework
  • Implement controls to mitigate risks
  • Conduct training
  • Review the necessary documents
  • Conduct internal audits
  • Management review
  • Certification audits

The different ways used to authenticate a person are:
  • Biometric Authentication
  • Certificate-based Authentication
  • Multi-factor Authentication
  • Password-based Authentication
  • Token-based Authentication

The following are the three different types of risks involved in an ISO 27001 Audit:
  • Control Risks
  • Detection Risk
  • Inherent Risk

A systematic framework called the Maturity Model can help an organization's information security approach become more competent and effective. It is used to define the numerous facets of organizations that can deliver reliable and sustainable outcomes. Additionally, it aids in identifying areas that need improvement to create a more reliable and efficient Information Security Management System.

Security policies are classified into:
  • Promiscuous Policy
  • Prudent Policy
  • Permissive Policy
  • Paranoid Policy

Token-based authentication is a security mechanism that verifies the identity of users or systems through the use of tokens. In this procedure, users first offer their initial authentication, such as a username and password, and after a successful verification, they are given a token. Users have to provide this token for subsequent access.

ISO 27001:2013 was published to provide organizations with a structured framework and best practices for managing information security. It help organizations identify, assess, and manage information security risks.

  • Scope
  • Terms and Definitions
  • Context of the Organization
  • Leadership
  • Planning
  • Support
  • Performance Evaluation
  • Improvement

  • ISMS safeguards an organization’s information assets
  • Serves as proof of the information system security
  • Demonstrate the commitment to information security
  • Help in identifying new information security risks and opportunities

Professionals can use the following ways to protect the home wireless access point.
  • Not broadcasting the SSID
  • Use WPA2 or WPA3 Encryption
  • Implement Network Segmentation
  • Firewall Protection
  • Use a Strong SSID and Password
  • Using MAC address filtering