Introduction

In the dynamic landscape of information security, organizations must be prepared to face various risks that threaten the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their critical assets. To manage these risks effectively, ISO 27001 provides guidelines for implementing an Information Security Management System (ISMS). Central to this process is the development of a “risk treatment plan” that outlines the necessary actions to address identified risks. This blog aims to shed light on the key elements of a risk treatment plan, its documentation, and its importance in ensuring continuous improvement in information security.

Understanding the Risk Treatment Plan

ISO 27001 acknowledges that an organization’s risk landscape is ever-evolving, and the risk treatment plan is designed to address this reality. It represents a proactive approach that outlines actions to be taken after analyzing risks. While the standard does not explicitly prescribe the format or nomenclature, some professionals find it more intuitive to call it a “risk improvement plan.” In this context, the plan focuses on risks that exceed the acceptable risk criteria or appetite and need improvement to reduce their likelihood, impact, or overall level of risk.

Key Components of the Risk Treatment Plan

Risk Identification: This section provides a clear and detailed list of the identified risks that require treatment. Each risk should be described, including its potential impact, likelihood, and the assets or processes it may affect. The risk identification process helps prioritize risks and lays the foundation for subsequent treatment activities.
Risk Treatment Activities: The risk treatment plan should outline specific actions, measures, or controls that need to be implemented to manage and mitigate the identified risks. These activities may involve introducing new security controls, enhancing existing measures, or implementing risk reduction strategies.
Responsible Parties: Assigning clear ownership and responsibility for each risk treatment activity is vital to ensure accountability and effective execution. This section should identify individuals or teams responsible for carrying out each activity and monitoring progress.
Target Completion Dates: Including target completion dates for each risk treatment activity helps establish a timeline for implementation. Time-bound goals facilitate effective resource allocation, prevent delays, and ensure timely risk management.
Resource Requirements: Identifying the necessary resources, such as budget, personnel, technology, or expertise, is essential to ensure that the risk treatment activities can be carried out efficiently. Clear resource allocation helps avoid bottlenecks in the risk treatment process.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Establishing KPIs allows organizations to measure the effectiveness of risk treatment activities. KPIs should be aligned with the organization’s risk objectives and provide a means to assess the success of risk mitigation efforts.
Review and Reporting Mechanism: A risk treatment plan should include a mechanism for regular review and reporting on the progress of risk treatment activities. This enables stakeholders to stay informed about the status of risk management efforts and any adjustments or updates that may be required.
Integration with Other Processes: To ensure seamless integration, the risk treatment plan should be aligned with other relevant processes, such as the risk assessment process, incident management, or business continuity planning. This integration fosters a cohesive and coordinated approach to information security.
Documentation and Communication: Proper documentation of the risk treatment plan is crucial for maintaining a clear record of risk management actions and decisions. Additionally, effective communication with stakeholders, including risk owners and management, ensures shared understanding and commitment to the plan.
Continual Improvement Strategy: Lastly, the risk treatment plan should include a strategy for continual improvement. This involves periodically reassessing the effectiveness of the implemented controls, reviewing new risks that may arise, and making adjustments to the plan as necessary.

By incorporating these key components, organizations can develop a robust and actionable risk treatment plan that strengthens their information security and helps achieve their risk management objectives.

Documentation of the Risk Treatment Plan

There are common approaches to documenting the risk treatment plan:

As a Single Separate Document: In this method, all the details of improvement activities for all identified risks are compiled into a single document. This approach provides a comprehensive view of the organization’s security enhancement efforts.
As Separate Documents per Risk: Alternatively, organizations can create separate documents, one for each risk, containing the respective improvement activities. This approach may be more suitable for larger organizations dealing with numerous risks.
As an Attribute in the Risk Assessment: Some professionals prefer to include the risk treatment plan as the last column or attribute of the risk assessment. This approach integrates the plan directly into the risk assessment, making it easier to track risk management progress.
Risk Treatment Matrix: The risk treatment matrix is a tabular representation of the identified risks and their corresponding treatment strategies. Each row of the matrix represents a specific risk, and the columns contain information about the treatment activities, responsible parties, target completion dates, and status. This matrix approach offers a visually clear and concise overview of the organization’s risk treatment efforts.

Post-Implementation Considerations

Once the risk treatment plan’s activities are completed, several follow-up actions are necessary:

Update the Statement of Applicability: If new controls were implemented, the Statement of Applicability (clause 6.1.3 d) should be updated to reflect the change in status from “Not implemented” to “Implemented.”

Adapt Performance Management and Internal Audit Approaches: Changes to controls may require adjustments to the performance management approach (clause 9.1) and the internal audit approach (clause 9.2) to align with the updated controls.

Reassess and Update the Risk Assessment: After implementing the improvement activities, it is essential to review and update the risk assessment to reflect the changes accurately. Ideally, this reassessment should demonstrate a reduction in the likelihood and/or impact and/or level of risk.

Continual Improvement and Multiple Risk Treatment Plans

ISO 27001 often gives the impression of requiring a single risk treatment plan; however, in reality, organizations may need multiple plans over time. As risks change, controls evolve, and the organization’s security maturity improves, new risk treatment plans become necessary. These iterative processes help organizations remain agile and adaptable in the face of evolving security challenges.

Conclusion

ISO 27001’s risk treatment plan, also known as the “risk improvement plan,” is a vital aspect of an effective Information Security Management System. By focusing on addressing identified risks through specific actions, it empowers organizations to continuously improve their information security posture. Documentation, updates, and reassessment are key aspects of this process, ensuring a proactive and adaptive approach to information security. Embracing this methodology, organizations can better safeguard their critical assets and data against ever-evolving threats and risks.

– Alessandro Aquino, Product Engineering