ISO IEC 27036-4-2016 PDF

Full title and description

Information technology — Security techniques — Information security for supplier relationships — Part 4: Guidelines for cloud services. This part of ISO/IEC 27036 gives guidance for cloud service customers and cloud service providers to identify, assess and manage information security risks that arise from the use or provision of cloud services.

Abstract

ISO/IEC 27036-4:2016 provides guidance to gain visibility into information security risks associated with cloud services, to manage those risks effectively, and to respond to acquisition/provision risks that may impact organizations using cloud services. It clarifies that business continuity/resiliency aspects are out of scope (see ISO/IEC 27031) and that implementation guidance for providers is covered more fully in ISO/IEC 27002 and ISO/IEC 27017.

General information

• Status: Published / Confirmed (current).
• Publication date: 28 September 2016 (published autumn 2016).
• Publisher: ISO/IEC (published via ISO and IEC webstores; developed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27).
• ICS / categories: 35.030 (IT security).
• Edition / version: Edition 1.0 (2016).
• Number of pages: 21 pages.

Scope

This standard defines guidelines that support the implementation of information security management for the use of cloud services. It is intended to help cloud customers and cloud service providers identify cloud‑specific threats and risks, specify security requirements, and manage supplier relationships and contractual arrangements related to cloud delivery. It does not prescribe detailed implementation steps for cloud service providers’ internal security operations or cover business continuity/resiliency topics in depth.

Key topics and requirements

• Overview of cloud characteristics, common threats and cloud‑specific risks.
• Guidance for assessing visibility and transparency needs (logging, monitoring, auditable evidence) between customer and provider.
• Specification of security requirements to be addressed in procurement and contracts (data protection, access control, segregation, encryption, location and jurisdiction considerations).
• Recommendations for supplier relationship management across the cloud supply chain (sub‑providers, chaining of services, roles and responsibilities).
• Risk treatment options and suggested assurance measures (third‑party assessment, SLAs, reporting and incident handling coordination).
• Notes on interfaces with other standards (ISO/IEC 27002, ISO/IEC 27017, ISO/IEC 27031 and ISO/IEC 27001) and distinction between guidance and normative controls.

Typical use and users

Used by cloud service customers, cloud service providers, procurement teams, information security managers, risk officers, compliance and legal teams, and auditors. Common use cases include preparing security requirements for cloud procurement, evaluating provider assurances, defining contractual security clauses, and aligning cloud engagements with an organisation’s ISMS.

Related standards

Closely related to other ISO/IEC 27000-series documents, in particular ISO/IEC 27036 (other parts), ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS requirements), ISO/IEC 27002 (security controls guidance), ISO/IEC 27017 (cloud-specific controls), and ISO/IEC 27031 (business continuity for ICT). It is part of the broader supplier-relationship guidance in the ISO/IEC 27036 family.

Keywords

Cloud security, supplier relationships, information security, cloud services, risk management, contractual security, cloud supply chain, transparency, SLAs.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 27036-4:2016 is Part 4 of the ISO/IEC 27036 series and provides guidelines specifically for information security in cloud service relationships between customers and providers.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers identification and management of cloud-specific information security risks, guidance for specifying security requirements in procurements and contracts, supplier‑chain considerations for cloud services, and suggested assurance measures. It does not replace detailed provider implementation standards or business continuity guidance.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Cloud customers and providers, procurement and contract teams, security/risk/compliance officers, and auditors use it to define and assess cloud security requirements and supplier arrangements.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: As published in 2016 this document is the 2016 edition (Edition 1.0). It is treated as a published/confirmed international standard; users should check national/ISO catalogs for any later revisions or reviews.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is Part 4 of the ISO/IEC 27036 series on information security for supplier relationships and is intended to be used alongside other ISO/IEC 27000-series standards like ISO/IEC 27001, 27002 and 27017.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Cloud security, supplier relationships, risk assessment, contractual requirements, transparency, service-level agreements, third-party assurance.