Overview
ISO/IEC 27006-1:2024 - Part 1: General defines requirements and provides guidance for bodies that audit and certify Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). It supplements ISO/IEC 17021-1 by specifying how certification bodies must demonstrate competence, impartiality and reliability when issuing ISMS certifications. The standard is applicable as a criteria document for accreditation, peer assessment or other conformity assessment activities in the fields of information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection.
Key topics and requirements
ISO/IEC 27006-1:2024 covers the full certification lifecycle and organizational controls for certification bodies, including:
- Principles and legal/contractual matters: obligations related to contracts, liability and financing.
- Management of impartiality and conflicts of interest: mechanisms to ensure objective certification decisions.
- Structural and resource requirements: organizational structure, outsourcing, personnel records.
- Competence of personnel: generic and ISMS-specific competence criteria, auditor knowledge, use of external auditors and technical experts (Annex A - knowledge and skills).
- Information requirements: public information, certification documents, use of marks, confidentiality and information exchange with clients.
- Process requirements: pre-certification (application and review), audit planning, determining audit time and multi-site sampling (Annex C normative on audit time; Annex D on methods), initial certification audits, surveillance, re-certification, special audits and certification decision processes.
- Handling appeals and complaints and maintaining client records.
- Management system options: Option A (general MS requirements) or Option B (MS in accordance with ISO 9001).
- Guidance for ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A control reviews (Annex E informative).
Applications and who should use it
ISO/IEC 27006-1:2024 is intended for:
- Certification bodies that issue ISMS certifications.
- Accreditation bodies using the document as an assessment criterion.
- Auditors and technical experts preparing for ISMS audits.
- Organizations seeking ISMS certification to understand certification body expectations.
- Regulators and procurement teams specifying certification requirements for suppliers.
Practical uses include designing auditor competency frameworks, calculating audit time for ISO/IEC 27001 assessments, structuring surveillance plans, and ensuring impartiality and confidentiality in certification activities.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 17021-1 - general requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of management systems (baseline).
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 - requirements for establishing, implementing and maintaining an ISMS (certification target).
- ISO 9001 - referenced for Management System Option B.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 27006-1:2024, ISMS certification, information security, cybersecurity, privacy protection, auditor competence, audit time, accreditation.