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Control Institute
Category: ISMS Clauses and Planning

ISO/IEC 27003

Also known as: ISO 27003, ISO/IEC 27003:2017
Simply put

ISO/IEC 27003 is a guidance standard that helps organizations implement an Information Security Management System (ISMS) in line with ISO/IEC 27001. It is not a certifiable standard itself; instead, it offers explanation and direction on how to meet the requirements set out in ISO/IEC 27001. Organizations cannot be certified against ISO/IEC 27003, but they may use it as a supporting reference while pursuing ISO/IEC 27001 certification.

Formal definition

ISO/IEC 27003 is a supporting standard in the ISO/IEC 27000 family that provides explanation and guidance on the ISMS requirements of ISO/IEC 27001. The current edition, ISO/IEC 27003:2017 (published March 2017), provides guidance on all the requirements of ISO/IEC 27001:2013, structured to follow its clauses. It is guidance-only and non-certifiable: certification is achieved against ISO/IEC 27001, not against ISO/IEC 27003. Note that ISO/IEC 27003:2017 does not contain detailed guidance on information security risk management and directs readers to ISO/IEC 27005 for that topic. The earlier edition, ISO/IEC 27003:2010, focused on the design and implementation of an ISMS and was oriented to the ISO/IEC 27001 requirements in force at that time; practitioners should confirm the applicable edition and the ISO/IEC 27001 version being implemented, since alignment and content vary by edition.

Why it matters

ISO/IEC 27001 sets out the requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS) in its clauses, but those requirements are stated at a level that leaves organizations to determine how to satisfy them. ISO/IEC 27003 matters because it bridges that gap: it provides explanation and guidance on how to interpret and implement the ISMS requirements, helping teams translate the certifiable clauses of ISO/IEC 27001 into practical implementation steps. For organizations building an ISMS for the first time, this guidance can reduce misinterpretation and rework during the design phase.

It is important to understand what ISO/IEC 27003 does not do. It is a guidance-only, non-certifiable standard; organizations cannot be certified against it and instead pursue certification against ISO/IEC 27001. Using ISO/IEC 27003 well can support a smoother path toward certification, but it confers no certification status of its own. Practitioners should also note its scope boundaries: the current edition, ISO/IEC 27003:2017, does not contain detailed guidance on information security risk management and directs readers to ISO/IEC 27005 for that topic. Treating 27003 as a complete implementation manual, without consulting the standards it defers to, can leave gaps in areas such as risk assessment.

Edition alignment is another reason precision matters here. ISO/IEC 27003:2017 provides guidance on ISO/IEC 27001:2013 and is structured to follow its clauses, whereas the earlier ISO/IEC 27003:2010 edition focused on the design and implementation of an ISMS oriented to the ISO/IEC 27001 requirements in force at that time. Because content and alignment vary by edition, practitioners should confirm which edition of ISO/IEC 27003 they are using and which version of ISO/IEC 27001 they are implementing before relying on the guidance.

Who it's relevant to

Organizations implementing an ISMS
Teams building an Information Security Management System for the first time can use ISO/IEC 27003 as a supporting reference to interpret the ISO/IEC 27001 requirements and structure their implementation work along the standard's clauses. It helps clarify what each requirement calls for, though it should be paired with ISO/IEC 27005 for information security risk management, which 27003 does not cover in detail.
Compliance and GRC managers pursuing ISO 27001 certification
Those responsible for guiding an organization toward ISO/IEC 27001 certification can use ISO/IEC 27003 to support planning and implementation decisions. They should note that no certification is available against 27003 itself; it is a supporting reference, and certification is achieved against ISO/IEC 27001.
Security consultants and implementers
Practitioners advising on ISMS design and implementation should confirm which edition of ISO/IEC 27003 applies and which version of ISO/IEC 27001 the client is implementing, since alignment and content vary by edition, for example, ISO/IEC 27003:2017 provides guidance on ISO/IEC 27001:2013, while the earlier 2010 edition focused on ISMS design and implementation oriented to the requirements in force at that time.

Inside ISO/IEC 27003

Purpose as ISMS implementation guidance
ISO/IEC 27003 is a guidance document that supports implementation of an information security management system (ISMS) by explaining and providing recommendations on the requirements set out in ISO/IEC 27001. It is not itself a certifiable standard; certification is achieved against ISO/IEC 27001, not against ISO/IEC 27003.
Clause-by-clause explanatory structure (2017 edition)
The 2017 edition is organized to follow the structure of the ISO/IEC 27001 management system requirements, offering explanation and recommendations aligned to the standard's clauses (typically covering context of the organization, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation, and improvement). It aims to help practitioners interpret and apply those requirements.
Relationship to related ISO/IEC 27000-family standards
ISO/IEC 27003 does not attempt to cover every topic in depth and refers readers to other standards for specific subjects. Notably, the 2017 edition does not provide detailed guidance on information security risk management and directs readers to ISO/IEC 27005 for that topic; ISO/IEC 27002 remains the reference for guidance on the Annex A controls.
Edition history and alignment
An earlier edition, ISO/IEC 27003:2010, provided implementation guidance in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001:2005. The standard was subsequently revised, with the 2017 edition realigned to the then-current ISO/IEC 27001 requirements structure. When citing the document, the specific edition should be identified because content and alignment differ between versions.

Common questions

Answers to the questions practitioners most commonly ask about ISO/IEC 27003.

Is ISO/IEC 27003 a standard you can be certified against, like ISO/IEC 27001?
No. ISO/IEC 27003 is a guidance document that provides explanation and direction for implementing an information security management system (ISMS); it is not a requirements standard and is not certifiable. Certification is assessed against the requirements in clauses 4 through 10 of ISO/IEC 27001, issued by an accredited certification body. ISO/IEC 27003 supports that work by helping interpret and apply the requirements, but conformance to it is not audited and it produces no certificate of its own.
Does ISO/IEC 27003 give you the detailed method for information security risk management?
Not in depth. The current edition (ISO/IEC 27003:2017) does not contain detailed guidance on information security risk management and refers readers to ISO/IEC 27005 for that topic. ISO/IEC 27003 explains how the ISMS requirements of ISO/IEC 27001 fit together and how to approach implementation, but for the specifics of conducting risk assessment and risk treatment you should consult ISO/IEC 27005 alongside the risk-related requirements in ISO/IEC 27001 itself.
How does ISO/IEC 27003 relate to ISO/IEC 27001 and ISO/IEC 27002 during an implementation project?
The three documents serve distinct roles. ISO/IEC 27001 states the certifiable ISMS requirements, ISO/IEC 27003 provides guidance on understanding and implementing those requirements, and ISO/IEC 27002 provides guidance on the reference controls in Annex A. In most implementations, teams use ISO/IEC 27003 to interpret the management-system clauses and 27002 to inform control selection and application, while treating ISO/IEC 27001 as the authoritative source of what must be satisfied for certification.
At what stage of an ISMS project is ISO/IEC 27003 most useful?
It is typically most useful early in and throughout the establishment of the ISMS, when an organization is interpreting the ISO/IEC 27001 requirements and planning how to meet them. Because it walks through the requirements and offers explanatory direction, teams often reference it while defining scope, establishing leadership commitment, planning objectives, and building the supporting processes. Its usefulness depends on the maturity of the organization and how the implementation is scoped.
Do we need to document our use of ISO/IEC 27003 to satisfy an auditor?
No. Certification auditors assess conformance to the ISO/IEC 27001 requirements and evidence of the ISMS, not whether you used any particular guidance document. Using ISO/IEC 27003 is optional and internal; it can help you interpret requirements consistently, but it is not itself an audit criterion. What an auditor evaluates in most engagements is the documented information and operating evidence that the ISO/IEC 27001 requirements themselves call for.
Should we consult a specific edition of ISO/IEC 27003, and does the edition matter?
The edition does matter, so consult the current published version and confirm which ISO/IEC 27001 edition it corresponds to. Guidance documents are periodically revised to track changes in the parent requirements standard, and terminology or structure can differ between editions. When aligning your implementation, verify that the guidance edition you are using matches the version of ISO/IEC 27001 against which you intend to be certified, rather than assuming continuity across revisions.

Common misconceptions

ISO/IEC 27003 is a standard an organization can be certified against.
ISO/IEC 27003 is guidance only. Certification, where sought, is issued by an accredited certification body against ISO/IEC 27001. ISO/IEC 27003 supports interpretation and implementation of those requirements but confers no certifiable outcome of its own.
ISO/IEC 27003 contains the detailed information security risk management methodology.
The 2017 edition explicitly does not contain detailed guidance on information security risk management and refers readers to ISO/IEC 27005 for that subject. ISO/IEC 27003 explains how risk-related requirements fit within the ISMS but is not the primary source for risk management technique.
The current edition of ISO/IEC 27003 corresponds to the original 2010 content.
The 2010 edition provided guidance in accordance with ISO/IEC 27001:2005 and was later superseded by a revised edition realigned to the updated ISO/IEC 27001 structure. Practitioners should confirm which edition they are using, since scope and alignment vary by version.

Best practices

Use ISO/IEC 27003 as an interpretive companion to ISO/IEC 27001 rather than as a checklist for certification, and confirm you are referencing the edition aligned to the ISO/IEC 27001 version in scope.
For information security risk management, consult ISO/IEC 27005 rather than relying on ISO/IEC 27003, which does not provide detailed risk management guidance.
For guidance on selecting and implementing the Annex A reference controls, pair ISO/IEC 27003 with ISO/IEC 27002, keeping in mind that Annex A control selection is driven by the Statement of Applicability and risk assessment.
Verify the specific edition and publication date before citing content, since guidance and framework alignment differ between the 2010 and later editions.
Map ISO/IEC 27003 guidance to the corresponding ISO/IEC 27001 clauses (4 through 10) so that implementation activities trace clearly back to certifiable requirements.
Treat ISO/IEC 27003 recommendations as guidance that can be adapted to organizational context and scope, rather than as mandatory prescriptions.