Operational Capabilities: The Backbone of Information Security
3 min. leestijd
In the world of information security, people often talk about management measures and controls. These measures are the building blocks of a security policy that helps organizations protect their information. But there is a deeper layer that is just as important: operational capabilities.
In this blog, we explain what operational capabilities (OCs) are and how they are classified according to ISO 27001:2022. We also explain why Brand Compliance bases its audits on these capabilities rather than on individual controls.
What are operational capabilities?
Operational capabilities are the underlying processes, resources, and infrastructures required to effectively implement and maintain management measures. They are the foundation on which an organization’s security measures are built. Without strong operational capabilities, even the best-designed management measures can fail in their goal of protecting the organization from threats.
Operational capabilities include:
- Technological resources: The hardware and software required to implement and support security measures.
- Human resources: The skills, knowledge and availability of personnel to effectively manage and implement the required measures.
- Operational processes: The procedures and workflows designed to implement security measures consistently and repeatedly.
- Physical facilities: The physical security and environment in which IT systems are managed and stored.
What types of operational capabilities does the ISO 27001:2022 cover?
ISO 27001:2022 highlights a wide range of operational capabilities required for an effective information security management system (ISMS). The standard divides these capabilities into several categories.
Here are some examples:
- Access to systems and data: Controlling who has access to systems and data, and under what circumstances.
- Communication security: Protecting the integrity and confidentiality of information during transmission.
- Incident management: The capabilities to detect, respond to and recover from security incidents.
- Continuity management: The ability to continue critical functions in the event of a disruption or disaster.
- Supplier management: Ensuring that third parties comply with the organization’s security requirements.
What is the relationship between operational capabilities and individual controls?
Individual management measures are specific actions or controls implemented to achieve a particular security objective. Operational capabilities provide the infrastructure and resources to make these management measures effective.
The effectiveness of measures depends on the quality of operational capabilities, such as:
- The availability of trained personnel to manage and monitor access requests;
- Processes for regularly reviewing and updating access rights;
- Technologies that support multi-factor authentication.
Without the right OCs, management measures could fail, no matter how well designed on paper.
Auditing based on operational capabilities
Why did Brand Compliance move to audit an ISMS based on operational capabilities rather than controls? OCs provide a more complete picture of the effectiveness of an information security management system. Focusing on the underlying capabilities allows auditors to assess not only whether a control is in place, but also whether it will actually be effective in practice. It helps organizations identify and address underlying weaknesses in their security programme, contributing to more robust protection against threats.
By focusing audits on OCs, Brand Compliance provides a deeper and broader assessment of security within an organization, leading to a more resilient and secure operational environment.
Conclusion
Operational capabilities are at the core of any effective information security system. They provide the foundation on which individual controls rest and largely determine their success.
Furthermore, the OC is more than just the sum of the controls. By taking them together, they form a whole, which allows you to make a statement about the OC, which says more than an individual control.