A maturity comparison is a structured method used to evaluate the organization's current state of security controls against the desired maturity level required for ISO/IEC 27001 compliance. This document explains how to prepare such a comparison, score each domain, and present results to stakeholders.
An ISO 27001 maturity comparison answers three essential questions:
This analysis supports:
Use a 0-5 scale aligned to ISO 27001 governance and improvement requirements.
| Level | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 0 - Non-existent | No controls or processes in place | |
| 1 - Ad-hoc | Controls exist informally; inconsistent application | |
| 2 - Repeatable | Controls applied consistently but not documented | |
| 3 - Defined | Controls are documented and communicated across the organization | |
| 4 - Managed | Controls are monitored, measured, and reviewed | |
| 5 - Optimized | Controls are continuously improved and automated |
This scale supports ISO 27001 clauses on performance evaluation and continual improvement.
Map your maturity scoring to Annex A control groups (A.5-A.18). Suggested domains:
You may adjust domains based on organizational scope.
To determine the current maturity, gather:
Only score domains based on verifiable evidence.
Rate each ISO 27001 domain using the 0-5 model.
| ISO 27001 Domain | Current | Target | Gap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.5 Policies | 3 | 4 | 1 | Policies exist but annual review missing |
| A.8 Asset Management | 2 | 4 | 2 | No automated asset discovery |
| A.9 Access Control | 3 | 4 | 1 | MFA not fully enforced |
| A.12 Operations Security | 2 | 5 | 3 | Logs collected but not monitored |
| A.16 Incident Management | 1 | 4 | 3 | IR plan not tested |
Recommended chart types:
A.5 Policies | Current: ███ (3) | Target: ████ (4)
A.8 Asset Management | Current: ██ (2) | Target: ████ (4)
A.9 Access Control | Current: ███ (3) | Target: ████ (4)
A.12 Operations Security | Current: ██ (2) | Target: █████ (5)
A.16 Incident Management | Current: █ (1) | Target: ████ (4)
A.17 Business Continuity | Current: ███ (3) | Target: ████ (4)
A.18 Compliance | Current: ████ (4) | Target: █████ (5)
Legend:
Each block █ ≈ 1 maturity point
Scale: 0-5Explain major gaps and associated risks.
Example:
Align your roadmap with ISO 27001 risk treatment and continual improvement requirements.
| Objective | Required Actions | Owner | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improve Incident Management to Level 4 | Develop IR plan, run tabletop exercise, implement escalation workflow | Security Manager | Q2 |
| Improve Operations Security to Level 4 | Tune SIEM, implement monitoring dashboards, define metrics | SOC Lead | Q3 |
| Enhance Asset Management | Deploy automated discovery tool, inventory review every quarter | IT Ops | Q4 |
A complete ISO 27001 maturity comparison package should include:
This creates a transparent and auditable record for certification and management review.
The maturity assessment demonstrates an overall security maturity of 2.3, compared with the target maturity of 3.8 required for ISO 27001 readiness. Major gaps exist in Operations Security, Incident Response, and Asset Management. A prioritized roadmap is proposed to reach compliance maturity within 12 months, in alignment with the organization's risk tolerance and regulatory obligations.
A structured ISO 27001 maturity comparison provides clear insight into current readiness, highlights risks, and establishes a transparent improvement plan. It is a critical component of ISMS governance and supports effective certification preparation.
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