ISO 27001 and Climate Change: Understanding the Connection

As part of the updating that took place to ISO27001, two sentence were added to clause 4. These sentences are “The organization shall determine whether climate change is a relevant issue” and “Relevant interested parties can have requirements related to climate change”. Organisations are increasingly recognising the importance of addressing climate change as part of their overall risk management strategy and the inclusion in the standard reflects the growing understanding that environmental factors can have on an organisation’s information security posture.

Climate Change in Clause 4: Context of the Organization

Clause 4 of ISO 27001 focuses on understanding the context of the organisation. It requires organisations to consider both internal and external factors that may affect their ability to achieve the intended outcomes of their ISMS. This is where climate change considerations have been added.

How Climate Change Relates to Information Security

You might wonder, “What does climate change have to do with information security?” The connection lies in the potential risks and impacts that climate change can have on an organisation’s operations and, consequently, its information assets. Here are some ways climate change can affect information security:

1. Physical Infrastructure Risks: Extreme weather events, such as floods, hurricanes, or heatwaves, can damage data centers, server rooms, or office buildings, potentially leading to data loss or service interruptions.

2. Power Supply Disruptions: Climate-related events can cause power outages, affecting the availability of information systems and potentially compromising data integrity.

3. Supply Chain Disruptions: Climate change can impact global supply chains, affecting the availability of hardware, software, or services necessary for maintaining information security.

4. Workforce Disruptions: Extreme weather events or long-term climate changes might affect employee availability or productivity, potentially impacting security operations.

5. Regulatory Changes: As governments respond to climate change, new regulations may emerge that indirectly affect how organisations manage their information assets.

Addressing Climate Change in Your ISMS

To comply with ISO 27001 and address climate change considerations, organizations should:

1. Conduct a Climate Risk Assessment: Identify potential climate-related risks specific to your organisation and its information assets.

2. Integrate Climate Considerations into Business Continuity Plans: Ensure your disaster recovery and business continuity plans account for climate-related scenarios.

3. Review Infrastructure Resilience: Assess the resilience of your physical infrastructure to extreme weather events and consider necessary adaptations.

4. Monitor and Review: Regularly review and update your risk assessments to account for evolving climate change impacts.

5. Consider Green IT Initiatives: Implement energy-efficient IT practices to reduce your organisation’s carbon footprint and improve resilience.

Conclusion

The inclusion of climate change considerations in ISO 27001’s clause 4 highlights the interconnected nature of modern risks. By addressing these concerns, organisations can build more resilient information security management systems that are better prepared for the challenges of the 21st century. As we continue to grapple with the impacts of climate change, integrating environmental factors into our security planning will become increasingly crucial for long-term organisational success and sustainability.

If you need help meeting the climate change requirements book a free introductory call here.