Get ISO/IEC 27017 Compliant

ISO/IEC 27017 adds cloud specific guidance to the ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 security control ecosystem. It helps you prove you manage cloud risks like shared responsibility, multi‑tenant environments, admin access, and secure deletion.

Neutral Partners helps you integrate ISO 27017 controls into your existing Information Security Management System (ISMS), build evidence that auditors can validate, and keep the program operational as your cloud environment changes.

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At a Glance

Best for: cloud service providers and cloud customers who need structured cloud security assurance
Works with: ISO 27001 and ISO 27002 control programs
Outcome: cloud specific controls implemented and evidenced for audit readiness and certification support
Common failure point: unclear shared responsibility and weak evidence for cloud operations

If you already have ISO 27001, ISO 27017 is a practical next step for cloud assurance.

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What Is ISO/IEC 27017

ISO/IEC 27017 is a code of practice for information security controls for cloud services. It is based on ISO/IEC 27002 and adds guidance and additional controls that address cloud specific risks.

Two ideas drive most ISO 27017 work:

shared responsibility: what the cloud provider controls versus what the customer controls
cloud operations as evidence: you must prove how cloud security is configured, monitored, and maintained, not only that a policy exists

ISO 27017 does not replace ISO 27001. It extends how you apply ISO controls in cloud environments.

Who Needs ISO 27017

ISO 27017 is useful when cloud security is central to your product or delivery model and your buyers want assurance beyond generic security statements.

Common candidates include:

Cloud service providers: SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS providers that host customer data and workloads
Enterprise SaaS vendors: organizations with multi‑tenant architectures and strict customer security reviews
Healthcare and fintech SaaS: vendors with regulated data and detailed vendor risk requirements
Organizations migrating to cloud: teams modernizing infrastructure and needing a structured cloud control model
Managed service providers: teams operating cloud environments for clients and needing provable controls

What ISO 27017 Covers

ISO 27017 addresses cloud risks that standard ISO 27002 controls do not fully explain. It clarifies control expectations and adds cloud specific control guidance for both providers and customers.

Common coverage areas include:

Shared responsibility and contracts: define who is responsible for security controls and how responsibilities are communicated
Cloud customer data protection: secure deletion, return of assets, and data handling expectations
Virtualization and tenant isolation: controls that address separation, secure configuration, and management of virtual environments
Administrative operations: privileged access, separation of duties, and operational logging for cloud admin activity
Monitoring and event management: cloud logging coverage, alert response, and evidence of review routines
Change management for cloud: controlled changes to infrastructure as code, configurations, and platform services
Secure development and deployment: controls that align cloud release processes with ISMS expectations

Evidence Auditors Expect

ISO audits move faster when evidence is organized and tied to control intent.

Expect to provide:

Governance artifacts: policies, standards, risk assessments, management review records
Cloud scope artifacts: cloud service descriptions, asset inventories, data flow diagrams, responsibility matrix
Operational artifacts: access reviews, change approvals, incident tickets, training records
Technical artifacts: configuration exports, screenshots, encryption settings, key management evidence, logging dashboards
Supplier artifacts: vendor inventory, contracts, shared responsibility statements, and assurance reports

A strong ISO 27017 story connects the responsibility model to real cloud configuration evidence.

ISO 27017 Roadmap

Confirm scope and cloud responsibility model

define which cloud services and environments are in scope
document shared responsibility between provider and customer, including inherited controls
identify regulatory and buyer requirements that influence control depth

Deliverable: a scope statement and responsibility matrix the business can defend

Map ISO 27017 controls to your ISMS

map ISO 27017 guidance to existing ISO 27001 control structures
identify where cloud operations need new procedures or clearer documentation
prioritize changes based on risk and audit impact

Deliverable: a control mapping and implementation plan

Implement cloud specific controls

formalize admin access and privileged operations controls
validate tenant isolation and secure virtualization practices
define secure deletion and data return processes
strengthen logging, monitoring, and incident response for cloud environments
align cloud change management with ISMS expectations

Deliverable: operational controls that match how your cloud works

Build audit‑ready evidence

collect evidence on a defined cadence
ensure artifacts are current and repeatable
align control narratives to evidence so auditors can validate quickly

Deliverable: an evidence library that supports certification readiness

Validate readiness through internal audit

test key controls and evidence traceability
fix gaps before the certification audit
update documentation where reality and policy drifted

Deliverable: fewer audit findings and a smoother certification cycle

If your customers ask how you secure the cloud, ISO 27017 gives you a clear answer.

We will map your cloud scope, responsibility model, and evidence plan, then turn it into an implementable roadmap.

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Common ISO 27017 Gaps

Unclear shared responsibility: contracts and customer guidance do not define control ownership clearly
Weak cloud inventory: assets and services are not inventoried consistently across accounts and environments
Inconsistent privileged access controls: admin activity is not logged, reviewed, or restricted consistently

Change management drift: infrastructure as code changes happen without approvals and evidence
Logging gaps: cloud logs exist but are not retained, reviewed, or tied to incident response routines
Secure deletion gaps: no provable process for data deletion and asset return

How Neutral Partners Helps

We help you integrate cloud controls into an ISMS that auditors can validate.

What we deliver

Scope and responsibility model: cloud boundaries, shared responsibility mapping, and customer guidance
Control implementation support: cloud operations controls that map cleanly to ISO expectations
Evidence mapping: traceability from each control to current artifacts
Internal audit readiness: testing and remediation before the certification audit
Sustainment: a cadence that keeps cloud evidence current as environments evolve

Proof matters. Since 2017, we have maintained a 100% audit success rate across more than 700 successful audits and assessments. We keep that record by building evidence that matches real operations.

ISO 27017 FAQs

Is ISO 27017 a certification?

ISO 27017 is a standard that provides cloud control guidance. Many organizations pursue it as an extension to an ISO 27001 certified ISMS. Certification approaches vary by auditor and scope, so the practical first step is to confirm how your certification body treats ISO 27017 in your audit plan.

Do we need ISO 27001 first?

ISO 27017 is built on ISO 27002 guidance and is commonly implemented alongside ISO 27001. If you do not have an ISMS, we usually start by defining the ISMS structure and then apply ISO 27017 for cloud scope.

What is the biggest ISO 27017 difference from ISO 27002?

ISO 27017 clarifies how controls work in cloud environments and adds guidance for shared responsibility, virtualization, and cloud operations.

Does SOC 2 replace ISO 27017?

SOC 2 and ISO standards serve different buyer expectations. Many teams use both. SOC 2 is an attestation report. ISO is a management system certification model. ISO 27017 strengthens cloud control clarity, which helps in both SOC 2 and ISO audits.

What is the fastest way to improve audit outcomes?

Start with scope and responsibility clarity. Most audit friction comes from unclear boundaries and inconsistent evidence about what is controlled by whom.

Key Resources

Useful Resources

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Make ISO 27017 a Growth Lever

Cloud buyers want clarity. ISO 27017 helps you explain, prove, and maintain cloud security controls without inventing your own framework.

Start with a short working session. We will map your cloud scope, your shared responsibility model, and the next three moves.

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