Fast Compliance Infra Checks That Get You ISO Ready

Achieving ISO 27001 compliance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. For small businesses using cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, or GCP, automation tools and clear workflows can simplify the process. This guide focuses on:

• Key ISO controls for cloud-native teams, like access control, encryption, and monitoring.
• Tools like AWS Config, Terraform, and Vanta to automate compliance checks.
• A step-by-step workflow to map assets, run automated checks, and document fixes.

With the right approach, you can secure your systems, reduce audit preparation time by up to 60%, and meet compliance standards without slowing down operations. Here's how to get started.

Doing Compliance with Automation: an ISO 27001 Case Study

Key ISO 27001 Controls for Cloud Teams

For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) working with cloud-native applications, ISO 27001 provides a broad set of controls. However, focusing on a core group of these controls can deliver the most impact without overwhelming your resources.

The challenge lies in identifying the controls that are most relevant to your cloud environment and understanding how your chosen cloud provider - whether it's AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform (GCP) - already supports some of these responsibilities.

Cloud Controls That Matter Most

For cloud teams, five key control domains serve as a strong foundation. These align well with the tools and services most teams are already using.

• Access Control (Annex A9): This ensures that only authorised users can access your systems. Cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, and GCP offer robust tools such as AWS Identity and Access Management (IAM), Azure Active Directory (AD), and Google Cloud Identity to help enforce strict user permissions.
• Cryptography (Annex A10): Protecting data - whether it's stored or being transmitted - is essential. Leverage built-in encryption services like AWS Key Management Service (KMS), Azure Key Vault, or GCP’s encryption tools to secure your data both at rest and in transit.
• Operational Security (Annex A12): Secure daily operations require constant monitoring. Services like AWS CloudTrail, Azure Monitor, and GCP Audit Logs help track activity, detect anomalies, and address potential threats quickly.
• Asset Management (Annex A8): Keeping an up-to-date inventory of your resources is critical in the cloud. Tools like AWS Config, Azure Resource Graph, or GCP Asset Inventory can help you maintain accurate records of your assets and their ownership.
• Supplier Relationships (Annex A15): When relying on cloud providers and third-party services, managing supplier relationships becomes crucial. The updated ISO 27001:2022 includes controls specifically designed to address agreements with cloud service providers.

As Eran Feigenbaum, Google's Director of Security, puts it:

"Certifications such as these provide independent third-party validations of our ongoing commitment to world-class security and privacy, while also helping our customers with their compliance efforts."

By understanding these controls, you can better grasp the division of responsibilities between your organisation and your cloud provider, which we’ll explore next.

Who Does What: Cloud Provider vs Your Team

The shared responsibility model is a cornerstone of cloud security. Gartner estimates that by 2025, 99% of cloud security failures will be due to customer missteps. This highlights the importance of knowing where your responsibilities begin and end.

Here’s how the division of responsibilities typically breaks down:

Each cloud provider approaches this shared responsibility slightly differently:

• AWS secures the infrastructure, but customers are accountable for their data security. For instance, you must configure S3 buckets and EC2 storage with proper IAM settings.
• Microsoft Azure protects its infrastructure but leaves data, identities, endpoints, and access controls in the hands of users.
• Google Cloud Platform secures its network and infrastructure, covering most SaaS and PaaS aspects. However, customers are responsible for managing access policies, data, guest operating systems, and application security.

For SMBs, the key to success lies in thoroughly reviewing service-level agreements (SLAs) with cloud vendors, categorising data by sensitivity, and prioritising IAM policy enforcement. This clear division of responsibilities underscores the importance of robust internal policies and automated cloud monitoring to maintain compliance and security.

Tools for Fast Compliance Checks

If you're working towards ISO 27001 compliance for your cloud environment, the right tools can make the process much faster and easier. You don’t need a large team or months of manual checks - modern compliance tools can automate much of the work. These tools provide continuous oversight of your compliance status, offering real-time insights through dashboards and automated evidence collection.

Best Tools for Compliance Audits

Here’s a closer look at some of the top tools for simplifying compliance audits:

• AWS Config: A great starting point for teams using AWS, AWS Config continuously monitors your resources and evaluates them against ISO 27001-aligned rules. You can automate checks for things like S3 bucket encryption and IAM password policies, and it even sends alerts if configurations drift out of compliance. With AWS Organizations integration, you can apply rules across multiple accounts, making it ideal for smaller businesses.
• HashiCorp Terraform: If you’re using infrastructure-as-code, Terraform offers a way to integrate compliance directly into your workflows. With Terraform Compliance, you can test your configurations before deployment, ensuring that non-compliant infrastructure never makes it to production.
• Vanta: Known for its ease of use, Vanta is popular among small and medium-sized businesses. It maps AWS resources to ISO 27001 controls and continuously monitors for changes. With a G2 rating of 4.6/5 from over 1,000 reviews, it’s a trusted choice for teams new to compliance automation.
• Sprinto: Sprinto provides a unified dashboard that works with any cloud setup, offering continuous monitoring and real-time visibility into compliance. Its strong G2 rating of 4.8/5 from nearly 1,000 reviews highlights its effectiveness.
• Orca Security: For multi-cloud environments, Orca Security offers security and compliance coverage across AWS, Azure, GCP, and Kubernetes. It prioritises risks based on severity, helping smaller teams focus on the most critical issues.

Tool Comparison for SMBs

Here’s a quick comparison of these tools to help you decide which one fits your needs:

Your choice will often depend on your existing tools and expertise. For example, teams already using Terraform can benefit from embedding compliance checks into their deployment pipeline. On the other hand, platforms like Vanta or Sprinto offer quicker results with minimal setup.

Automated Check Examples

Automated compliance tools can save time and reduce errors. Here are a few examples of how they work:

• Real-time Configuration Monitoring: Tools like AWS Config can detect non-compliant configurations, such as unencrypted S3 buckets or overly broad IAM permissions. These checks run continuously, alerting you the moment something goes off track.
• Infrastructure-as-Code Validation: Terraform Compliance ensures that your infrastructure meets security and compliance requirements before deployment. For example, it can verify that EC2 instances use secure configurations or that IAM roles follow least-privilege principles.
• Evidence Collection Automation: Platforms like Scrut Automation simplify audit preparation by automatically collecting and organising compliance evidence. Instead of manually gathering screenshots or exports, the tool continuously maps evidence to ISO 27001 controls.

By automating these processes, organisations have reported up to a 60% reduction in audit preparation time. AI-driven compliance tools can further cut this time in half, freeing up resources for other priorities.

The secret to success lies in choosing tools that integrate seamlessly with your existing infrastructure. User-friendly platforms with centralised dashboards can also help smaller teams overcome the challenges of compliance automation.

Simple ISO Compliance Workflow

Achieving ISO 27001 compliance becomes much easier with a structured workflow that focuses on mapping assets, automating checks, and documenting fixes effectively.

"Designing the correct compliance workflow brings with it a structured approach that helps achieve audit preparedness quickly. It helps build a compliance culture and promotes transparency and accountability. With workflow automation tools like Sprinto, it has become fairly simple to kickstart your compliance journey." - Sprinto

This workflow revolves around three key steps: mapping your assets to controls, running automated checks, and addressing findings with proper documentation.

Step 1: Map Your Assets and Controls

Start by listing all cloud assets and linking them to the appropriate ISO 27001 controls. This step lays the groundwork for your entire compliance process.

Identify Your Cloud Assets

Compile a list of all your virtual servers, storage buckets, databases, IAM roles, load balancers, and external services connected to your infrastructure. Don’t overlook development and staging environments - they play a critical role in compliance too.

Initially, you can track this information in a spreadsheet. As your needs grow, consider transitioning to a dedicated tool. Categorise assets based on sensitivity - public, internal, confidential, or restricted. This classification helps you focus your security efforts and ensures the right controls are applied to each asset.

Assign Asset Ownership

Each asset must have a clear owner who is responsible for its security and compliance. This ensures accountability and prevents gaps in oversight.

"When something is everybody's responsibility, it's actually no one's. Assigning an asset owner helps ensure that every asset, whether physical or digital, has an individual or department assigned with its stewardship." - Mike Mariano, Chief Information Security Officer at IS Partners

Map to ISO 27001 Controls

Align each asset with the relevant ISO 27001 controls. Key controls for cloud environments include access control (A.9), cryptography (A.10), communications security (A.13), and system acquisition (A.14).

You don’t have to start from scratch - existing frameworks like the Cloud Security Alliance’s Cloud Controls Matrix (CCM) can help you identify gaps and streamline this process.

"By focusing on the deltas, you ensure that your organisation doesn't over-complicate its security practices. The point of having an ISMS in the first place is to streamline your security governance, not overload it. The trick is in working smarter - not harder." - John DiMaria, Director of Operations Excellence, CSA

Document Your Scope

Define the boundaries of your compliance programme. This step clarifies which assets and processes require monitoring. Linking your asset inventory to your Information Security Management System (ISMS) ensures consistency and prevents confusion.

With your assets mapped to ISO controls, you’re ready to move on to automation.

Step 2: Run Automated Checks

Once assets are mapped, continuous oversight becomes the next priority. Automated checks transform compliance from a periodic rush into a seamless, ongoing process.

Set Up Continuous Monitoring

Use tools to automate compliance checks. For instance, AWS Config can monitor resource configurations in real time, alerting you to issues like unencrypted storage buckets or overly permissive IAM policies.

Schedule Regular Scans

Establish a schedule for different types of checks. Daily scans are ideal for critical configurations, while weekly reviews can cover broader compliance areas. Monthly audits help catch anything that automated checks might miss.

Tools like Orca Security support ISO 27001 requirements by running daily malware and vulnerability scans, ensuring consistent protection without manual effort.

Create Compliance Dashboards

Set up dashboards to provide a clear view of your compliance status. These should highlight your current posture, recent changes, and areas needing attention. While many tools offer pre-built dashboards, customising them to your specific needs ensures they’re more actionable.

Establish Alert Triggers

Configure alerts for critical compliance deviations. Be selective to avoid unnecessary noise - focus on high-risk changes like privilege escalations, encryption issues, or public access grants. Tailor notification channels to the severity of the issue.

Step 3: Review, Fix, and Document

The final step focuses on addressing findings, prioritising fixes, and maintaining audit-ready documentation.

Prioritise Findings by Risk

Not all compliance gaps are equal. Use risk scoring to address the most critical issues first. For instance, a publicly accessible database with sensitive data requires immediate action, while a development server with outdated patches might wait for the next maintenance cycle.

Modern tools like Orca Security can rank risks, helping smaller teams focus their efforts where they matter most.

Address Compliance Gaps

Develop a clear plan for remediation. For each issue, decide whether to fix it immediately, schedule it for later, or accept the risk with proper documentation. Track progress and set realistic timelines based on your team’s capacity.

Some issues can be fixed automatically - AWS Config can remediate certain violations on its own - while others will need manual intervention. Document your approach to streamline future responses.

Maintain Audit Evidence

Keep thorough records of your compliance checks, fixes, and risk decisions. Screenshots, change logs, and configuration exports all serve as valuable evidence. Automated tools can significantly reduce the time spent preparing for audits.

Update Policies and Procedures

Use findings to refine your security policies and procedures. If recurring issues pop up, adjust your processes to prevent them. Regularly reviewing and updating policies ensures they align with your actual practices.

Create Reporting Cycles

Regular compliance reports help track progress over time. Monthly reports are particularly useful for updating stakeholders on trends, remediation efforts, and emerging risks. These insights also support management reviews and ongoing improvements.

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Getting Expert Help for Compliance

Achieving ISO 27001 compliance in-house can be a daunting task, especially for SMBs that may lack the necessary expertise. With the stringent requirements we’ve already discussed, partnering with experts can make all the difference. This section explores how outsourcing compliance support can fast-track your journey to ISO readiness.

Expert help is more than just a convenience - it’s essential. Non-compliance can lead to hefty fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover. Outsourcing compliance not only reduces the likelihood of errors but also gives businesses access to seasoned professionals without the expense of hiring full-time staff [42, 43].

Critical Cloud's Compliance Services

Outsourcing offers more than just risk reduction - it provides tailored solutions. Take Critical Cloud’s Compliance Pack, for instance. Priced at £600 per month, this service is designed specifically for SMBs aiming for ISO 27001 certification. It includes security hardening, compliance logging, and audit support, building on the Secure Ops add-on (£400/month) by adding compliance-focused documentation and audit preparation.

The package includes:

• Automated compliance monitoring with tools like AWS Config and Azure Policy.
• Continuous security assessments.
• Pre-configured logging that meets ISO 27001 evidence requirements.

To keep teams on track, monthly compliance reports outline the organisation’s current posture against ISO controls, along with prioritised recommendations for improvement.

For those needing a more comprehensive approach, the Ops Bundle (£1,000 per month) combines Resilience Ops, Secure Ops, and FinOps services. This all-in-one package addresses the interconnected challenges of security, performance, and cost management that ISO 27001 assessors often evaluate.

Critical Cloud’s methodology focuses on building infrastructure that’s ready for compliance from the ground up. Instead of merely ticking boxes, they implement secure-by-default configurations, proper access controls, and logging systems that collect the evidence auditors require - making the certification process far smoother.

For businesses requiring additional support, the 24/7 Critical Cover add-on (£800/month) offers round-the-clock incident response, ensuring alignment with ISO 27001 requirements.

Balancing Speed and Compliance

Outsourcing compliance allows teams to stay focused on delivering their products while meeting regulatory demands. This balance is particularly crucial for fast-growing companies, where compliance requirements could otherwise drain valuable engineering resources.

"Today, compliance is as critical as cybersecurity, and MSPs need to embrace tools and strategies that ensure their clients aren't just protected but also compliant." – Tim Lasonde, Channel Chief, Syncro

The real advantage lies in accessing specialised expertise without the burden of building an internal compliance team. Recruiting and training security professionals, keeping their knowledge current, and integrating them into your infrastructure takes time and money - resources better spent on core business goals.

Professional compliance partners bring tried-and-tested processes, tools, and experience from multiple certification projects. They know which controls are most relevant to your business model and can prioritise efforts effectively. This prevents over-complicating solutions or overlooking critical requirements.

Regular assessments ensure that organisations can address potential issues as they arise, maintaining compliance without slowing down development.

In cloud environments, where responsibility is shared between the provider and the customer, expert guidance becomes even more critical. Knowing which security controls fall under your remit versus the provider’s requires a deep understanding of compliance frameworks and service models. Specialists in this area can help navigate these complexities with confidence.

Additionally, outsourcing tasks like risk assessments, policy creation, and vendor management saves time and ensures professional oversight. These activities are essential but don’t necessarily require a full-time team, allowing businesses to stay agile while meeting compliance goals.

Conclusion: ISO Compliance Without the Overhead

Achieving ISO 27001 compliance doesn’t have to bog down your operations or exhaust your engineering resources. By combining automated tools with expert guidance, businesses can maintain strong security measures while staying agile - an absolute must for SMBs navigating fast-paced markets.

Automation tools like AWS Config and Terraform turn compliance into an ongoing, scalable process, eliminating the manual and error-prone methods of the past. These tools ensure security policies are applied consistently across all your cloud environments, keeping compliance intact at all times.

What truly changes the game is embedding compliance directly into your code. When security standards are part of your infrastructure from the start, you avoid misconfigurations before they even happen. This proactive approach not only simplifies remediation but also creates a solid foundation for expert advice to enhance your compliance efforts.

Automation can cut audit preparation time by as much as 60%, making certifications far less daunting. Take the example of a UK-based SaaS startup that used automated asset discovery and continuous monitoring across AWS and Azure. This allowed them to maintain fast development cycles while achieving ISO 27001 readiness.

Expert support complements automation by addressing gaps that tools alone can’t cover. This partnership becomes even more valuable as your infrastructure grows, ensuring compliance scales seamlessly without stifling progress.

Modern compliance strategies challenge the outdated notion that achieving standards is resource-heavy. Automated checks provide real-time insights into your security posture, while expert partners help you focus on the controls that matter most for your specific business needs.

To get started, map your cloud assets, deploy automated compliance tools, and run a baseline check. Focus on critical findings, document your fixes, and bring in experts for a thorough gap analysis.

The outcome? Compliance becomes a strength, not a burden. Your infrastructure stays secure, audits flow smoothly, and your team can concentrate on developing the products that power your growth. This approach nurtures the agile and efficient security mindset that SMBs need to thrive.

FAQs

How can small businesses use automation tools to achieve ISO 27001 compliance without overloading their teams?

Small businesses can simplify the process of achieving ISO 27001 compliance by turning to automation tools. These tools help manage complex tasks like gathering evidence, handling vendor relationships, and delivering employee training. For example, compliance software can take care of repetitive tasks, cutting down on manual work and allowing teams to focus on more critical objectives.

By adopting these solutions, smaller teams can implement necessary controls with ease while staying agile in their operations. Automation ensures compliance doesn't become an overwhelming burden, leaving businesses with more time and energy to concentrate on growth and new opportunities.

What are the key ISO 27001 controls for cloud-native teams using AWS, Azure, or GCP, and how can they be effectively managed?

Key ISO 27001 Controls for Cloud-Native Teams

For cloud-native teams, certain ISO 27001 controls stand out as essential. Among these are access control (A.9), data classification (A.8.2.1), and cloud security management (A.13). To handle these effectively, it's crucial to establish robust Identity and Access Management (IAM) policies, outline clear data classification guidelines, and carry out regular security audits specifically designed for your cloud setup.

Additionally, controls like secure use of cloud services (A.5.23) and incident management are vital for staying compliant and ensuring operational security. Reviewing cloud configurations on a regular basis is key, as is training your team to spot and respond to risks. Tools such as AWS Config or Terraform can simplify compliance checks, helping to reduce the manual workload while maintaining a secure environment.

How does the shared responsibility model in cloud security influence compliance, and what should businesses know about dividing responsibilities with their cloud provider?

The shared responsibility model in cloud security outlines how security and compliance duties are split between a cloud provider and its customers. Typically, the provider takes care of securing the cloud infrastructure - this includes physical data centres and network hardware. On the other hand, customers are tasked with safeguarding what they store and manage within the cloud, such as their data, user access controls, and system configurations.

For businesses to remain compliant, it's essential to have a clear grasp of their role in this arrangement. This means actively managing security settings, protecting sensitive data, and routinely reviewing system configurations to ensure they meet regulatory requirements. Any confusion or oversight in these responsibilities can result in compliance issues, making open communication and cooperation with your provider absolutely essential.

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