Introduction

Ask any cybersecurity leader what causes most security failures, and you’ll hear one word: inconsistency.

One team follows a process to the letter, another “does it differently.”
A control works perfectly during the audit but breaks two months later because no one updated the procedure.

That’s exactly why ISO 27001 Control 5.38 Documentation of Operating Procedures exists.
It ensures that all critical operations are carried out the same way, every time reducing confusion, mistakes, and risk.

Why This Control Matters

Security depends on repeatability.
If your operating procedures aren’t written down, shared, and followed consistently, even the strongest security design can fail in execution.

This control, defined in ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Section 5.38, is an Organizational control that’s preventive by design.
It supports Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability through the Protect and Standardize cybersecurity concepts.

Put simply documentation turns good intentions into reliable action.

What This Control Looks Like in Practice

1. Document Everything Critical

Backup and restore procedures

Access control management

Incident handling

Change management and monitoring

2. Use a Consistent Template

Define structure, roles, versioning, and approval workflow for every procedure.

3. Make It Accessible but Controlled

Store procedures securely (e.g., in SharePoint or an ISMS portal) with version history.

4. Review and Update Regularly

Procedures must evolve with changes in systems, staff, and regulations.

5. Train Your Teams

Documentation is useless if people don’t know it exists or how to use it.

Common Pitfalls

🚫 Teams creating “local versions” of procedures that differ from corporate policy
🚫 Outdated documents that no longer reflect reality
🚫 Missing approval or ownership metadata
🚫 No verification that employees actually follow documented steps

Canadian Cyber’s Take

At Canadian Cyber, we’ve seen that documentation is the bridge between strategy and execution.

We help organizations create clear, practical, and ISO-compliant operating procedures that ensure controls don’t just exist on paper they actually work.
Our ISMS implementation process often includes building automated document libraries and approval workflows in Microsoft SharePoint, so clients always know what’s current and who owns it.

Consistency isn’t boring it’s your silent security superpower.

Takeaway

A control that’s applied inconsistently is a control that’s already failing.
ISO 27001 Control 5.38 ensures your organization can repeat success not mistakes.

Because the real magic of security lies in the discipline of doing things right, every time.

How Canadian Cyber Can Help

At Canadian Cyber, we provide:

ISO 27001 and ISO 27701 Implementation Support

Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs)

ISO 27018 Cloud Privacy Guidance

Internal Audit and Readiness Reviews

👉 Ready to strengthen privacy within your ISMS? Book a free consultation here.

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