Transitioning to ISO 27001:2022 – What’s New and Why It Matters for Canadian Organizations
Understanding the Updated Controls, New Requirements, and the 2025 Transition Deadline
Standard: ISO 27001:2022 (latest version)
Deadline: Transition from ISO 27001:2013 by October 31, 2025
Audience: Canadian organizations already certified or planning certification
Goal: Modernize security programs and stay aligned with client, regulatory, and cyber insurance expectations
ISO 27001:2022 is the latest version of the world’s leading information security standard. It updates the control structure, introduces new cybersecurity themes, and reflects the modern risks facing businesses today. Canadian organizations that are already certified under ISO 27001:2013 must transition to the new version before October 31, 2025.
This update is more than a routine compliance exercise. It is a strategic opportunity for Canadian businesses to modernize their security programs, align with rising privacy expectations, and strengthen trust with clients.
This case-study style blog explains what has changed, why it matters, and how Canadian organizations can prepare for a smooth transition.
Why the ISO 27001:2022 Update Matters in Canada
According to insights in your uploaded leads data, ISO 27001 adoption across Canada is rising especially among:
- SaaS and cloud service providers
- Manufacturing and industrial companies
- Digital healthcare and HealthTech organizations
- Logistics and relocation firms
- Energy and utilities providers
- Professional services firms
These industries face growing pressure from:
- Client due-diligence requirements and security questionnaires
- Supply-chain and third-party security checks
- Privacy laws such as PIPEDA and Quebec’s Law 25
- Cyber insurance assessments and renewals
- Internal risk management and board-level oversight
The 2022 update strengthens these areas by adding new controls that reflect modern security threats, including cloud security, threat intelligence, and data lifecycle management.
Transitioning to ISO 27001:2022 is not just about keeping a certificate valid it’s about demonstrating that your
security program is current, relevant, and resilient in today’s threat landscape.
What Changed in ISO 27001:2022?
ISO 27001:2022 brings structural, thematic, and technical updates to the standard.
1. Fewer Control Categories, More Modern Themes
The standard now groups controls into four modernized categories:
- Organizational controls
- People controls
- Physical controls
- Technological controls
This structure replaces the old 14 control domains from 2013. The new layout is easier to understand and more aligned with how organizations govern security today.
2. Controls Reduced From 114 to 93
The total number of controls has decreased from 114 to 93. This does not mean security has been reduced. Instead:
- Overlapping controls were merged.
- Outdated language was modernized.
- Redundant or unclear controls were simplified.
The focus is now on relevance, clarity, and practicality for modern organizations.
3. 11 Brand-New Controls Added
ISO 27001:2022 introduces 11 new or significantly updated controls. These address risks that are especially relevant to cloud-based, data-driven, and highly connected environments.
New ISO 27001:2022 Controls (At a Glance)
| Control | Theme | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| A.5.7 Threat Intelligence | Proactive threat awareness | Use threat intel to detect and prevent attacks before they escalate. |
| A.5.23 Information Security for Use of Cloud Services | Cloud and SaaS security | Ensure data in cloud platforms is properly protected and governed. |
| A.5.30 ICT Readiness for Business Continuity | Resilience & continuity | Prepare systems to withstand outages, disruptions, and cyber incidents. |
| A.7.4 Physical Security Monitoring | Facility protection | Use cameras, sensors, and monitoring tools to protect physical locations. |
| A.8.11 Data Masking | Data protection | Hide sensitive data in testing, analytics, and non-production environments. |
| A.8.12 Data Leakage Prevention | Information leakage | Reduce the risk of unauthorized data transfer or exposure. |
| A.8.10 Information Deletion | Data lifecycle | Ensure secure deletion of data and media when no longer needed. |
| A.8.23 Web Filtering | User protection | Block risky or malicious web content that could lead to compromise. |
| A.8.28 Secure Coding | Application security | Ensure developers follow secure coding practices and standards. |
| A.8.9 Configuration Management | Baseline security | Maintain secure and consistent configurations across systems. |
| A.8.16 Monitoring Activities (Enhanced) | Centralized monitoring | Emphasizes centralized logging, correlation, and proactive detection. |
These updated controls align closely with Law 25’s encryption and logging requirements, PIPEDA’s Safeguards Principle, cyber insurance expectations, and third-party security reviews.
What Canadian Organizations Need to Do Before the 2025 Deadline
Transitioning to ISO 27001:2022 is not optional for currently certified organizations. Every organization must complete the transition by October 31, 2025. Below is a clear, practical transition roadmap.
Step 1: Review the New Control Set
Analyze the 93 controls and determine which apply to your organization. Pay special attention to new areas like threat intelligence, cloud security, and data leakage prevention.
Step 2: Update the Risk Assessment
Your risk assessment must reflect the new control structure. This may require updates to:
- Risk owners
- Asset valuation and impact scoring
- Likelihood ratings
- Mitigation plans and accepted risks
Step 3: Update Policies and Procedures
Documentation should be updated to:
- Add new controls and responsibilities
- Revise outdated policy language
- Remove references to merged or retired controls
Many organizations underestimate the documentation workload during this phase.
Step 4: Implement New Technical Controls
Technical updates are often required in areas such as:
- Cloud configuration and posture management
- Logging, monitoring, and alerting
- Data retention and deletion processes
- Secure coding practices and development pipelines
- Vendor risk management and contract language
Step 5: Conduct Internal Audit Against ISO 27001:2022
Your internal audit must be aligned with the 2022 version. Findings from this audit will guide remediation and strengthen your position before the external transition audit.
Step 6: Complete the External Transition Audit
Finally, your certification body will audit you against ISO 27001:2022. Once completed, you receive an updated certificate confirming that your ISMS meets the latest standard.
Canadian Cyber supports organizations across Canada with full ISO 27001:2022 transition programs—from gap
assessment and risk updates to documentation, implementation, and internal audit support.
Why ISO 27001:2022 Matters More for Canada Than Ever
The 2022 update aligns closely with the key Canadian privacy and security pressures highlighted in your uploaded document, including:
- Quebec’s Law 25 encryption and logging requirements
- PIPEDA’s Safeguards Principle
- Cyber insurance questionnaires and technical underwriting
- Third-party risk assessments and vendor scorecards
- Client security reviews and RFP requirements
- Growing supply-chain and data residency expectations
ISO 27001:2022 reflects the world we live in now one where ransomware, cloud breaches, and vendor risks dominate the security landscape. Canadian companies that upgrade early will be more competitive, more trusted, and more
resilient.
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