Introduction

Change is inevitable new software, updated systems, evolving processes.
But in cybersecurity, an unplanned or poorly managed change can be as dangerous as a cyberattack.

ISO 27001 Control 5.28 Change Management ensures that every change to your IT environment is reviewed, authorized, tested, and documented before it goes live.
Because security isn’t just about resisting threats it’s about managing change safely.

Why Change Management Matters

Many security incidents start with “a small change.”
A developer opens a port “temporarily.”
An admin updates a server without notifying others.
A vendor patches software in production without proper testing.

The result?
Downtime, data exposure, or broken security configurations.

Control 5.28, from ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Section 5.28, is an Organizational control both preventive and detective designed to protect Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability during operational transitions.
It aligns with the cybersecurity concepts of Protect and Detect, strengthening your change control and configuration management capabilities.

What Effective Change Management Looks Like

1) Formal Authorization:
* Every change (technical or procedural) should be approved by designated authorities before implementation.

2) Risk Assessment:
* Evaluate the potential impact of the change on systems, data, and users.

3) Testing Before Deployment:
*Validate that the change doesn’t break security controls or critical functions.

4) Documentation and Recordkeeping:
*Record the reason, scope, risk, approval, and results of every change.

5) Rollback Planning:
*Always have a plan to revert changes if something goes wrong.

6) Post-Change Review:
*Evaluate whether the change achieved its purpose without unintended effects.

Common Pitfalls

* Emergency changes made without proper review
*Lack of documentation or audit trails
*No testing in a non-production environment
*Unauthorized personnel making “quick fixes”
*Failure to communicate changes across departments

Canadian Cyber’s Take

At Canadian Cyber, we often find that organizations struggle with balancing agility and security during change.
We help clients implement structured change management processes that fit their size and culture ensuring changes happen fast but safely.

From automated approval workflows to audit-ready change logs, we help make compliance smooth and traceable.

Takeaway

ISO 27001 Control 5.28 brings order, ensuring that every modification strengthens your systems instead of weakening them.

Change is good as long as it’s managed.

How Canadian Cyber Can Help

At Canadian Cyber, we provide:

* ISO 27001 Internal Audit Services to give you a fresh perspective on your ISMS
* Compliance Readiness Reviews for ISO 27001, SOC 2, and other frameworks
* Practical recommendations to close gaps quickly

We also bring our expertise from delivering SOC 2 consulting for fast-growing startups, where we’ve helped clients navigate gap assessments, implement safeguards, and achieve compliance while staying agile.

👉 Ready to strengthen your ISO 27001 program? Book a free consultation here.

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