Common ISO 27001 Non-Conformities in 2026

What Auditors Flag the Most (and How to Fix Them Before Your Certification Audit)

If you’re preparing for ISO 27001, there’s a moment every team fears:

Stage 2 audit day. The auditor asks for proof. And the room gets quiet.

Not because you’re insecure but because evidence is scattered, incomplete, or inconsistent.

Most ISO 27001 non-conformities are predictable.
They are rarely “advanced security failures.”
They are process gaps, weak governance, and missing evidence.

Why This Matters

Non-conformities can cause:
• Audit delays
• Extra remediation cycles
• Higher certification costs
• Executive pressure
• Lost customer trust

And most are preventable.

The Most Common ISO 27001 Non-Conformities

1) Risk Assessment Is Incomplete

Auditors flag:
• Missing key assets
• No defined methodology
• No risk criteria (likelihood/impact)
• Risks without owners
• No review evidence
Fix it:
• Document a repeatable risk method
• Maintain an in-scope asset list
• Assign risk owners
• Review quarterly

2) Statement of Applicability (SoA) Mismatch

Auditors flag:
• Weak justifications for exclusions
• SoA not aligned to scope
• Missing evidence references
Fix it:
• Treat SoA as master control list
• Link policy + evidence + owner for every control
• Justify exclusions clearly

3) Policies Exist But Aren’t Controlled

Auditors flag:
• No formal approval
• No version control
• No review schedule
Fix it:
• Use workflow approvals
• Track versions & review dates
• Align policies to real practice

4) Missing Monitoring Evidence

Auditors flag:
• Monitoring exists but no proof
• Alerts not documented
• Access reviews undocumented
Fix it:
• Create repeatable review logs
• Store screenshots + exports
• Use consistent evidence naming

5) Weak Internal Audit

Auditors flag:
• No internal audit
• Superficial review
• No corrective tracking
• Lack of independence
Fix it:
• Schedule audit 2–3 months pre-certification
• Ensure independence
• Track findings to closure

The Pattern Behind Most Non-Conformities

It’s rarely a security failure.
It’s an evidence failure.

Auditors verify that controls are:
• Monitored
• Consistent
• Reviewed
• Improving over time

How Canadian Cyber Helps You Pass with Confidence

• Independent ISO 27001 internal audits
• Audit simulation workshops
• ISO readiness + implementation support
• SharePoint-based ISMS platform
• vCISO oversight

Walk Into Your Audit With Confidence

Let’s identify gaps before your auditor does.

👉 Book an ISO Readiness Review

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