ISO 27001 Risk Assessment Workshop: A Step-by-Step Guide to Getting It Right the First TimeRisk assessment is the heart of ISO 27001 and the most failed requirement. Learn how to identify assets, score risks, and select controls using SharePoint to turn complexity into an auditable advantage.
“Show me your risk assessment.”
These five words from an auditor have ended more ISO 27001 certifications than any other question.
Not because risk assessment is complicated. Because it is continuous.
ISO 27001 Clause 6.1 requires organizations to identify, analyze, evaluate, and treat risks not once, but as an ongoing discipline.
Most organizations treat it as an annual spreadsheet exercise. Updated under duress. Presented nervously. Defended poorly.
Risk assessment is not a document you create.
It is a muscle you exercise.
And like any muscle, it requires the right tools, the right technique, and the right frequency.
Enter Microsoft SharePoint.
Why Risk Assessment Fails (And How SharePoint Fixes It)
| Failure Mode | Why It Happens | How SharePoint Fixes It |
|---|---|---|
| Stale Register | Updated annually | Automated quarterly review workflows |
| Inconsistent Scoring | No enforced methodology | Pre-configured scoring matrices |
| Missing Risk Owners | “IT owns everything” | Named owners + task assignments |
| No Control Mapping | Risks in silos | Linked Annex A control library |
| Audit Panic | Evidence scattered | Centralized evidence folders per risk |
| Lost History | Overwritten versions | Full version control audit trail |
SharePoint does not just store your risk assessment. It operationalizes it.
The 5-Step ISO 27001 Risk Assessment Workshop
Step 1: Define Your Risk Assessment Methodology
Clause 6.1.2 requires documented risk assessment criteria. Without methodology, your scores are opinions.
Build in SharePoint:
- Risk Assessment Policy
- Impact Scales
- Likelihood Definitions
- Scoring Matrix (3×3 or 4×4)
- Risk Acceptance Authority Matrix
- Review Cadence Schedule
Step 2: Identify Assets & Threat Scenarios
Group assets by criticality instead of listing every laptop individually.
Example Asset Groups:
- Customer Data
- Identity Infrastructure
- Public Applications
- Internal Systems
- Endpoints
- Third-Party Services
Step 3: Score Inherent Risk
Use a 4×4 scoring matrix with calculated columns inside SharePoint.
| Score Range | Rating | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12–16 | Critical | Immediate action |
| 8–11 | High | Remediation within 30 days |
| 4–7 | Medium | Quarterly review |
| 1–3 | Low | Monitor / Accept |
Step 4: Evaluate Controls & Residual Risk
Residual Risk = Inherent Risk × (1 Control Effectiveness Factor)
Control Effectiveness Ratings:
- High (75%)
- Medium (50%)
- Low (25%)
- Not Effective (0%)
Step 5: Select Controls & Build Treatment Plan
ISO 27001 requires documented treatment options: Modify, Retain, Avoid, or Share.
Pro Tip: Auto-populate your Statement of Applicability (SoA) directly from your treatment plan to eliminate double-entry errors.
15-Minute Risk Assessment Diagnostic
We’ll identify which audit findings you’re most vulnerable to and one gap you can close this week.
Why This Works Better With Our ISMS SharePoint Platform
| Component | DIY Timeline | Our Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Methodology Library | 2 weeks | ✅ Pre-built |
| Risk Register | 3 weeks | ✅ Configured |
| Threat Library | 2 weeks | ✅ 50+ scenarios |
| Review Workflows | 4 weeks | ✅ Automated |
| Power BI Dashboard | 4 weeks | ✅ Included |
Total time to value: 6 months vs. 2 days.
Ready to Master Your ISO 27001 Risk Assessment?
Stop managing risk assessment as a project. Start running it as a system.
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