ISO 27001 • Statement of Applicability • Language Translation Providers
The Statement of Applicability (SoA): Bringing ISO 27001 Controls to Life for Language Translation Companies
Turning Compliance Into a Blueprint for Global Trust
Translation companies process some of the world’s most sensitive information legal transcripts, medical notes, financial documents, immigration records, government files, and corporate IP. Protecting multilingual data across translators, linguists, editors, and cloud translation systems requires more than good intentions.
It requires provable controls.
That’s where the ISO 27001 Statement of Applicability (SoA) becomes essential.
The SoA is the living backbone of your ISMS. It documents all Annex A controls from ISO/IEC 27001:2022 showing exactly which controls apply to your translation workflows, which do not, and the justification behind each decision.
At Canadian Cyber, our SoA Template (CC-ISMS-006) gives translation providers a structured, audit-ready way to tie every control to your CAT tools, linguist onboarding process, file transfer methods, and risk environment.
Why the SoA Matters for Translation Companies
The SoA isn’t just an ISO document it’s your operational defense plan.
For translation service providers, the SoA helps you:
- Trace every Annex A control to real translation business risks
- Protect multilingual content across translators, freelancers, and cloud tools
- Demonstrate compliance with client NDAs, vendor confidentiality, and privacy laws
- Provide auditors and enterprise clients a clear map of your security posture
- Show that secure translation workflows are intentional not accidental
Whether you handle immigration files, enterprise localization projects, legal transcripts, or machine-translation pipelines, the SoA proves you’ve mapped AND implemented the right controls.
Building the SoA Using the CC-ISMS-006 Template
The Canadian Cyber Statement of Applicability Template aligns with:
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Clause 6.1.3(d)
- Annex A (93 controls)
- Certification expectations under ISO/IEC 27006-1:2024
It guides translation companies through:
- Listing each of the 93 Annex A controls.
- Marking each control as applicable / not applicable.
- Justifying decisions (e.g., why secure coding may be N/A for non-development firms).
- Linking controls to the Risk Treatment Plan.
- Mapping controls to evidence (e.g., linguist NDAs, SFTP logs, encryption settings).
- Maintaining ownership, version control, and approval records.
Sample Statement of Applicability (SoA)
(Based on the Canadian Cyber CC-ISMS-006 Template)
Document Summary
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Document Title | Statement of Applicability |
| Document Number | LB-ISMS-006 |
| Version | 1.0 |
| Date | November 2025 |
| Company | LinguaBridge Translations Ltd. |
| Classification | Confidential |
1. Purpose
This Statement of Applicability identifies all Annex A controls from ISO/IEC 27001:2022 relevant to LinguaBridge’s ISMS. It defines control applicability, implementation status, and evidence to ensure secure handling of multilingual client data, translator access, cloud translation platforms, and third-party linguistic tools.
2. Scope
Applies to all translation operations, including:
- Document translation & editing
- Localization & multilingual content services
- Interpreter scheduling and data handling
- CAT tools, MT engines, secure file exchange
- Corporate IT, HR, Vendor Management, and Project Management
3. References
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022
- ISO/IEC 27002:2022
- LB-ISMS-001 – ISMS Scope
- LB-ISMS-003 – Risk Assessment
- LB-ISMS-004 – Risk Register & Treatment Plan
- LB-ISMS-012 – Secure Translation Workflow Policy
4. Roles & Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| CEO (Maria Delgado) | Approves SoA and ensures resources for secure translation operations. |
| ISMS Manager (Omar Qureshi) | Maintains SoA and coordinates control owners. |
| Vendor Manager | Ensures freelance linguists sign NDAs and meet security criteria. |
| IT Manager | Manages security controls for CAT tools, storage, and file transfer. |
| Project Managers | Ensure secure client file intake and delivery. |
| Internal Auditor | Validates control effectiveness annually. |
5. Procedure Summary
- Identify risks in translation workflows and client data handling.
- Select Annex A controls that address those risks.
- Mark controls as applicable or not applicable.
- Document justification, status, and evidence.
- Obtain management approval.
- Update SoA annually or after significant changes.
6. Sample Control Entries
| Control ID | Description | Applicability | Justification | Implementation | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A.5.1 | Policies for Information Security | Applicable | Required to guide secure translation workflows. | Implemented | Information Security Policy; Linguist Handbook. |
| A.5.23 | Information Security for Use of Cloud Services | Applicable | CAT tools and MT platforms operate in cloud environments. | Implemented | Cloud Security Policy; CAT tool configurations; SOC 2 reports. |
| A.5.34 | Privacy & Protection of PII | Applicable | Translation of personal documents (IDs, legal forms). | Implemented | Privacy Policy; PII data flow diagram; encryption configurations. |
| A.7.7 | Clear Desk & Clear Screen | Applicable | Translators often work in open offices or shared spaces. | Implemented | Office security checks; awareness training logs. |
| A.8.7 | Protection Against Malware | Applicable | Frequent file transfers from clients and freelancers. | Implemented | EDR dashboard; scanning logs; incident records. |
| A.5.20 | Supplier Agreements | Applicable | Freelance linguists require NDAs and confidentiality clauses. | Implemented | NDA repository; vendor contracts. |
7. Review & Continuous Improvement
LinguaBridge reviews its SoA annually and after major changes, such as:
- New translation platforms
- Updated client requirements
- New privacy legislation
- Internal audit findings
8. Record Retention
- SoA: 6 years
- NDA records: 6 years
- Audit reports: 6 years
- Control evidence: 3–6 years
Why This Example Works
- It maps controls to real translation workflows.
- It includes linguist-specific privacy and access requirements.
- It clearly documents what applies and why.
- It connects risks, controls, and evidence.
- It reflects ISO auditor expectations for translation providers.
How Canadian Cyber Helps Language Translation Companies Build Their SoA
Canadian Cyber simplifies ISO 27001 for translation providers by aligning controls with how linguistic services work in real-life.
- Statement of Applicability Template (CC-ISMS-006) customized for translation environments.
- Control mapping workshops for CAT tools, MT engines, and linguist workflows.
- Freelance linguist NDA and vendor-security alignment.
- Evidence preparation and audit readiness.
- vCISO oversight for translation companies seeking ISO 27001 certification.
We don’t just help you fill in a spreadsheet we help you prove control.
Ready to Build Your ISO-Compliant Statement of Applicability?
Your clients trust you with their most sensitive multilingual content.
Now show them how you protect it.
Let Canadian Cyber help you build and manage your SoA with clarity, confidence, and global-grade security.
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