Power Automate Playbook for ISO 27001

5 workflows that streamline ISMS compliance

ISO 27001 does not fail because controls are wrong.

It fails because tasks are forgotten.

Policies expire.
Reviews are missed.
Access is not removed on time.

Manual compliance does not scale.

Power Automate changes that.
It embeds compliance into daily operations so evidence builds naturally — all year.

This playbook shows five real workflows that reduce manual effort and keep your ISMS audit-ready.


Why Automation Is Essential for ISO 27001

ISO 27001 requires consistency.
Not heroics before the audit.

But most teams rely on:

  • Calendars
  • Spreadsheets
  • Memory

That is risky. Power Automate makes tasks happen on time and records what happened.

Quick Snapshot: Power Automate + ISO 27001

Item What it means
Primary goal Reduce manual ISMS work
Key benefit Fewer missed reviews and findings
Best tools Power Automate, SharePoint, Teams, Planner
ISO focus Controls, evidence, and accountability
Result Always-on compliance

Workflow 1: Automated Policy Review Alerts

(ISO 27001 Clause 7.5 — Document control)

Policies must be reviewed regularly.

Most teams forget.

How the workflow works

  • Policy metadata includes a Next Review Date
  • Power Automate runs daily
  • When a review date is approaching:
• Email is sent to the policy owner
• Teams notification is triggered
• A Planner task is created

No reminders to set. No dates to track.
Auditors see timely reviews every time.

Workflow 2: Instant Teams Alerts for Incidents and Risk Updates

(ISO 27001 Annex A — Incident & risk management)

Speed matters during incidents.
So does visibility.

How the workflow works

  • An incident or risk is logged in SharePoint
  • Power Automate triggers immediately
  • A Teams message is sent to:
• Security team
• ISMS owner
• Management (if required)

This creates:

  • Faster response
  • Clear audit trails
  • Proof of escalation

Silence is replaced with action.

Still relying on emails and spreadsheets? Automate your ISMS workflows and reduce missed steps.

Workflow 3: Auto-Generated Quarterly Compliance Reports

(ISO 27001 Clause 9 — Performance evaluation)

Auditors ask one question.

Auditor:

“How do you monitor effectiveness?”

Manual reporting is painful.

How the workflow works

  • Power Automate runs quarterly
  • It pulls data from:
• Risk register
• Control status
• Incidents
• Policy reviews
  • A compliance report is generated automatically
  • The report is saved to SharePoint
  • Management is notified in Teams

Evidence appears without effort.

Workflow 4: Joiner–Mover–Leaver Automation

(ISO 27001 Annex A.9 — User access management)

Access errors are a top audit finding.

Automation closes that gap.

How the workflow works

  • HR updates a new hire, role change, or termination
  • Power Automate triggers:
• Access request tasks for joiners
• Access review tasks for movers
• De-provisioning tasks for leavers
  • Tasks are tracked in Planner
  • Completion becomes evidence

No manual chasing. No forgotten accounts.
The process proves itself.

Workflow 5: Recurring Access Recertification

(ISO 27001 Annex A — Access control)

Access must be reviewed regularly.

Once a year is not enough.

How the workflow works

  • Power Automate schedules quarterly access reviews
  • Reviewers receive:
• A task
• A due date
• A confirmation requirement
  • Results are logged automatically
  • Evidence is stored centrally

Auditors love this control.
Because it works.

Struggling with access reviews? Automate Annex A controls and reduce risk without adding headcount.

Why These Workflows Matter to Auditors

Auditors look for:

  • Timeliness
  • Consistency
  • Evidence

Automation provides all three.
Not promises. Not explanations.
Proof.

Common Automation Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid these traps:

  • Over-engineering workflows
  • Automating broken processes
  • No ownership defined
  • Alerts without follow-up

Automation should simplify.
Not confuse.

How Canadian Cyber Builds ISO 27001 Automation Right

We design automation around audits.
Not demos.

Our ISO 27001 services include:

  • Power Automate workflow design
  • SharePoint ISMS integration
  • Annex A control automation
  • Continuous compliance support

Built for real auditors. Used by real teams.

Turn ISO 27001 Into a Background Process

Compliance should not interrupt work.

It should run quietly.

Power Automate makes that possible.

Ready to automate your ISMS?

Build workflows that create evidence automatically and reduce audit stress year-round.

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