What are ISO 27001’s cyber security awareness requirements?

What ISO 27001 covers (information security management)

ISO 27001 is the international standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It provides a structured framework for managing sensitive company information so that it remains secure, covering people, processes, and technology.

Under ISO 27001, awareness plays a critical role. The standard recognizes that technology alone cannot protect information; employees must understand how their actions contribute to—or, conversely, threaten—security. Awareness ensures everyone knows how to protect data, identify risks, and follow internal security controls correctly.

Awareness training helps employees understand:

• What information security means in their daily work
• How to identify and respond to security incidents
• The importance of following password, access, and data handling policies
• How to manage and share information securely, both internally and externally
  

   

Why awareness training is required under ISO 27001

ISO 27001 explicitly requires organizations to ensure that employees and relevant stakeholders are aware of information security policies, procedures, and their individual roles in maintaining compliance. Without awareness, even the best-designed ISMS can fail due to human error.

More than a certification requirement, ongoing training is necessary because security threats and technologies evolve quickly. Regular awareness initiatives keep everyone informed about:

• New risks and vulnerabilities such as phishing, ransomware, or social engineering tactics
• Updated internal controls and procedures that align with your ISMS.
• Regulatory and legal developments that affect how data and systems must be protected.

Training supports:

• Risk mitigation: Employees become an active layer of defense, reducing the likelihood of data breaches.
• Cultural alignment: Awareness fosters a collective mindset that security is everyone’s responsibility.
• Audit readiness: Consistent training records demonstrate that your ISMS is up-to-date and effective.

Turning awareness programs into measurable outcomes with DataGuard’s Academy feature—training modules, simulation tools, and dashboards make it easier for you to demonstrate due diligence.

Examples of ISO 27001 requirements in awareness training

• Secure practices: Encourage employees to lock their screens, use strong authentication, and handle confidential documents appropriately.
• Employee training: Provide scenario-based exercises that simulate realistic attacks, such as phishing tests or data leakage scenarios, to help employees apply what they learn.
• Security culture: Promote open communication about potential risks and incidents. When employees feel empowered to report suspicious activity without fear, you strengthen both compliance and resilience.

Building awareness under ISO 27001 turns information security into a shared commitment. Instead of being viewed solely as an IT responsibility, it becomes part of how you operate every day: protecting data, building trust, and maintaining compliance across the organization.

What are NIS2’s cyber security awareness requirements?

Overview of the NIS2 Directive (network and information systems security)

The NIS2 Directive, enforced in EU countries since 2024, expands the scope of the original NIS Directive. It sets stricter cybersecurity requirements across the EU and applies to essential sectors like energy, healthcare, transport, and digital infrastructure, as well as important sectors such as manufacturing and waste management.

The goal is to strengthen Europe’s collective resilience against cyberattacks. To be compliant, you must implement both technical and organizational measures—including awareness and training.

What employee responsibilities and training expectations to consider

Under NIS2, every individual with access to IT systems, networks, or sensitive information is expected to maintain a basic understanding of cyber risks. Training should cover:

• Recognizing suspicious activities, such as phishing or social engineering attempts
• Understanding secure password management and multi-factor authentication
• Knowing how to report incidents and suspicious behavior immediately
• Applying updates, patches, and other preventative measures promptly

Awareness training should also be customized to different audiences. Technical teams need deep insights into system security, while non-technical staff should focus on recognizing and reporting threats.

How cyber security awareness is part of incident reporting and resilience

Incident reporting is one of the most important obligations under NIS2. You must ensure employees know how to report incidents quickly and through the correct channels, because delayed reporting can result in higher penalties and longer recovery times.

Awareness training for this requirement can include simulations or “tabletop exercises” where teams practice responding to realistic incidents. This builds resilience and ensures that when a real event occurs, everyone knows what to do, minimizing disruption.

How do ISO 27001 vs NIS2 awareness requirements compare?

While both standards emphasize the importance of cyber security awareness, ISO 27001 provides a structured, organization-wide framework for managing information security risks, while NIS2 focuses on sector-specific resilience and reporting obligations.

In practice, aligning awareness programs with both frameworks ensures consistency, helping employees understand not just how to protect information, but why their actions directly support compliance, resilience, and trust.

Which cyber threats should employees know about?

Phishing, malware, insider threats

Cyber threats evolve constantly, but some remain timeless:

• Phishing: Fraudulent messages (instant messages or emails) that appear legitimate but aim to steal credentials or install malware. Train employees to verify sender addresses, check URLs, and report suspicious messages immediately.
• Malware: Software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to systems. Mandate regular updates, safe downloading practices, and antivirus use.
• Insider threats: Mistakes or intentional misuse by employees or contractors. Promote awareness of access control policies and emphasize accountability.

Emerging threats—like new ransomware, deepfakes, and AI-powered scams—also highlight why awareness programs must evolve continuously.

Why awareness of these threats matters for compliance

Under both ISO 27001 and NIS2, organizations must demonstrate that they take reasonable steps to protect data and systems. If an employee’s untrained action leads to a data breach, regulators may view that as a failure of compliance and not just an individual mistake.

By ensuring everyone recognizes and reports suspicious activity, you show regulators that cyber security awareness is an active and measurable part of your compliance strategy.

How do companies build an awareness program for compliance?

Key steps (assessment, training, testing, improvement)

A successful awareness program is structured, measurable, and tailored. Consider the following approach:

• Assess risks and needs: Identify who has access to sensitive data, which departments handle critical systems, and where the biggest risks lie. Use past incidents or audits to inform your assessment.
• Define clear objectives: Determine what behaviors you want to change. For instance, reducing phishing click rates or speeding up incident reports.
• Design engaging training content: Make learning relevant and interactive. Use real examples, short videos, or gamified modules to keep attention high. Role-based training ensures each team learns what’s most applicable to their work.
• Deliver training regularly: Awareness shouldn’t be a one-time event. Schedule sessions throughout the year, refresh content often, and align it with regulatory changes or new threats.
• Test understanding: Use phishing simulations, quizzes, and scenario-based exercises to measure awareness in practice. Testing helps identify where further guidance is needed.
• Improve continuously: Gather feedback from participants, monitor performance trends, and update content to reflect evolving threats. Continuous improvement shows commitment to compliance and security maturity.

When you treat awareness as a living program, not a checklist, it becomes part of your culture.

How can companies measure awareness and compliance readiness?

KPIs (training completion, phishing simulations, incident reporting)

Tracking the impact of awareness efforts is essential to knowing if they’re effective. Use data-driven insights to measure effectiveness and demonstrate compliance. Some example key performance indicators you can start with include:

• Training completion rates: A high percentage shows engagement, but focus on comprehension, not just participation.
• Phishing simulation success: Track improvement in identifying fake emails over time.
• Reporting frequency: More reports of suspicious activity can indicate higher awareness. Underreporting may suggest fear or lack of understanding.
• Policy acknowledgment: Confirm employees have read and accepted security and privacy policies.

These metrics also serve as evidence during compliance audits.

How to document compliance evidence

Maintaining records is critical for proving compliance under ISO 27001 and NIS2. You should document:

• Training attendance logs
• Copies of training materials and quizzes
• Results from simulations and awareness tests
• Updates or improvements made after each assessment

Organizing this evidence makes it easy to respond to audit requests and demonstrate continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Cyber security awareness transforms compliance from a reactive exercise into a proactive culture. When everyone—from leadership to interns—understands their role in protecting data and systems, security becomes second nature.

By aligning with ISO 27001 and NIS2, you build not just compliance, but trust. Customers, partners, and regulators see that you take privacy and security seriously. And most importantly, you empower your people to make safe, confident decisions in an increasingly digital world.