Overview
ISO/IEC 27011:2024 - Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection - provides telecom-specific guidance for implementing information security controls based on ISO/IEC 27002. Published as the third edition and aligned with ITU‑T Recommendation X.1051, this standard gives telecommunications organizations a practical baseline to meet core security objectives: confidentiality, integrity and availability of telecommunications facilities, services and information.
Key topics and technical requirements
ISO/IEC 27011:2024 tailors ISO/IEC 27002 controls to the telecom environment. Key topics include:
- Organizational controls: policies, roles and responsibilities, segregation of duties, threat intelligence, and project security governance.
- Asset and information management: inventory, classification, labelling and acceptable use.
- Access, identity and authentication: identity management, authentication information and access rights.
- Supplier and ICT supply-chain security: contractual controls, supplier risk management and cloud service guidance.
- Incident and continuity management: preparation, event assessment, response, evidence collection, learning and ICT readiness for business continuity.
- Operational telecom controls (TEL-specific): interconnected service security, delivery management, response to spam, DoS/DDoS mitigation, non-disclosure of communications, essential communications and coordination for incident management.
- People and physical controls: screening, training and awareness, remote working, physical perimeters and equipment protection.
- Legal, regulatory and privacy: compliance, intellectual property, protection of records and privacy/PII safeguards.
The standard provides implementation baseline guidance rather than prescriptive technical configurations, enabling organizations to adapt controls to their risk profile and legal context.
Practical applications
ISO/IEC 27011:2024 is practical for organizations that design, deliver or operate telecommunications networks and services, including:
- Telco operators and mobile network providers
- Internet service providers (ISPs) and backbone carriers
- Managed network and cloud service providers focused on telecoms
- Network equipment vendors and systems integrators
- Regulators, auditors and consultants assessing telecom security
Use cases include establishing telecom-focused information security management systems (ISMS), strengthening supplier and cloud security, preparing DoS/DDoS and spam response plans, and improving privacy protection for subscriber data.
Who should use this standard
- CISOs, security architects and risk managers in telecom organizations
- Compliance and legal teams addressing regulatory and privacy requirements
- Vendor and supply‑chain managers responsible for contractual security clauses
- Incident response teams and business continuity planners
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 27002 (controls guidance) - primary normative basis
- ISO/IEC 27001 (ISMS requirements) - for certification and management system processes
- ITU‑T X.1051 - original Recommendation upon which this edition is based
ISO/IEC 27011:2024 is a telecom‑focused extension of ISO/IEC 27002, offering targeted guidance to reduce risk and improve cybersecurity and privacy protection across telecommunications services and infrastructure.
Open preview (PDF)Information security, cybersecurity and privacy protection — Information security controls based on ISO/IEC 27002 for telecommunications organizations
