In the world of information security and IT governance, these two giants rule.
But which one is right for you? Let’s break it down with a fun yet informative comparison!
ISO 27001 focuses on information security—how organizations protect their data through controls, policies, and procedures.
🔗 Check the ISO 27001 Training
COBIT (Control Objectives for Information and Related Technologies) focuses on improving IT processes and governance.
It aligns IT goals with business objectives.
🔗 COBIT 5 Training | COBIT 2019 Training
Purpose: ISO 27001 secures information, COBIT manages and governs IT.
Certification: ISO 27001 is certifiable. COBIT is a framework.
Scope: ISO is a specific system. COBIT optimizes the entire IT landscape.
Scenario: A bank suffered from both data leakage and messy internal processes.
ISO 27001 helped secure information, while COBIT organized their operations.
Result: 40% fewer audit findings, 60% faster processes!
Only info security? ISO 27001
IT governance and process performance? COBIT
Both? Combine and rule them all!
Companies subject to compliance regulations like GDPR / KVKK
Organizations with high risk of data breaches
Businesses whose clients require formal security certifications
Enterprises with complex IT governance structures
CIOs and IT leaders aiming for performance, risk optimization, and process control
Large-scale organizations seeking alignment between business and IT strategies
Risk assessment
Development of security policies
Access control implementation
Internal audit
Formal certification process
Analysis of current IT processes
Gap analysis between current and desired state
Definition of performance indicators (KPIs)
Aligning IT objectives with business goals
Entering a continuous improvement cycle
| Criteria | ISO 27001 | COBIT |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Information Security Management | IT Governance and Process Control |
| Certification | ✅ Yes (Auditable and certifiable) | ❌ No (Framework only) |
| Primary Audience | Security teams, Compliance professionals | CIOs, IT Managers, Process Owners |
| Global Reach | 🌍 Highly adopted globally | 🏢 More common in large enterprise governance environments |
| Auditability | ✅ High – Formal audits and surveillance | 🔶 Limited – Implementation varies per organization |
| Implementation Focus | Policies, Risk Management, Controls, and Continuous Review | Process Optimization, Strategic Alignment, Performance Mgmt |
| Related Trainings | ISO 27001 Training | COBIT 5 Training COBIT 2019 Training |