As cybersecurity risks continue to rise globally and organisations overhaul their digital defences, there is a notable surge in demand for ISO 27001:2022 transition audits — a critical step to maintain compliance with the updated international standard for information security management. With the official transition deadline fast approaching, businesses across sectors are moving at pace to secure certification before their existing ISO 27001:2013 credentials lapse.
The updated ISO/IEC 27001:2022 standard was published in October 2022 to address the evolving cybersecurity landscape and to bring information security management systems (ISMS) in line with modern technologies, threat vectors, and risk environments. The revision includes a fully updated control set and refined structures that organisations are now expected to integrate into their existing ISMS frameworks.
Certification bodies and auditors report that invitations to transition audits have sharply increased as companies prepare to demonstrate conformance with the new requirements. The transition audit is a formal evaluation conducted by an accredited auditor to confirm that an organisation’s ISMS aligns with ISO 27001:2022’s updated clauses and control requirements. As the transition period, which began following the standard’s release, draws to a close on October 31, 2025, many firms that have delayed starting their transition are now racing to book auditor slots.
Industry analysts note that the approaching deadline is creating significant operational pressure. Because certification bodies have limited resources and auditor availability is finite, businesses that delay risk missing out on timely assessments, potentially imperilling their compliance status. Experts reiterate that once the deadline passes, ISO 27001:2013 certificates will no longer be valid, forcing organisations to undergo a full certification audit under the 2022 standard if they wish to restore certified status.
The increased urgency is particularly evident among enterprises with global supply chains, where certification is often a contractual requirement. Organisations are realising that a lapse in certification could disrupt partnerships or lead to loss of trust among clients sensitive to data protection standards. The demand is especially prevalent among technology firms, service providers, and larger enterprises that handle high volumes of sensitive information.
Advisors to organisations navigating the transition emphasise the importance of planning and internal audits ahead of the formal transition audit. Many companies are conducting comprehensive gap analyses to identify where their current ISMS deviates from the updated standard and are prioritising internal checks to avoid last-minute nonconformities during external assessment.
Beyond the looming deadline, there is a strategic motivation driving the uptake. ISO 27001:2022 better aligns with broader risk management and corporate governance practices, while the updated Annex A controls address contemporary threats such as cloud security and advanced threat intelligence. This has prompted organisations to accelerate adoption as part of broader digital transformation and resilience strategies.
Consultants also point out that early transition — including readiness assessments and preparatory internal audits — not only eases pressure on resources but also strengthens an organisation’s ISMS by identifying weaknesses before formal evaluation begins.
With less than a year remaining before the transition deadline, the combined pressures of regulatory compliance, operational continuity, and competitive differentiation are propelling a genuine surge in demand for ISO 27001:2022 transition audits. Organisations that act now to align their information security systems with the updated standard are likely to emerge more resilient and better positioned to protect their digital assets in an era of intensifying cyber threats.
