ISO/IEC 27034-1:2011 – Application Security-Secure Software Development

What is the purpose of ISO 27034?

The core purpose of ISO/IEC 27034-1:2011 is to:

1. Establish a formalized approach to application security management
2. Enable organizations to develop secure-by-design applications
3. Align application security with information security governance
4. Offer a common vocabulary and structure for communication between development and security teams
5. Support integration of Application Security Controls (ASCs) into the SDLC
6. Ensure secure deployment, testing, and monitoring of application environments

This standard provides an overarching framework that can be adapted to fit various development methodologies, compliance obligations, and organizational structures.

Key Definitions

 Application Security Control (ASC): A set of security measures applied to mitigate risks in application design, development, or operation

Organization Normative Framework (ONF): A tailored set of policies, guidelines, and control catalogs for application security

Application Security Lifecycle (ASLC): The security lifecycle that spans design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance

Application Security Verification (ASV): Methods used to verify the effectiveness of implemented ASCs

Application Security Management Process (ASMP): A defined process to ensure continuous governance of application-level security

Need help interpreting how these definitions impact your certification readiness? Contact support@pacificcert.com today!

Structure and Key Parts

Implementation Steps for ISO 27034

1. Develop an Organization Normative Framework (ONF)
2. Identify Application Security Controls (ASCs) relevant to your environment
3. Integrate ASCs into your application development lifecycle
4. Perform Application Security Verification (ASV)
5. Maintain audit records and metrics for continuous security improvement

Want help preparing your ONF or security verification documentation? Pacific Certifications offers audit-focused support at support@pacificcert.com

What are the requirements of ISO 27034?

• Establish and maintain a Normative Framework (ONF) for application security
• Define and implement Application Security Controls (ASCs) for relevant applications
• Ensure security integration across all SDLC stages
• Implement Application Security Verification (ASV) practices and maintain records
• Monitor and update ONF and ASCs based on threat evolution and risk assessments
• Align application security strategy with broader ISMS and ISO/IEC 27001 policies

Documentation Required

Organizations applying ISO 27034 should maintain:

1. ONF policy and governance documents
2. List and descriptions of implemented ASCs
3. Application risk assessments and threat models
4. Development and security test records
5. ASV reports and control validation results
6. Change management and control review history

Need a complete documentation checklist aligned to ISO/IEC 27034 and ISO/IEC 27001 audits? Contact support@pacificcert.com.

What are the benefits of ISO 27034?

• Improves application resilience against vulnerabilities by embedding structured security practices
• Enables alignment with ISO/IEC 27001, supporting integrated audits and streamlined compliance
• Demonstrates due diligence and regulatory preparedness to customers, partners, and regulators
• Enhances collaboration between developers and security teams through a shared framework
• Reduces cost and impact of post-release fixes by implementing proactive security controls
• Enables secure DevSecOps environments with reusable, scalable control libraries
• Supports auditable security assurance in software procurement and product certifications

The demand for application-level security has accelerated due to regulatory shifts and the growing reliance on software-driven ecosystems. Organizations are expected to demonstrate accountability for application security as part of broader governance and risk strategies.

Global regulatory frameworks such as the EU Cyber Resilience Act and U.S. SEC cybersecurity disclosure mandates now push companies to verify and report on application-layer risks. Additionally, the proliferation of API-first development, cloud-native architectures, and AI-generated code have exposed new attack surfaces, making structured frameworks like this certification essential.

Security-conscious sectors including finance, healthcare, SaaS, and government are adopting this certification alongside ISO/IEC 27001 to ensure that application vulnerabilities do not compromise enterprise-wide compliance. The integration of SBOMs (Software Bill of Materials) and secure SDLC audits further reinforces the need for an international standard tailored to application governance.

Looking to future-proof your application environment? Reach out to support@pacificcert.com.

How Pacific Certifications Can Help?

As a certification body, Pacific Certifications offers independent audit and certification services for organizations implementing ISO/IEC 27001 and related frameworks that integrate ISO 27034 principles.

Our services include:

• Audit support for ISMS frameworks that embed ISO/IEC 27034 controls
• Verification of application-level control effectiveness as part of ISO/IEC 27001 assessments
• Review of ONF documentation, ASCs, and application-level risk management
• Alignment of software development practices with auditable ISMS criteria
• Issuance of the certifications

Email support@pacificcert.com to initiate your certification journey with embedded application security practices!