ISO 27001 Scope Statement Guide: Practical Templates for SMEs, SaaS, and Remote Teams

Vector illustration of a modern startup team defining their ISO 27001 ISMS scope, showing documentation, risk assessment, and compliance processes.

Defining your ISO 27001 scope can feel challenging for SMEs and startups. This article provides practical examples for SaaS businesses, digital agencies, and fully remote teams, along with guidance on exclusions, organisational context, and the connection to your Statement of Applicability (SoA). Using structured templates, you may serve as a reference guide to help you draft a consistent and well-documented ISMS scope statement to support your preparation for compliance and external audit.

Why the Scope Matters for ISO 27001

The scope statement defines the boundaries of your Information Security Management System (ISMS). Clause 4.3 of ISO/IEC 27001:2022 includes requirements relating to the documentation of this information, which then provides a reference point for your risk assessment, control selection, and preparation of audit evidence.

A well-defined scope can help:

  • Clarify which systems, processes, and teams are included within your ISMS.
  • Support your consideration and documentation of exclusions and their rationale.
  • Guide the alignment of your Statement of Applicability (SoA) and relevant Annex A controls.

Why Context Should Inform Your Scope (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Requirement)

ISO/IEC 27001:2022 highlights that your scope should be based on the organisational context. Before defining the boundary, you may consider:

  1. Internal and External Issues: Operational risks, technology changes, and business opportunities that could affect information security.
  2. Interested Parties: Customers, regulators, suppliers, and shareholders with expectations regarding information security.
  3. Requirements: Regulatory, contractual, or industry obligations (e.g. data privacy regulations, client security commitments).

The scope typically defines the boundary around systems and processes that may relate to these requirements. For instance, if customer contracts specify secure handling of personal data, relevant systems will commonly be included in scope, though organisations should verify based on contract terms and risk assessment.

How to Write a Practical Scope Statement

A practical scope statement may include elements such as (Clause 4.3, ISO/IEC 27001:2022):

  • Scope description: Systems, processes, locations, and teams that may be considered in scope.
  • Exclusions (organisation’s documented rationale): Parts of the organisation or processes outside the ISMS boundary, along with documented reasons or rationale, typically based on the risk assessment.
  • Context and interested parties: References to internal and external issues, as well as the needs and expectations of stakeholders.

Addressing Geographic and Cloud Boundaries

For distributed or cloud-based organisations, defining the “Location” aspect of the scope may benefit from additional consideration (Clause 4.3, ISO/IEC 27001:2022). Even without a physical office, the scope may include:

  1. Cloud Infrastructure: Indicate primary cloud provider(s) and the regions used. Example: “All systems hosted within Amazon Web Services (AWS) in the eu-west-1 region.”
  2. Physical Locations: Any physical locations where in-scope assets are stored or processed. Example: locked server closets, headquarters office
  3. Remote Workforce: For fully remote teams, the scope may include virtual working environments of employees accessing in-scope systems, including physical areas where these assets are used. Example: “The ISMS scope covers the virtual environments of all employees and contractors, including physical areas where in-scope assets are used (e.g. home offices), in alignment with the Remote Working Policy.”

Why This Matters:

  • Can help provide clarity on the scope for auditors in cloud-first or remote-first setups.
  • Can highlight physical and virtual security considerations, helping to identify potential areas for improvement.
  • Can link the scope to related policy documents, reinforcing consistency across the ISMS.

Sample Scope Statements by Business Type

These examples illustrate how SMEs and startups may define the scope of their ISMS based on business type. Each example provides potential inclusions and exclusions for reference, aligned with Clause 4.3 of ISO/IEC 27001:2022.

Scope Component

SaaS Startup Example

Digital Agency Example

Fully Remote Team Example

Core Function / Service

Customer data processing and product delivery

Consultancy operations and client project execution

Core business operations and internal collaboration

Included Teams

Engineering, Product, Support, DevOps

Project Manage-ment, Design, Development, Finance

All employees with access to sensitive data

Key Inclusions

Production / Dev environments, cloud infrastructure, customer support systems

Client deliverables (IP), internal productivity systems, external contractors on client projects

Cloud-based productivity and collaboration suites (G-Suite / Office 365), customer manage-ment platforms

Key Exclusion / Notes

Marketing systems (may be excluded if verified to handle only publicly available or low-sensitivity data)

Non-billable admin tools (may be excluded where risk is limited and systems do not handle client data)

Personal devices / storage (commonly excluded where devices are not owned or managed by the organisation for business processes)

Note: These illustrative examples are for reference only and may not fit every organisation. Organisations should adapt scope language to their own context, contracts, and risk assessment.

TL;DR – 5 Steps to Define an ISO 27001 Scope Statement for SMEs

  1. Define context: Base the scope on the needs of interested parties and applicable regulatory or contractual obligations.
  2. Define the boundary in a way that suits your environment: Many organisations list systems, processes, and teams that handle critical or sensitive data.
  3. Document exclusions: Organisations often describe exclusions and record the rationale.
  4. Align to risk and controls: Consider how included systems relate to the Risk Assessment and relevant Annex A controls.
  5. Use templates: Structured templates can help create consistent, organised scope statements and may support alignment with ISO 27001 documentation practices.

Scope's Direct Link to Controls (The SoA Connection)

The defined scope can influence which ISO 27001 Annex A controls may be relevant, and can guide the preparation of the Statement of Applicability (SoA).

Key points:

  • In-Scope Systems and Processes: Relevant Annex A controls can be applied to in-scope systems. For example, cloud-based customer data may involve A.5.15 (Access control) and A.5.23 (Cloud Security). Documenting the rationale for each control can support traceability.
  • Exclusions: Systems or processes outside the ISMS boundary can be recorded with documented reasons for why associated Annex A controls may not be applicable.
  • Scope-to-Control Mapping: Keeping a clear connection between scope and selected controls can support structured decision-making and alignment with the SoA, the risk assessment, and ISMS boundaries.

How Templates Can Support SMEs and Startups

Templates can help accelerate ISO 27001 implementation by providing pre-formatted structures for key ISMS documents, including:

  • Scope Statement: Can guide documentation of context, exclusions, and boundaries.
  • Risk Register: Can help link risks to in-scope systems.
  • Statement of Applicability (SoA): Can support mapping of Annex A controls to systems and provide documented rationale for exclusions.

Using templates may support documentation activities and provide consistent formatting, which can be particularly helpful for lean teams or bootstrapped startups; however, organisations remain responsible for accurately establishing the organisational context, defining the ISMS scope, and implementing and evidencing controls in practice.

Conclusion: Scope as the Foundation for ISO 27001 Compliance

Your ISO 27001 scope can be one of the most important decisions in your compliance journey. A well-considered scope may reflect your organisational context, document exclusions with justification, and align with your risk assessment and Statement of Applicability (SoA), helping turn a complex task into a clearer, more structured approach.

Key Takeaways

  • ISO 27001 scope statements should reflect organisational context, interested parties, and risk-informed boundaries.
  • Documenting exclusions with rationale may help explain the ISMS boundary to reviewers.
  • The scope may inform the SoA and may contribute to identifying relevant Annex A controls that could be relevant.
  • Using structured templates may support consistent formatting, clarity, and overall ISMS documentation structure.

A clearly defined scope statement may contribute to a more structured approach and may support clearer planning for SMEs and startups working on ISO 27001 implementation.

Next Step: Browse our ISO 27001 template collection for structured documents that can help you draft a clear scope statement and organise supporting evidence.

Next Article: In ISO 27001: ISMS Manual vs Policy Pack for SMEs and Startups, we explain how both document types complement each other and fit into an ISO 27001 programme.

Related Guides

Explore these ISO 27001 resources to help your SME build a practical, lean ISMS:

Start Here: Complete Guide

Templates, Tools, and Service Comparisons – Detailed Guides by Topic

Please Note: This article provides general information only and does not constitute legal, regulatory, or compliance advice. Using our products or following this guidance cannot guarantee certification, improved business outcomes, or regulatory compliance. Organisations remain responsible for ensuring all actions meet certification and compliance requirements.