ISO 27001 Vulnerability Management Tracking Spreadsheet Template
Overview
ISO 27001 Vulnerability Management Tracking Spreadsheet is no longer optional. This powerful tool allows you to document, assess and remediate vulnerabilities across your IT environment so nothing falls through the cracks. A well designed Vulnerability Management Tracking Spreadsheet ISO 27001 not only simplifies the process of tracking security issues but also provides the transparency and accountability to satisfy auditors and stakeholders.
Why Vulnerability Management Is important For ISO 27001
ISO 27001 requires organisations to have systematic approaches to identifying and addressing technical vulnerabilities. Under Clause 8.8 of the 2022 version (previously 12.6.1 in the 2013 version) organisations must demonstrate they can manage vulnerabilities throughout their lifecycle – from discovery to remediation and verification.
A well structured Vulnerability Management Tracking Spreadsheet ISO 27001 helps to satisfy these requirements by documenting your entire vulnerability management process in a transparent and auditable format. As one security professional told us in our research “Vulnerability management isn’t just a checkbox for ISO 27001 – it’s a continuous strategic practice that strengthens your entire information security posture.”
Essential Components Of A good Tracking template
A good ISO 27001 Vulnerability Tracking Template should have the following:
1. Vulnerability Identification Section
This section captures the following details for each vulnerability:
- Unique vulnerability ID
- Discovery date and method (scan, penetration test etc.)
- Vulnerability name and description
- Affected systems/assets
- Vulnerability source (CVE number, vendor bulletin etc.)
- Technical details and proof of concept
2. Risk Assessment Fields
For prioritisation:
- Severity rating (Critical, High, Medium, Low)
- CVSS score and vector
- Business impact
- Exploit difficulty
- Affected data types (PII, financial, etc.)
- Risk score calculation
3. Remediation Tracking Fields
To manage the response process:
- Assigned owner
- Remediation plan
- Target resolution date
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Current status (Open, In Progress, Resolved, Accepted)
- Actual completion date
- Verification method and date
- Remediation evidence
4. Reporting and Metrics Fields
For management visibility and auditing:
- Age analysis (time-to-remediate)
- Status summary charts
- Trend analysis
- SLA compliance tracking
- Recurring vulnerability identification
Benefits Of Using A Dedicated Vulnerability Management Spreadsheet
Implementing a structured Vulnerability Management Spreadsheet Template delivers several significant advantages:
1. Simple Compliance: The template is a central repository of vulnerability management activities to use as evidence during ISO 27001 audits. This shows your organisation has a systematic approach to vulnerability management (a requirement of the standard).
2. Better Visibility: By tracking vulnerabilities in a structured way, security teams get better visibility into the organisation’s risk exposure. This visibility means more informed decisions on security spend and resource allocation.
3. Accountability: With owners and deadlines assigned, the spreadsheet creates accountability throughout the remediation process. This means vulnerabilities don’t get lost or left unaddressed for months.
4. Consistent Remediation: The template gives a standardised approach to vulnerability management, so it doesn’t matter who finds or fixes the vulnerability. This is especially useful in larger organisations with distributed security responsibilities.
5. Useful Trending: Over time, the data in your spreadsheet will give you useful trending. You can see recurring issues, problem assets or process inefficiencies that need more attention.
How To Use ISO 27001 Vulnerability Tracking Spreadsheet Step by Step
Using an effective vulnerability management tracking system involves several steps:
Step 1: Customize the Template: First, customize the template to your organization:
- Align severity ratings with your risk assessment methodology
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Add organization specific fields (business units, compliance requirements)
- Configure dropdown lists for consistent data entry
- Set up formula-based calculations for risk scoring
Step 2: Define Your Process Workflow
Document the end-to-end process for managing vulnerabilities:
- How vulnerabilities are discovered and entered into the tracker
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Who is responsible for risk assessment and prioritization
- How remediation tasks are assigned and tracked
- Verification and closure procedures
Step 3: Set Scanning and Update Frequency
How often will you scan and update the tracker:
- Schedule regular automated scans (weekly/monthly)
- Define a process for manual vulnerability reports
- Set update frequency for the tracking spreadsheet
- Create calendar reminders for follow up actions
Step 4: Implement Review Cycles
Create regular review cycles to check progress:
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Weekly team review of new and high risk vulnerabilities
- Monthly management reports on remediation progress
- Quarterly trend analysis and process improvement discussions
- Annual comprehensive review aligned to ISO 27001 requirements
Step 5: Integrate with Your ISMS
Link your vulnerability management process to other parts of your Information Security Management System:
- Link vulnerabilities to relevant assets in your asset register
- Update risk assessments based on vulnerability findings
- Feed findings into security awareness training
- Feed findings into the continuous improvement process
Conclusion
A well-designed ISO 27001 Vulnerability Management Tracking Spreadsheet Template is a practical tool for daily security operations and essential documentation for compliance requirements. By following this structured approach, you can improve your security, demonstrate ISO 27001 compliance and reduce your vulnerability exposure.
