Are Corrective Action Requests (CARs) required by ISO 27001?

The assertion that Corrective Action Requests (CARs) are not explicitly required by ISO 27001 is valid because the standard itself does not mandate their use. Instead, ISO 27001 emphasizes the importance of continual improvement and the need for organizations to address non-conformities in a structured manner. Organizations can implement corrective actions in various ways, and there is flexibility in terms of how they document and manage these actions.

ISO 27001 requires that when a non-conformity is identified, the organization must take appropriate actions to address it and prevent its recurrence. However, these actions don't necessarily have to follow the specific format of a CAR; they could be addressed through different management processes or methods that the organization finds suitable.

ISO 27001 does specify the need for organizations to conduct internal audits and management reviews to ensure the effectiveness of the Information Security Management System (ISMS), but it does not dictate a specific document or process format that must be followed. As a result, while organizations may choose to use CARs as part of their approach to managing non-conformities, this is not a requirement of the standard.