What does a Corrective Action Request (CAR) signify in ISO 27001?

A Corrective Action Request (CAR) in ISO 27001 signifies a formal approach to instructing the organization to address and resolve a nonconformity identified during an audit. The purpose of a CAR is to ensure that any deviations from the established requirements of the Information Security Management System (ISMS) are not only acknowledged but also systematically corrected. This process helps maintain and enhance the effectiveness of the ISMS, ensuring continuous improvement.

By issuing a CAR, the auditor is effectively documenting the observation and providing a clear framework for the organization to take corrective action. This helps to prevent similar issues in the future and ensures that the integrity of the ISMS is upheld. The possibility of a nonconformity could be related to ineffective policies, process deficiencies, or inadequate risk management, and a CAR serves to systematically address these issues.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the purpose of a CAR. While suggestions for improvement, notifications of audit success, and summaries of findings may describe helpful aspects of an audit, they do not capture the formal requirement for resolving specific instances of nonconformities, which is the primary goal of a Corrective Action Request within the context of ISO 27001.