The role of applications has shifted significantly in recent times with them becoming the primary medium of interaction between the businesses and the customers. Hence, application security has become a must rather than an option. The standard ISO/IEC 27034 that is the application security standard across the globe addresses the issue. The Organizational Normative Framework (ONF) is the core concept in this standard that defines the secure software development and governance.

If you are involved in application security, DevSecOps, IT risk management, or compliance, learning about ONF is necessary for you to be able to implement ISO/IEC 27034 smoothly. This article will explain ONF, its importance, and how you can utilize it to organize your application security more efficiently in your whole company.

What is ISO/IEC 27034?

Back to ONF, we have to understand that ISO/IEC 27034 is a standard that offers a complete procedure on how to integrate security in the software delivery process. Unlike ISO/IEC 27001 that mainly deals with security issues at the company level, ISO 27034 is still focused on the application security of the particular ones—a very important difference in today’s cyberworld.

Core ideas of PECB ISO 27034 contain:

• The Application Security Management Process (ASMP)
• Application Security Controls (ASCs)
• The Organizational Normative Framework (ONF)

In fact, ONF is the main concept that explains the principles of securing the applications throughout the whole process of doing, applying, and keeping safe.

What is the ONF in ISO/IEC 27034?

The Organizational Normative Framework (ONF) is the collection of application security documents, policies, and resources that reflects your organization’s security strategy, all in a structured manner. It can be seen as a customizable security blueprint that guides developers, security professionals, and auditors in building and managing secure applications.

On ISO/IEC 27034, an ONF should be a collection of:

• Security policies and standards
• Application classification criteria
• Control lists and baselines
• Threat models
• Roles and responsibilities
• Development and deployment procedures
• Documentation and audit trails

It defines what “secure” means in your organization’s particular situation—matching the technologies you use, the regulatory frameworks you follow, and the risks you

Why ONF is Central to Application Security

ONF facilitates contextualized security as opposed to generic checklists or compliance tools designed for everyone without any consideration of the customer's context. However, every organization is different. Here, a healthcare app dealing with patient data that is confidential will have security requirements that are completely different from those of an e-commerce catalog site.

OnF empowers organizations to:

• Specify the right Application Security Controls (ASCs) for various app types
• Coordinate security activities with business objectives and compliance requirements
• Make sure that secure software development is consistent across teams
• Minimize the risk with the help of processes that are

Components of an Effective ONF

Here are the key components that every ONF should include, as per the ISO 27034 application security standard:

1. Security Policies and Guidelines

They are the foundation of secure application development. They describe in detail what developers, testers, and architects need to do, in order to be along the compliant line.

2. Application Classification Model

Applications are not equal in the matter of their risk profiles. This model is used to group applications depending on such criteria as:

• Business criticality
• Data sensitivity
• Exposure (internal vs. public)
• Compliance requirements

In this way, the ONF can adjust security controls that suit the classification the best.

3. Application Security Control Baselines

They represent the control sets that are assigned to each application classification level in advance. They are a basic opening for the start of the industry-specific security measures implementation during the software development lifecycle.

Some of the examples of controls that you can find in regulations and guidelines are as follows:

• Authentication and authorization mechanisms
• Secure coding practices
• ONF should clearly outline in their documentation the methods of:Carrying out risk assessmentsThreat modelingEmbedding security tools (such as SAST/DAST) into CI/CDResponding to incidents or vulnerabilities found6. Evidence and DocumentationTo confirm that their policies and procedures have been
• Carrying out risk assessments
• Threat modeling
• Embedding security tools (such as SAST/DAST) into CI/CD
• Responding to incidents or vulnerabilities found

How the ONF Fits into the Application Lifecycle

The ONF ensures security throughout each step of the SDLC (software development lifecycle):

Stage

ONF Contribution

Requirements

Establish security goals depending on the app classification

Design

Utilize given threat models and architectural guidelines

Development

Adhere to secure coding standards and realize ASCs

Testing

Employ accepted tools and techniques for vulnerability scanning

Deployment

Implement configuration controls and define access policies.

Why Security Teams Should Prioritize ONF

Application security in many organizations may be quite fragmented—handled in an inconsistent manner by the teams that use different standards, tools, and judgment. The ONF provides a framework and consistency, which in turn results in less likelihood of:

• Duplicated or missing security controls
• Miscommunication between dev and security teams
• Inadequate risk assessment or testing
• Compliance gaps during audits

An ONF properly implemented may be a total game-changer when it comes to streamlining audits, reducing remediation efforts, and increasing stakeholder confidence in the organization's application security maturity.

Become an ONF Expert: ISO 27034 Implementer Training

If you are looking to become the leader of your organization's application security program—or the one who consults on implementing these frameworks professionally—starting with formal training is the way to go.

The CourseMonster team is ready to provide the best professional training for the students

 Enroll in the ISO/IEC 27034 Lead Application Security Implementer Course

This course covers:

• The structure and purpose of the ONF
• Practical steps to develop and manage ONF components
• How to align ONF with SDLC, DevOps, and compliance frameworks
• Real-world examples and case studies
• Certification exam preparation

If your current job is that of an IT security manager, software architect, or compliance professional, this training is designed to empower you with the skills and confidence to take up application security leadership roles.

Final Thoughts: ONF is the Backbone of Secure Application Development

Being conversant with and adopting the Organizational Normative Framework forms the core of one’s ability to thrive in the implementation of ISO/IEC 27034. It not only outlines the relevant technical aspects but is also a strategic roadmap for safe application development that can be extended to multiple teams, devices, and software.

Having ONF, companies can visualize the end-state of a secure development process, infuse that culture continuously and verify that it is followed in audits or when incidents occur. For individuals, professional ONF skills empower one to be accessible to opportunities in DevSecOps positions, application security leadership, and consulting.

Ready to Take Charge of Application Security?

If you want to get the best ONF and implement it, then get help

 Get certified with CourseMonster’s ISO/IEC 27034 Lead Application Security Implementer Training

Master the standard. Lead the process. Build secure applications with confidence.