Exin EX0-105 (Information Security Foundation based on ISO/IEC 27002)

EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation (ISO/IEC 27002) Overview

Honestly? If you're trying to break into information security or you've been working IT for a while and need to validate your security chops, the EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation might be exactly what you need. This isn't some flashy hacker certification where you're penetration testing networks. It's way more practical than that.

The EX0-105 is a foundation-level credential that proves you understand information security controls ISO 27002 and can speak the language of security governance, which organizations desperately need when they're implementing controls and trying to stay compliant without really knowing where to start. It's based on the ISO/IEC 27002 international standard, which is the go-to reference for implementing security controls in any organization that takes data protection seriously. I mean, if you've ever wondered why companies obsess over policies, access controls, and incident response procedures, this standard is where most of that thinking comes from.

What makes EX0-105 actually matter

Look, this certification validates you understand the CIA triad: confidentiality, integrity, availability. Sounds basic but everything else builds on this foundation. You'll demonstrate knowledge of organizational security measures, security governance and compliance structures, and how risk management and security policies actually work in practice. Not just theory.

Companies implementing ISO 27001 ISMS (Information Security Management System) need staff who get the control framework. That's where EX0-105 comes in. It's vendor-neutral, works across industries, and complements frameworks like ITIL, COBIT, and other IT governance standards you might already have under your belt.

Not gonna lie, it's also just cheaper and faster than jumping straight into advanced security certs that cost thousands and require years of experience. My cousin spent three years chasing CISSP only to realize he needed foundational knowledge first, which set him back another six months of backtracking through concepts he should've learned earlier.

Who actually benefits from taking this exam

IT professionals transitioning into cybersecurity roles should consider this. System administrators who suddenly got security responsibilities dumped on them? Yeah, this exam will help you make sense of what you're supposed to be doing. Compliance officers and audit staff need this foundation too because you can't audit what you don't understand.

I've seen project managers take EX0-105 when they're overseeing security-related initiatives and realize they're completely lost in meetings. Business analysts involved in security requirements gathering find it useful. Risk management professionals who need ISMS fundamentals without becoming full-time security engineers benefit too.

If you're eyeing ISO 27001 Lead Implementer or Lead Auditor certifications down the road, you need this foundation first. No way around it. Organizations also use it for baseline security awareness, getting everyone speaking the same language about threats and controls.

How this fits your career trajectory

The EX0-105 is your entry point to advanced EXIN certifications like ISMP (Information Security Management Professional), PDPF (Privacy and Data Protection), and CLOUDF (Cloud Computing Foundation). It demonstrates to employers you're serious about security best practices. Matters more than you'd think when you're competing for GRC (governance, risk, compliance) roles or IT audit positions.

It gives you the common security vocabulary needed for cross-functional collaboration. When the CISO talks about control objectives or the audit team asks about compensating controls, you'll actually know what they mean instead of nodding along pretending.

Understanding ISO/IEC 27002 versus ISO 27001

Here's where people get confused.

ISO 27001 is the certification standard for organizations. It's what a company gets certified against to prove they have a proper ISMS. ISO/IEC 27002 provides the implementation guidance and the actual catalog of controls you can deploy.

The EX0-105 focuses on the 27002 controls, not the full ISMS implementation process. You're learning what controls exist. Why they matter. How they protect assets. Understanding 27002 is required before you can implement 27001 effectively.

Both standards got major updates in 2022 with restructured control themes, so the exam content reflects current best practices, not outdated frameworks from a decade ago.

Why EX0-105 beats other entry-level options

The exam cost is reasonable compared to vendor-specific security certifications that can run $500+ before study materials. It's internationally recognized with consistent exam standards, so your credential means the same thing whether you're in Singapore or São Paulo.

No mandatory recertification. No continuing education requirements. You pass once, you're certified. Period.

The knowledge is practical and applies immediately. Day one back at work, you can start identifying control gaps, understanding security policies better, and contributing to incident management and business continuity discussions in a meaningful way.

Flexible exam delivery means you can take it via online proctoring from home or at a test center if you prefer that environment. The EX0-105 exam objectives are clearly defined and aligned with current ISO standards. You know exactly what you're studying for.

Real talk about exam difficulty and preparation

The EX0-105 exam difficulty sits somewhere between "memorize everything" and "apply concepts." You need to understand the principles behind controls, not just memorize lists. Questions test whether you can identify appropriate controls for scenarios. Understand governance structures. Recognize when security measures align with business objectives.

Most people study 3-6 weeks depending on background. If you've worked IT support or systems administration, you've probably encountered some concepts already. If you're coming from pure business or compliance backgrounds, budget more time for the technical control aspects.

The EX0-105 passing score is 65% (26 out of 40 questions), which seems doable until you realize some questions are really tricky if you don't understand the reasoning behind control selection. An EX0-105 practice test is basically mandatory prep. You need to see how EXIN phrases questions and what level of detail they expect.

Prerequisites and what you actually need

Formally? There are no EX0-105 prerequisites. Anyone can register and sit the exam tomorrow.

Realistically? You'll struggle without some IT or security exposure. I've watched people with zero background try this and completely bomb it because they didn't respect the technical depth required. Understanding basic networking, system administration, or organizational governance helps tremendously. If terms like "access control," "encryption," "firewall," or "audit trail" are completely foreign, you'll want foundational IT knowledge first. Maybe start with something like ITIL Foundation or ISO/IEC 20000 Foundation to build that baseline.

People with backgrounds in quality management, project management (PRINCE2 or Agile Scrum), or business analysis transition into EX0-105 successfully because they already think in terms of processes, controls, and compliance frameworks.

Study resources and getting prepared

The official EXIN exam blueprint is your roadmap. It breaks down exactly which ISO/IEC 27002 control themes appear, what depth of knowledge you need, how questions distribute across topics.

Reading the actual ISO/IEC 27002 standard helps but isn't required. It's dense and written for implementers, not exam candidates. Most people use an EXIN Information Security Foundation study guide from accredited training providers, which translates the standard into exam-focused content.

Instructor-led training works if you learn better with structure and can ask questions. Self-study is totally viable if you're disciplined and have decent reading comprehension. I'd say budget 40-60 hours total study time for self-study. Maybe 20-30 if you take a formal course.

Your study plan should cover information security principles, governance structures, risk assessment basics. The control categories: organizational, people, physical, technological. Incident management processes and compliance/audit fundamentals all need attention. Don't sleep on the terminology. EXIN loves testing whether you know precise definitions.

This foundation cert opens doors, validates your knowledge to employers, gives you the framework for thinking about security strategically instead of just tactically. Worth the investment if security is where you're headed.

EX0-105 Exam Details and Requirements

EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation (ISO/IEC 27002) overview

The EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation exam checks if you understand how organizations actually discuss security when they're leaning into ISO frameworks, particularly the information security controls ISO 27002 terminology everyone keeps throwing around. This is not some tool-hacking credential. It's more like "can you review a policy document, figure out which control it's referring to, and avoid mixing up governance concepts with engineering tasks" kind of thing.

Who needs it? Security beginners. Generalist IT folks. Audit people. Also, anyone who's been hearing "ISMS" in meetings and pretending they know what it means.

If your company is building or maintaining an ISMS, or you're trying to shift into GRC work, compliance roles, or security management positions, this ISO/IEC 27002 foundation certification makes sense. Now if you're chasing pentest energy, look somewhere else.

EX0-105 exam details

Exam format (questions, duration, delivery)

The format is straightforward and kinda old-school, which I mean in the best way since you can study for it without worrying about some bizarre simulator interface. You're dealing with 40 multiple-choice questions covering the EX0-105 exam objectives throughout ISO/IEC 27002 domains, and every question follows that "pick the single best answer" format with four choices. No weird tricks like "select everything that applies." No partial points either, which means if you're halfway correct you're still getting it marked wrong.

Closed-book setup. Notes prohibited. No PDF reference. No sneaky Google searches.

That closed-book aspect matters because ISO language all starts blending together when you haven't reviewed it enough, and the test wants to see if you really understand why a control exists rather than whether you memorized some title. Questions get spread proportionally across all objectives, so you can't just obsess over incident response stuff while ignoring governance sections, or focus entirely on physical security while skipping policy frameworks.

Delivery happens through computer-based testing at Pearson VUE centers plus remote options like EXIN Anywhere. Pearson VUE has OnVUE for online proctoring too, depends on what's available where you live. No hands-on lab component. No simulation parts. Just you, that countdown timer, and forty questions staring back at you.

Language support is actually helpful: English, Dutch, German, Spanish, Portuguese, French, among others. If English is not your native language, choosing your own language can legitimately drop the challenge level a full step because ISO sentence construction can be brutally formal. I once watched a colleague struggle through the English version when Dutch was right there available, which made zero sense except he thought it would "look better" somehow. It doesn't. Nobody cares.

EX0-105 exam duration

You get 60 minutes for native speakers. Non-native English speakers taking the English version can request 25% extra time, bringing it to 75 minutes total, but that extension doesn't happen automatically. You'll typically need documentation proving it and you have to request it beforehand, so don't arrive exam day expecting the proctoring software to have sympathy.

No break periods. Timer stays visible. You control pacing.

You have roughly 1.5 minutes per question average, which gives most people enough runway to review all questions twice assuming they don't get trapped doom-scrolling one scenario. Look, the smart approach is answering each one, flagging anything doubtful, and maintaining momentum, because that timer absolutely does not care that distinguishing between two controls feels more philosophical than practical.

EX0-105 exam cost

The EX0-105 exam cost shifts based on region, currency fluctuations, and how you're purchasing it, and that variability gets annoying when you're trying to expense it through your company cleanly. Typical pricing lands somewhere around $200 to $300 USD (roughly €180 to €270 EUR). Training bundles where you get the course plus exam voucher together are where the price jumps significantly, usually running $800 to $1,500, and delivery format drives that more than anything else, like live instructor-led sessions versus self-paced modules.

Corporate volume discounts exist through EXIN partner organizations if your employer purchases multiple seats. Exam-only vouchers usually get purchased through authorized training providers or sometimes directly during Pearson VUE scheduling flows, depends on your location. Also remember VAT and local taxes might get tacked on, so that "$230 exam" quietly becomes a "$280 checkout total."

Retake attempts typically cost the same as your first try. No membership fees involved. No subscription model. Just pay each time.

EX0-105 passing score

The EX0-105 passing score sits at 65%, meaning 26 out of 40 correct answers. Every question carries equal weight, so don't waste energy thinking "harder questions must be worth more points." They're not. You finish the test and immediately get your pass/fail result, plus a score report displaying your percentage.

No domain-level breakdown. No "you struggled in area X" feedback. Just passed or failed.

Also, scores remain valid indefinitely. No expiration date looming over you, which is refreshing if you're exhausted by renewal point systems and annual maintenance fees.

EX0-105 exam difficulty level (what to expect)

This is a foundation-level exam, so the EX0-105 exam difficulty registers as entry-level in the sense that it's testing recall and comprehension abilities, not asking you to architect a zero trust network from nothing. But it still catches people off-guard because the language is formal and those control themes can sound remarkably similar when you haven't internalized what belongs under governance compared to operations or technical implementation.

Some questions are scenario-based, and those are what separate "I memorized dictionary definitions" from "I understand how organizations actually function." Difficulty often gets compared to early CompTIA Security+ style questions, not the heavy cryptography math portions, more the "what should happen first" and "which control category fits here" variety.

Well-prepared candidates usually hit the 70% to 85% pass rate range. People without IT backgrounds or zero ISO exposure struggle more, mostly because they're learning both foundational security concepts and ISO vocabulary at the same time.

What makes EX0-105 challenging

ISO terminology is the primary culprit. It's rigid. It's precise. And if you're accustomed to casual security conversations, you'll catch yourself thinking two answer choices are identical when they're definitely not.

Here's what typically causes mistakes:

Distinguishing similar controls and understanding their distinct purposes. You really need to know why a control exists, not just its label, because "access control policy" and "user access management" can seem interchangeable until you actually think about governance layers compared to execution.

Separating organizational, technical, and physical control categories. Tons of candidates treat everything as "IT handles it," but ISO expects you recognizing roles, ownership structures, process controls, plus tangible stuff like secure area management and asset handling procedures.

Remembering control objectives and guidance at a conceptual level. Not word-for-word memorization, but enough familiarity to map scenarios to correct control themes.

Broad coverage spanning all objectives. You can't hide from any domain area.

Time pressure reality. Forty questions in 60 minutes means efficient reading actually matters when scenario text runs longer than necessary.

How long to study for EX0-105

If you've already got IT background experience, plan 2 to 4 weeks or roughly 20 to 40 hours total. Without IT experience, 4 to 8 weeks and 40 to 60 hours becomes more realistic, because you're also building foundational context around ISMS fundamentals, risk management and security policies, and security governance and compliance concepts.

One to two weeks full-time is theoretically possible if you're grinding hard, but that's absorbing a ton of ISO material in a compressed window, and not gonna lie, your brain eventually starts transforming every sentence into "control objective implementation guidance" gibberish.

Minimum recommendation: thoroughly review every objective and complete 200+ practice questions. The practice work matters way more than re-reading presentation slides, because it trains you selecting the "single best answer" instead of the "technically also true" answer.

Exam delivery options

Pearson VUE test centers offer the cleanest experience when you want fewer unpredictable variables. You arrive, you sit, you test. EXIN Anywhere and OnVUE work great when you can't travel to a center, but suddenly your room setup, your internet connection, your webcam quality, and your ability sitting motionless all become exam factors.

Webcam mandatory. Microphone mandatory. Stable internet mandatory. Private room mandatory.

Scheduling is usually flexible with daily slots available if you book ahead. Rescheduling is generally permitted up to 24 to 48 hours before your appointment, and fees might apply, so check those rules when you're scheduling instead of discovering them during a calendar emergency.

Prerequisites and recommended experience

There are not any formal EX0-105 prerequisites. You could book it cold tomorrow. Whether you should is another question entirely.

Ideal background includes: basic IT concepts (user accounts, network fundamentals, endpoint systems), foundational security awareness, and some familiarity with policy documents and audit processes. If you've ever dealt with incident response, change management procedures, or business continuity planning, you'll recognize patterns in incident management and business continuity questions even without reading ISO documentation in detail.

Best study materials for EXIN EX0-105

Start with the official exam blueprint and whatever EXIN Information Security Foundation study guide you can access from an authorized source. Then read through ISO/IEC 27002 at least once with the goal of grasping categories and underlying intent, not memorizing sentence structures.

Instructor-led training helps when you need structure or you're brand new to GRC work. Self-study works fine if you're disciplined and you already speak "policy language." The main thing is you absolutely must practice mapping scenarios to control themes, because that's where most incorrect answers come from.

EX0-105 practice tests and exam prep strategy

A quality EX0-105 practice test collection is the fastest method for spotting weak areas, but only when you actually review why you missed something. Do timed sets of 20 questions, then review both wrong answers and also the ones you got right for wrong reasons, because that's really a thing on this exam.

Common mistakes include: reading too quickly, picking the most technical-sounding option when the question is actually about governance, and confusing preventive compared to detective or corrective control types. Last week checklist: complete one full 40-question timed run, review your notes on roles and responsibilities frameworks, and double-check the control themes surrounding access management, incident handling procedures, and compliance requirements.

How to register and take the EX0-105 exam

Registration typically flows through Pearson VUE scheduling or an authorized training organization selling vouchers, and you apply that voucher code at checkout. For online proctoring, run the system test early and clean up your testing environment, because remote proctoring rules are strict and weirdly sensitive about stuff.

Bring valid identification. Follow check-in procedures. Don't expect rule exceptions.

Results, retakes, and certification validity

You receive pass/fail results immediately after finishing. Retake policy specifics can vary depending on your registration channel, so verify the terms before booking, particularly if your employer is paying and wants specific processes followed.

The certification does not expire. No renewal requirement exists. That directly answers the "does EXIN EX0-105 require renewal or recertification" question: it's valid indefinitely, which is fantastic for a foundation credential that's primarily demonstrating baseline understanding.

FAQ (People Also Ask)

How much does the EXIN EX0-105 exam cost?

Typical EX0-105 exam cost runs $200 to $300 USD (€180 to €270 EUR), plus applicable taxes depending on where you're purchasing. Training bundles with courses usually cost significantly more.

What is the passing score for EXIN Information Security Foundation (EX0-105)?

The EX0-105 passing score is 65%, so 26/40 correct answers, with equal weighting across questions and no partial credit given.

How hard is the EX0-105 exam and how long should I study?

The EX0-105 exam difficulty registers as foundation-level but verbose, and it punishes fuzzy ISO understanding. Plan 2 to 4 weeks with existing IT experience, or 4 to 8 weeks without, plus substantial practice question work.

What are the EX0-105 exam objectives based on ISO/IEC 27002?

They cover foundational principles and terminology, governance structures and roles, risk and policy frameworks, control themes from ISO/IEC 27002 standards, and topics like incident handling procedures, compliance basics, and security awareness programs.

Does EXIN EX0-105 require renewal or recertification?

No. The certification does not expire, and there are not any renewal fees or recertification cycles required.

EX0-105 Exam Objectives Based on ISO/IEC 27002

Understanding the ISO/IEC 27002:2022 framework

Look, if you're tackling the EX0-105, the entire exam runs on ISO/IEC 27002:2022. This version completely rewrites everything from earlier editions. Those 14 domains everyone memorized? Gone. Now you've got four control themes: organizational, people, physical, and technological. It's streamlined, sure, but cramming the old material won't help you.

The framework organizes 93 controls under these themes. Each control comes with attributes attached like control type (preventive, detective, corrective), security properties (confidentiality, integrity, availability), cybersecurity concepts, operational capabilities. That's a mountain of metadata. What sets this version apart is its purpose-driven philosophy. Every control connects to security objectives, so you need to grasp why a control matters, not just what it does. And the tailoring guidance? Critical. Organizations don't deploy all 93 controls like some checklist. They select what matches their context. The exam absolutely tests whether you understand that principle.

Domain 1: Information security concepts and definitions (weight: ~20%)

This domain tackles foundational material. Think of it as the vocabulary quiz before you get to the real work. You've gotta master the CIA triad: confidentiality (information accessible exclusively to authorized individuals), integrity (maintaining information accuracy and completeness), and availability (authorized users accessing information when required). These aren't just corporate buzzwords. They're the framework through which every other control gets assessed.

Next up? Authentication, authorization, and accountability. Authentication confirms identity. Authorization grants access based on that verified identity, and accountability documents who performed which actions. Non-repudiation and audit trails connect to accountability because you need evidence that someone executed an action, and they can't dispute it afterward. If you've spent time in IT, this feels intuitive, but the exam loves scenario questions where you distinguish between these concepts.

Information security terminology trips up tons of candidates. Assets, threats, vulnerabilities, risks.. you must define each with precision. A threat exploits a vulnerability to compromise an asset, generating risk. Security controls mitigate that risk. The exam differentiates between security incidents (confirmed breaches or policy violations) and security events (anything that might warrant attention).

Information classification and handling procedures dictate how you manage data based on sensitivity: public, internal, confidential, restricted, whatever taxonomy your organization uses. I spent way too much time early in my career arguing about whether certain documents should be "confidential" or "internal" when the real issue was that nobody bothered reading the classification guide in the first place.

Security control types get categorized by function and theme. Organizational controls include policies, procedures, roles. People controls cover awareness, training, screening. Physical controls involve perimeter security and environmental safeguards. Technological controls span access control, cryptography, network security. If you can map a scenario to the correct control type, you're already halfway to the right answer on most questions.

Domain 2: Information security governance and organization (weight: ~15%)

Roles and responsibilities saturate this domain. You need to know the information security management function possesses authority but also accountability. Segregation of duties is non-negotiable. No individual should control a sensitive process end-to-end. Contact with authorities and special interest groups might sound bureaucratic, but it maintains relationships with law enforcement, regulators, and industry groups like ISACs. Information security in project management means embedding security into project scope from inception, not bolting it on as an afterthought.

Security policies and procedures follow a hierarchy. Policies provide high-level management direction. Standards give mandatory specifications. Procedures offer step-by-step instructions, and guidelines suggest recommended practices. The exam constantly asks which document type fits a scenario. Policy development, approval, and communication processes involve stakeholders organization-wide, not just the CISO. Topic-specific policies (acceptable use, access control, cryptography) each serve distinct purposes, and you should recognize when each applies. Policy review cycles keep policies current. Outdated policies are practically worse than having none.

Internal organization for information security demands management commitment. Security governance structures coordinate activities across departments. Integration with enterprise risk management connects security risk to business risk. Third-party and supplier security represents a growing challenge. Your organization's only as secure as your weakest vendor. If you're also studying for something like ITIL Foundation or EXIN BCS Service Integration and Management, you'll notice overlap in how service providers manage security responsibilities.

Domain 3: Risk management and security requirements (weight: ~15%)

Risk assessment fundamentals sound straightforward but get nuanced in application. Risk identification means spotting threats and vulnerabilities. Risk analysis evaluates likelihood and impact. How probable is this threat, and how severe would consequences be? Risk evaluation compares calculated risk against acceptance criteria. Qualitative approaches use ratings like low/medium/high. Quantitative approaches assign monetary values or percentages. Both have legitimate applications.

Risk treatment options offer four paths. Risk modification is most common because you implement controls to reduce risk. Risk retention means accepting risk within tolerance, often because mitigation costs exceed potential loss. Risk avoidance eliminates the risk-producing activity entirely (like discontinuing a risky service). Risk sharing transfers risk through insurance or contracts with third parties. The exam presents scenarios and asks you to select the most appropriate treatment.

Security requirements in system development connect to secure development lifecycle principles. You identify security requirements during design phase, not post-deployment. Security requirements for purchased solutions matter equally. If you're acquiring a SaaS product, you must verify it satisfies your security standards. Testing and acceptance criteria ensure controls function properly before production deployment. This seems obvious, but countless organizations skip this step and face consequences later.

Domain 4: Organizational security controls (weight: ~20%)

Policies for information security furnish management direction and support. They're living documents, so review and evaluation maintains relevance. Information security roles and responsibilities require clear allocation, definition, and communication. Segregation of duties minimizes opportunities for unauthorized modification or misuse. You monitor compliance to ensure people aren't circumventing it.

Management responsibilities include requiring personnel to apply security according to policies. Ensuring security awareness and competence represents an ongoing obligation, not a one-time training checkbox. Contact with authorities and special interest groups resurfaces here. Maintaining those relationships constitutes an organizational control. Threat intelligence involves collecting and analyzing information about emerging threats, then sharing it with trusted partners. This is where frameworks like STIX/TAXII enter the picture, though the EX0-105 doesn't dive deep into technical specifications.

Information security in project management integrates security into project methodologies. Security requirements become components of project scope and deliverables. If you've taken PRINCE2 Foundation or worked with agile frameworks like what you'd encounter in EXIN Agile Scrum Master, you understand that security needs to be a first-class concern, not an afterthought.

Domain 5: People, physical, and technological controls (weight: ~25%)

This is the weightiest domain by percentage, so allocate study time accordingly. People controls begin with screening. Background checks appropriate to role sensitivity level. Terms and conditions of employment embed security responsibilities into contracts from day one. Information security awareness, education, and training programs are ongoing. One annual session isn't sufficient. Disciplinary processes for security policy violations need clarity and consistency. Responsibilities after employment termination or role change include access revocation, asset return, exit interviews.

Physical security controls include physical security perimeters (walls, gates, controlled access points), physical entry controls (badges, biometrics, visitor management), securing specific offices, rooms, facilities. Protection against physical and environmental threats means fire suppression, climate control, power redundancy. Working in secure areas involves clear desk and clear screen policies. No sensitive information visible when you step away. Equipment security covers protection, maintenance, disposal. Off-premises assets and remote working security have become critical in the post-pandemic space.

Technological controls are where most IT professionals feel comfortable. User access management covers provisioning, review, revocation. Access control principles like least privilege and need-to-know limit exposure. Authentication mechanisms range from passwords to MFA to biometrics. Privileged access rights management demands extra scrutiny because admin accounts need additional oversight. Cryptography and encryption key management protect data at rest and in transit. Network security controls include segmentation, firewalls, IDS/IPS. Secure configuration and hardening reduce attack surface. Logging and monitoring provide visibility. Malware protection and backup/recovery procedures complete the technological controls.

If you're prepping for the exam, the EX0-105 Practice Exam Questions Pack at $36.99 is really valuable. Scenario-based questions that mirror the actual exam help you apply these controls in context, not just regurgitate definitions.

Domain 6: Incident management and business continuity (weight: ~10%)

Information security incident management requires defined responsibilities and procedures. Reporting security events and weaknesses creates a feedback loop. Assessment and decision-making on security events determines whether they escalate to incidents. Response to security incidents follows a playbook: contain, eradicate, recover. Learning from security incidents prevents recurrence. Collection and preservation of evidence matters if you're facing legal or regulatory consequences.

Business continuity fundamentals align continuity planning with security objectives. ICT readiness for business continuity ensures systems can recover. Redundancy and resilience of information processing facilities prevent single points of failure. Testing, maintaining, and reassessing business continuity plans keeps them viable. This overlaps with disaster recovery, though the EX0-105 remains at foundation level. If you want deeper coverage, Information Security Management Professional based on ISO/IEC 27001 goes further.

Domain 7: Compliance, audit, and continuous improvement (weight: ~10%)

Compliance with legal and contractual requirements starts with identifying applicable legislation and regulations. GDPR, HIPAA, SOX, whatever applies to your industry and geography. Intellectual property rights protection and data privacy represent both legal obligations and security concerns. Independent review of information security provides external validation.

Information security reviews and audits include internal audit programs for security controls and compliance checking of technical systems. Audit tool protection and access control ensure auditors can perform their duties without introducing risk. Continuous improvement monitors and measures security control effectiveness, applies corrective actions based on audit findings, takes preventive actions to eliminate root causes of nonconformities. It's a cycle, not a one-time project.

The EX0-105 Practice Exam Questions Pack covers all seven domains with weighted question distribution matching the actual exam, which makes your study time substantially more efficient than reading the standard cover-to-cover.

Prerequisites and Recommended Experience for EX0-105

EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation (ISO/IEC 27002) overview

The EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation certification confirms you understand security fundamentals the way organizations actually discuss them, especially when connecting policies and controls back to ISO/IEC 27002. Not wizardry. Definitely not a hacker credential or anything. Just solid baseline stuff that keeps you from looking completely lost when meetings veer into controls, incidents, access protocols, and compliance checklists.

What it validates is whether you can recognize common security terminology, articulate why specific controls exist, and tie everyday security choices back to business risk, governance structures, and who gets blamed when things break. That whole "ISO/IEC 27002 foundation certification" component matters because it forces you to think in controls and management-speak, not just shiny tools and vulnerability scanners.

Who should bother with EX0-105? People targeting entry-level security roles. IT professionals who constantly get dragged into audit conversations. Business-side folks who keep hearing "ISMS fundamentals" tossed around and want to stop nodding cluelessly. Managers too.

EX0-105 exam details

The exam format's straightforward. Multiple-choice, timed, delivered through online proctoring or at a test center depending on what EXIN offers in your region at that moment. Look up the current exam page before scheduling, because vendors shift delivery options way more often than they'll publicly admit.

Now, the EX0-105 exam cost. It fluctuates by country, testing partner, and whether you're bundling training packages. The thing is, price rarely trips people up. What kills them is booking too early and then panic-cramming random blog posts instead of actually aligning to the published blueprint. If you want a targeted drill resource, the EX0-105 Practice Exam Questions Pack runs $36.99 and can help pressure-test your actual weak spots.

EX0-105 passing score gets published by EXIN, and you really should confirm it on their official page because it's exactly the kind of detail that gets misquoted constantly across forums. Same deal for rules on calculators, breaks, what you're allowed on your desk. Check directly.

EX0-105 exam difficulty sits at "entry-level but annoyingly picky." The challenge isn't concepts. It's the wording and that ISO-ish way of framing scenarios. Short questions hiding layers. Long questions appearing obvious until you catch one word flipping the entire scenario. If you've never read policy language before, it feels weirdly academic. Like learning a second dialect of English that only auditors speak fluently.

Brief tangent here: I once watched someone with a decade of helpdesk experience completely bomb this exam because they kept choosing the "fix the technical problem" answer when the question was really asking about documentation requirements. They knew their stuff but couldn't translate it into compliance language. That gap matters more than people expect.

EX0-105 objectives (ISO/IEC 27002) what you need to know

The EX0-105 exam objectives lean heavily on terminology, governance architecture, and control intent. You're not memorizing every single ISO control number. You're absorbing what control types exist, why organizations implement them, and how they map to actual risks and responsibility chains.

Information security principles and key terminology show up absolutely everywhere. CIA triad, asset classification, threat modeling, vulnerability, control frameworks, risk appetite, residual risk. And yeah, you need comfort with cause-and-effect relationships because questions love "what happens if you skip X" or "which control best reduces Y" scenarios.

Governance, roles, and responsibilities are huge. Think owners versus custodians versus users versus management, and who approves what decisions. This is where "security governance and compliance" stops sounding like corporate buzzwords and starts sounding like who actually gets blamed when incidents happen.

Risk management and security policies matter considerably. Not the mathematical formulas but the underlying logic. How risk assessment feeds policy creation, how policies feed procedures, and why exceptions exist but need controlled documentation. This is classic "risk management and security policies" territory, and honestly it's where an ISMS mindset finally clicks for most people.

Then you encounter the "information security controls ISO 27002" overview. Control themes and categories, access control mechanisms, physical security, operations security, supplier relationship management, secure development ideas at a conceptual level. You're learning the categories and underlying intent, not becoming a security engineer overnight.

Incident management and business continuity shows up too. What to actually do when something breaks, who reports up the chain, what gets documented, and why continuous improvement exists beyond just finding someone to blame. This ties directly to "incident management and business continuity" and basic lifecycle thinking across the organization.

Compliance, audit basics, and security awareness round out the last big bucket. Know what audits are trying to confirm. Understand why evidence documentation matters so much. Be able to spot where written policy and actual reality drift apart.

Prerequisites and recommended experience

EX0-105 prerequisites (formal vs. recommended)

Let's be crystal clear about EX0-105 prerequisites. Formally, there aren't any. Zero mandatory prerequisites or prior certifications required to register. EXIN doesn't require proof of formal education or documented work experience. The exam's open to literally anyone interested in information security foundation knowledge. No prerequisite courses or mandatory training before registration.

Self-study candidates can register directly. You pay, you book, you show up.

That said, "no prerequisites" absolutely doesn't mean "no preparation." It means EXIN won't physically block you at the registration door. You can still totally walk in underprepared and essentially donate your exam fee to the testing infrastructure, especially if you've never actually worked with policies, controls, or even basic IT terminology. The exam definitely assumes you can read a scenario and understand what a network segment, a user account, and a business process are without stopping to Google every third word.

Ideal background (IT, security, governance)

IT fundamentals knowledge helps tremendously. Basic understanding of computer systems, network architecture, and applications. Familiarity with operating systems, Windows and Linux environments, common software platforms. Awareness of internet technologies and cloud computing concepts at a foundational level. You don't need to be a sysadmin, but you should know what a server does, what patching involves, what authentication mechanisms accomplish, and why "public cloud" fundamentally changes the shared responsibility model.

Experience with IT service management or operations proves helpful but isn't required. If you've ever dealt with change management tickets, incident queues, or access request workflows, you already understand the friction points where controls actually live. That context makes ISO-style questions feel way less abstract.

Security awareness is the next layer up. General understanding of cybersecurity threats like malware variants, phishing campaigns, social engineering tactics. Awareness of security incidents reported in news cycles and industry media. Personal experience with security measures like passwords, antivirus software, backups, MFA. The boring stuff that actually prevents most real-life problems. Not gonna lie, the exam rewards people who can think like a cautious adult with admin privileges and something to lose.

Business and organizational context matters more than people expect going in. Understanding organizational structures, role definitions, and responsibility assignments. Familiarity with policies, procedures, and governance concepts across departments. Awareness of compliance and regulatory requirements affecting business operations. The test isn't asking you to be a compliance lawyer, but it does expect you to understand why regulated industries care deeply, why evidence trails exist, and why "we meant well" isn't a documented control.

Ideal work experience? I personally like the 6 to 12 months range in IT support, operations, or a related field. Beneficial, not required. Exposure to security controls in an actual workplace environment helps enormously. Even if it's just observing how onboarding, offboarding, permissions, and audits actually function day-to-day. Participation in security awareness training or organizational initiatives counts too. No specific security role experience required.

Who can succeed without an IT background? Business professionals with strong study discipline and motivation. Compliance and audit staff learning security fundamentals for the first time. Managers overseeing security initiatives without hands-on technical experience. Career changers really committed to full preparation. The catch is straightforward: you'll need significantly more study time because you're learning IT concepts alongside security topics simultaneously. That slows initial progress, especially when exam questions assume you already know what a firewall accomplishes at a basic level and why least privilege is a foundational principle.

Complementary knowledge areas help, even if you don't go collect extra certifications. CompTIA ITF+ provides a decent ramp if you're brand new. ITIL Foundation adds valuable service management context. GDPR awareness proves useful if you work anywhere near data protection. Basic risk management concepts matter everywhere. Mentioning the rest casually, because you really don't need to collect certification badges to pass this thing.

Valuable skills are less glamorous than people think. Reading and interpreting technical documentation accurately, analytical thinking and systematic problem-solving, understanding cause-and-effect relationships in complex systems, attention to detail in procedures and control documentation. Fragments matter here because one single word can change the correct answer.

Language proficiency is also legitimately real. Strong reading comprehension in the exam language you're taking, ability to understand technical terminology and ISO standard language conventions. Non-native speakers should absolutely review sample questions to assess language difficulty levels beforehand. Time extensions may be available for non-native speakers, but it typically requires supporting documentation. Check the current EXIN policy before booking because this stuff varies regionally and people get really surprised on exam day.

Assessing your readiness is simple conceptually but not easy practically. Review the official exam objectives and honestly self-evaluate knowledge gaps. Take a diagnostic EX0-105 practice test to identify weak areas specifically. Estimate study hours needed based on background and personal learning style. Consider formal training if you have minimal IT or security exposure, because sometimes paying for structured guidance is cheaper than failing the exam twice and reregistering.

If you want a practical way to gauge timing and question wording, the EX0-105 Practice Exam Questions Pack is $36.99 and works best when you do timed sets, review every single miss, and write down why the wrong options are actually wrong. That last part is where people really improve.

Best study materials for EXIN EX0-105

Official EXIN resources and the exam blueprint first. Always start there. The ISO/IEC 27002 standard and supporting reading next, at least enough to understand how controls are grouped and described in standardized language.

Instructor-led training versus self-study depends entirely on your background. If you already speak IT and can read policy documentation without falling asleep, self-study's probably fine. If you're coming from business-only work, training gives you structure and vocabulary faster. That significantly reduces the "wait what does that term even mean" spiral while you're trying to absorb new concepts.

Study plans vary considerably. A 1 to 4 week plan works for people with IT experience and decent reading speed. A 4 to 8 week plan is more realistic if you're learning IT basics simultaneously and you want the ideas to actually stick instead of being temporary cram knowledge.

EX0-105 practice tests and exam prep strategy

Where to find EX0-105 practice test material depends on your budget and how much you trust third-party content sources. The key is alignment with the published objectives and realistic question wording that mirrors the actual exam.

How to use practice questions effectively: do timed sets under exam conditions, review explanations thoroughly, and track weak areas by objective category, not by "I'm bad at chapter 3." Common mistakes are entirely predictable. People rush through questions. People ignore governance wording details. People choose the most technical answer even when the question is clearly about policy ownership, accountability structures, or compliance evidence.

Last-week checklist? Re-read missed questions and explanations, refresh core definitions and terminology, sleep properly. Seriously, sleep.

If you want a focused option again, here it is one final time: EX0-105 Practice Exam Questions Pack at $36.99. Use it like a diagnostic tool, not a scoreboard to obsess over.

FAQ (People also ask)

How much does the EXIN EX0-105 exam cost?

The EX0-105 exam cost varies by geographic region and exam delivery partner, so check the current pricing on the official EXIN site or your local authorized provider before you actually book.

What is the passing score for EX0-105?

The official EX0-105 passing score is defined by EXIN and can change by exam version, so verify it on the specific exam page you're registering through.

How difficult is EXIN Information Security Foundation?

EX0-105 exam difficulty is manageable for beginners, but the ISO-style wording and governance focus can absolutely trip up people who only studied tools and threat categories.

What are the EX0-105 objectives based on ISO/IEC 27002?

The EX0-105 exam objectives cover security principles, governance frameworks, risk management, policy structure, an overview of ISO/IEC 27002 control themes, incident management, business continuity, and compliance basics.

Does EX0-105 require renewal or recertification?

EXIN certification validity rules depend on the specific certification and EXIN policy updates, so confirm on the official EXIN page whether the credential expires or needs periodic renewal.

Best Study Materials and Resources for EXIN EX0-105

Look, studying for the EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation exam isn't rocket science, but you need the right materials. This isn't one of those certs where you can wing it based on job experience. ISO/IEC 27002 has specific terminology and control structures that you've gotta understand if you want to pass. Guessing won't get you far when the exam asks about organizational controls versus people controls, which are completely different animals even though they sound similar at first.

Official EXIN resources you actually need

Start with the exam preparation guide.

You can download the PDF directly from EXIN's website, and it breaks down every single exam objective with enough detail that you'll know exactly what topics to focus on. The guide includes sample questions that show you the format and difficulty level. Those samples are really helpful for understanding how EXIN phrases questions, which is different from other cert bodies. They also provide a recommended reading list and explain the study approach they think works best, plus all the exam policies and registration info you'll need later.

The preparation guide is your roadmap. Some people skip it and jump straight into study materials, which is a mistake because you end up studying stuff that's barely covered while missing entire sections that show up repeatedly on the actual exam. I learned this the hard way years ago with a different cert where I wasted two weeks on topics that got maybe one question.

EXIN official training courses and why they matter

EXIN works with accredited training organizations (ATOs) that deliver curriculum for the EX0-105 exam. These courses come in classroom, virtual instructor-led, and e-learning formats depending on what the ATO offers and what fits your schedule. Most people go virtual these days because who has time to drive somewhere for training? Most courses run 2-3 days and cover all exam objectives in a structured way that's hard to replicate on your own.

The big advantage? You get course materials, exercises, and practice exams all bundled together. The trainer expertise ensures you're interpreting the ISO standards correctly, which matters more than you'd think because ISO language can be ambiguous if you're reading it cold without context or real-world application experience. I've seen people misunderstand fundamental concepts like the difference between preventive and detective controls just because they self-studied without guidance.

Training isn't required. But if you're new to information security or haven't worked directly with ISO frameworks, it's probably worth the investment. Maybe not if you're already working in security daily. The EX0-105 exam cost varies by region and testing center, but training costs are separate and can run anywhere from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars depending on the provider.

Sample exams and practice questions

EXIN provides limited free sample questions. They're useful but not enough.

Official practice exams are available for purchase through ATOs, and these mirror the actual exam format, difficulty, and question style way better than third-party materials. The thing about the Information Security Foundation exam is that it tests your understanding of ISO/IEC 27002:2022 controls and how they apply in real scenarios, not just memorization of definitions. Most people try to memorize and then wonder why they fail. Practice exams help you recognize the difference between questions asking "what is this control" versus "when would you apply this control," and that distinction trips up so many test-takers.

If you want thorough practice, the EX0-105 Practice Exam Questions Pack at $36.99 gives you enough questions to identify weak areas before test day. I'd recommend doing at least 200-300 practice questions total, reviewing every wrong answer to understand why you missed it, not just moving on to the next question like it didn't happen.

ISO/IEC 27002:2022 standard and supporting documents

Here's the thing: you need the actual ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Information security controls document.

It's the primary reference for exam content, period. You can purchase it from the ISO website or through your national standards body, though it's not cheap (usually $100-200). Some people try to pass without buying it, relying only on study guides and summaries, but that's gambling with your exam fee. The exam pulls specific language from the standard, and understanding the detail of how controls are categorized and described makes a huge difference between passing and failing.

The 2022 version reorganized controls into four themes (organizational, people, physical, technological) instead of the old 14 domains, so make sure you're studying the current version and not outdated materials. I've seen people accidentally study 2013 materials and then completely bomb the exam. If you've worked with ISMP or other ISO 27001-based certifications, you'll recognize the framework, but EX0-105 focuses specifically on the 27002 controls at a foundation level.

Supporting documents like ISO/IEC 27000 (vocabulary and definitions) and 27001 (ISMS requirements) provide helpful context, though they're not strictly required for this foundation exam, just nice to have if you're building deeper knowledge.

Building your study plan

Most people need 1-4 weeks. Complete beginners might need 6-8 weeks.

Start with the exam preparation guide to map out objectives, then read through ISO/IEC 27002:2022, taking notes on each control category. Then work through practice questions to identify gaps in your understanding. This is where you'll discover what you actually know versus what you thought you knew. I'd suggest studying in this order: information security principles and terminology first, then governance and risk management framework, then dive into the actual controls organized by theme, and finish with incident management and compliance basics.

The EX0-105 exam objectives based on ISO/IEC 27002 cover things like understanding the purpose of information security controls, recognizing different control types, knowing when to apply specific controls, understanding ISMS fundamentals, and grasping basic risk management and security policies. You need to know security governance and compliance concepts too, plus incident management and business continuity at a foundational level. There's a lot to cover but it's manageable if you stay organized.

What about exam difficulty and passing score

The EX0-105 passing score is 65%. That's 26 out of 40 questions correct. The exam is 40 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, closed-book.

How hard is it? It's moderate if you prepare properly, but brutal if you don't. The questions aren't tricky in a "gotcha" way, but they do test whether you actually understand the concepts versus just memorized flashcards the night before. Similar to other EXIN foundation exams like ITIL Foundation or ASF, the difficulty comes from scenario-based questions where you need to apply knowledge, not just recall facts.

People with security experience but no ISO background sometimes struggle more than IT generalists who study thoroughly, because they assume they know the answers based on industry practice rather than what ISO/IEC 27002 specifically says. ISO doesn't always match real-world practice exactly, let me just say that.

Prerequisites and who should take this

There are no formal requirements. Anyone can take it.

That said, having basic IT knowledge and some exposure to security concepts makes studying way easier. Like night and day easier. The ideal candidate works in IT, security, governance, risk, compliance, or audit roles and wants to understand information security controls in a structured framework rather than just winging it. It's also popular with people pursuing ISMP or other advanced security certifications who need the foundation first.

Registration and exam delivery

You register through EXIN's exam portal or through an ATO. Both work fine. You can take the exam online with remote proctoring or at a physical test center. Online proctoring requires a webcam, stable internet, and a quiet room with no one else present, which can be tough if you've got roommates or kids. Test centers have more controlled environments but less scheduling flexibility.

Bring valid ID. The exam-day rules are strict: no notes, no phones, no bathroom breaks without ending the session. They're not messing around with exam security.

Results and what happens next

You get your score immediately. Pass or fail shows up on screen.

The retake policy allows you to retake if you fail, but there's usually a waiting period and you pay the full exam fee again. Check EXIN's current policy before booking because these things change. The certification doesn't expire, so there's no renewal or recertification requirement for EX0-105, which is nice compared to certs like DEVOPSF that sometimes need refreshing every few years.

If you're building a security career path, this foundation cert pairs well with PDPF for privacy knowledge or ISO20KF for service management perspectives on security. It depends on where you want your career to go, though.

Conclusion

Wrapping up: is the EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation worth it?

Okay, real talk here.

The EXIN EX0-105 Information Security Foundation based on ISO/IEC 27002 won't have recruiters calling you nonstop or anything dramatic like that, but honestly, that kind of misses the whole point of what this certification actually does for your career. This is a foundational credential that proves you understand information security controls, ISMS fundamentals, and the practical stuff around risk management and security policies without needing three years of SOC experience first. Early career? It works. Switching from a general IT role into security? Perfect fit. Need to show compliance folks you know what ISO/IEC 27002 actually means instead of just nodding along in meetings? This cert checks that box cleanly.

The EX0-105 exam cost sits around $195-$250 depending on your region and testing center. Not cheap, I mean let's be honest about that, but also not the $300-$400 range you see with some vendor exams that drain your wallet faster. The thing is, the EX0-105 passing score typically lands at 65% (26 out of 40 questions), which sounds reasonable until you realize the questions test whether you actually understand security governance and compliance concepts versus just memorizing acronyms like some human flashcard machine. The EX0-105 exam difficulty?

Moderate if you study properly.

Painful if you wing it.

Most people spend 2-4 weeks with a solid EXIN Information Security Foundation study guide, and I mean really working through the EX0-105 exam objectives with focus, not skimming PDFs the night before while half-watching Netflix or whatever. The exam covers incident management and business continuity, control themes from ISO 27002, policy frameworks, all that foundational stuff that actually matters when you're sitting in security meetings trying to sound like you belong there. No prerequisites officially, but having touched real security policies or worked adjacent to compliance teams makes everything click faster, honestly. I remember when I first started seeing these frameworks in action, I thought half of it was just bureaucratic nonsense until I watched an actual breach response fall apart because nobody had documented their incident procedures properly.

Practice matters.

A lot.

You need to see how EXIN phrases questions around information security controls ISO 27002 style, because it's different from CompTIA or (ISC)² wording in ways that'll trip you up if you're not prepared. Doing an EX0-105 practice test under timed conditions two or three times will tell you exactly where your gaps are, whether it's governance roles, specific control categories, or audit basics that you thought you knew but actually don't.

If you're serious about passing on the first attempt and not burning that exam fee on a failed try (which stings way more than you'd think), grab a proper EX0-105 Practice Exam Questions Pack. Real exam-style questions help you pattern-match the way EXIN tests ISO 27002 knowledge, and honestly that's half the battle right there. Study smart, practice harder, and you'll walk out certified.

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