What type of audit finding is typically addressed by a minor nonconformity?

A minor nonconformity refers to findings that indicate a deviation from the established requirements of the management system that does not have the potential to adversely affect the operational capability of the system significantly. In practice, this means that while there is a nonconformance, it is not severe enough to signal a failure of the entire system or to require urgent corrective actions. Instead, it usually calls for a corrective action plan that can be incorporated into routine operations to ensure compliance.

Recognizing a minor nonconformity allows organizations to address small issues before they escalate into more significant problems, which could lead to major nonconformities or even compliance deviations that have more serious implications. Organizations are encouraged to monitor and correct minor nonconformities as part of their ongoing commitment to continuous improvement within their management systems and adherence to standards such as ISO/IEC 27001.

In contrast, the other types of findings listed—such as major nonconformities, anomalies, or compliance deviations—represent issues with greater severity and implications, requiring more immediate and extensive corrective actions. Thus, a minor nonconformity is best suited to describe audit findings that are manageable and do not indicate a systemic failure.