ISO 27001 Annex A Controls

A step-by-step overview of all the ISO 27001 annex a controls, with links to in-depth walkthroughs of each annex.

ISO:27001

Annex A Controls

A step-by-step overview of all the annex a controls in ISO:27001, with links to in-depth walkthroughs of each annex.

A.5 - Information security policies

PURPOSE:

To provide guidance for management and support for information security, in line with any relevant legislation and regulations.

A.5.1 - Management direction for information security

A.5.1.1 Policies for information security
A.5.1.2 Review of the policies for information security

A.6 - Organisation of information security

PURPOSE:

To establish management frameworks for information security, and help govern the security of remote working and the use of mobile devices.

A.6.1 - Internal organisation

A.6.1.1 Information security roles and responsibilities
A.6.1.2 Segregation of duties
A.6.1.3 Contact with authorities
A.6.1.4 Contact with special interest groups
A.6.1.5 Information security in project management

A.6.2 - Mobile devices and teleworking

A.6.2.1 Mobile device policy
A.6.2.2 Teleworking

A.7 - Human resource security

PURPOSE:

To establish that any prospective employees are suitable for the roles they are considered for.

To ensure current employees are aware of, and fulfil their information security responsibilities during employment.
To protect the organisation’s interests any time employees change roles or leave the organisation.

A.7.1 - Prior to employment

A.7.1.1 Screening
A.7.1.2 Terms and conditions of employment

A.7.2 - During employment

A.7.2.1 Management responsibilities
A.7.2.2 Information security awareness, education and training
A.7.2.3 Disciplinary process

A.7.3 - Termination and change of employment

A.7.3.1 Termination or change of employment responsibilities

A.8 - Asset management

PURPOSE:

To identify information assets, and define responsibilities to protect them

To ensure information is adequately protected
To prevent any unauthorised disclosure, modification, removal or destruction of information stored on media.

A.8.1 - Responsibility for assets

A.8.1.1 Inventory of assets
A.8.1.2 Ownership of assets
A.8.1.3 Acceptable use of assets
A.8.1.4 Return of assets

A.8.2 - Information classification

A.8.2.1 Classification of information
A.8.2.2 Labelling of information
A.8.2.3 Handling of assets

A.8.3 - Media handling

A.8.3.1 Management of removable media
A.8.3.2 Disposal of media
A.8.3.3 Physical media transfer

A.9 - Access control

PURPOSE:

To limit access to any information and information processing facilities
To ensure only authorised users are permitted access, and refuse any unauthorised access

A.9.1 Business requirements of access control

A.9.1.1 Access control policy
A.9.1.2 Access to networks and network services

A.9.2 User access management

A.9.2.1 User registration and de-registration
A.9.2.2 User access provisioning
A.9.2.3 Management of privileged access rights
A.9.2.4 Management of secret authentication information of users
A.9.2.5 Review of user access rights
A.9.2.6 Removal or adjustment of access rights

A.9.3 User responsibilities

A.9.3.1 Use of secret authentication information

A.9.4 System and application access control

A.9.4.1 Information access restriction
A.9.4.2 Secure log-on procedures
A.9.4.3 Password management system
A.9.4.4 Use of privileged utility programs
A.9.4.5 Access control to program source code

A.10 - Cryptography

PURPOSE:

To make sure organisations implement cryptography effectively, to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of information.

A.10.1 - Cryptographic controls

A.10.1.1 Policy on the use of cryptographic
A.10.1.2 Key management

A.11 - Physical and environmental security

PURPOSE:

To stop unauthorised physical access, damage or interference to information and information processing facilities
To ensure against loss, damage, theft or compromise of assets and interruptions to an organisation’s operations

A.11.1 - Secure areas

A.11.1.1 Physical security perimeter
A.11.1.2 Physical entry controls
A.11.1.3 Securing offices, rooms and facilities
A.11.1.4 Protecting against external and environmental threats
A.11.1.5 Working in secure areas
A.11.1.6 Delivery and loading areas

A.11.2 - Equipment

A.11.2.1 Equipment siting and protection Control
A.11.2.2 Supporting utilities
A.11.2.3 Cabling security
A.11.2.4 Equipment maintenance
A.11.2.5 Removal of assets
A.11.2.6 Security of equipment and assets off-premises
A.11.2.7 Secure disposal or reuse of equipment
A.11.2.8 Unattended user equipment
A.11.2.9 Clear desk and clear screen policy

A.12 - Operations security

PURPOSE:

To ensure that information processing facilities are operated properly and in a secure manner

To protect against malware in information and information processing facilities

Protecting against loss of data, through use of backups and regular software / systems testing

To ensure key events are recorded and evidence is generated

To ensure the integrity of operational systems

To prevent the exploitation of technical vulnerabilities
To minimise any impact that audits and audit activities will have on operational systems

A.12.1 - Operational procedures and responsibilities

A.12.1.1 Documented operating procedures
A.12.1.2 Change management
A.12.1.3 Capacity management
A.12.1.4 Separation of development, testing and operational environments

A.12.2 - Protection from malware

A.12.2.1 Controls against malware

A.12.3 - Backup

A.12.3.1 Information backup

A.12.4 - Logging and monitoring

A.12.4.1 Event logging
A.12.4.2 Protection of log information
A.12.4.3 Administrator and operator logs
A.12.4.4 Clock synchronisation

A.12.5 - Control of operational software

A.12.5.1 Installation of software on operational systems

A.12.6 - Technical vulnerability management

A.12.6.1 Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.12.6.2 Restrictions on software installation

A.12.7 - Information systems audit considerations

A.12.7.1 Information systems audit controls

A.13 - Communications security

PURPOSE:

To ensure that information is protected in networks, and its supporting information processing facilities

A.13.1 - Network security management

A.13.1.1 Network controls
A.13.1.2 Security of network services
A.13.1.3 Segregation in networks

A.13.2 - Information transfer

A.13.2.1 Information transfer policies and procedures
A.13.2.2 Agreements on information transfer
A.13.2.3 Electronic messaging
A.13.2.4 Confidentiality or nondisclosure agreements

A.14 - System acquisition, development and maintenance

PURPOSE:

To embed information security as a key part of information systems

To protect any information involved in application services passing over public networks
To embed information security within the development lifecycle

A.14.1 - Security requirements of information systems

A.14.1.1 Information security requirements analysis and specification
A.14.1.2 Securing application services on public networks
A.14.1.3 Protecting application services transactions

A.14.2 - Security in development and support processes

A.14.2.1 Secure development policy
A.14.2.2 System change control procedures
A.14.2.3 Technical review of applications after operating platform changes
A.14.2.4 Restrictions on changes to software packages
A.14.2.5 Secure system engineering principles
A.14.2.6 Secure development environment
A.14.2.7 Outsourced development
A.14.2.8 System security testing
A.14.2.9 System acceptance testing

A.14.3 - Test data

A.14.3.1 Protection of test data

A.15 - Supplier relationships

PURPOSE:

To protect and secure any assets which can be accessed by suppliers
To maintain the agreed level of service delivery and information security

A.15.1 - Information security in supplier relationships

A.15.1.1 Information security policy for supplier relationships
A.15.1.2 Addressing security within supplier agreements
A.15.1.3 Information and communication technology supply chain

A.15.2 - Supplier service delivery management

A.15.2.1 Monitoring and review of supplier services
A.15.2.2 Managing changes to supplier services

A.16 - Information security incident management

PURPOSE:

To ensure that information security incidents are managed consistently and effectively, with proper communications.

A.16.1 - Management of information security incidents and improvements

A.16.1.1 Responsibilities and procedures
A.16.1.2 Reporting information security events
A.16.1.3 Reporting information security weaknesses
A.16.1.4 Assessment of and decision on information security events
A.16.1.5 Response to information security incidents
A.16.1.6 Learning from information security incidents
A.16.1.7 Collection of evidence

A.17 - Information security aspects of business continuity management

PURPOSE:

To ensure that continuity within information security is embedded in the organisations business continuity management systems.

A.17.1 - Information security continuity

A.17.1.1 Planning information security continuity
A.17.1.2 Implementing information security continuity
A.17.1.3 Verify, review and evaluate information security continuity

A.17.2 - Redundancies

A.17.2.1 Availability of information processing facilities

A.18 - A.18 Compliance

PURPOSE:

To avoid breaches pertaining to any legal, statutory, regulatory or contractual obligations (related to information security)
To ensure that information security is in line with organisational policies and procedures in its implementation and operation