Adoptech – Simplifying Information Security Certification.
What are ISO 27001 Controls?
Controls are processes that you implement to modify or decrease risks. For example, you might install a Mobile Device Management (MDM) system to decrease the risk of data loss if a mobile phone is lost or stolen.
What risk treatment methods are available for ISO 27001?
The four methods commonly undertaken to treat risk are:
- Decrease the risk by implementing a control. For example, you might implement a Mobile Device Management (MDM) to decrease the risk of data loss if a mobile phone is lost or stolen.
- Avoid the risk by stopping the activity. This option could be taken if the implementation of controls can’t reduce the risk to an acceptable level. For example, you might choose to ban staff from using personal laptops for work activity if the risk of unauthorised access is too high.
- Share or Transfer risk to a third party. This typically means buying insurance e.g. cyber insurance.
- Accept the risk. This means your company accepts the risk on the basis that the cost of managing the risk is greater than the potential damage it would cause.
Decreasing the risk by implementing controls is the most common risk treatment method and 93 controls are outlined within Annex A of ISO 27001:2022.
As part of the risk assessment process, you will have identified the information security threats faced by your business. Companies should review the 93 controls to determine which are appropriate to reduce the risks those threats pose. Companies are free to implement any other controls they deem appropriate and should not just consider the 93 controls documented in the standard.
ISO 27001 Controls Areas:
ISO 27001 Controls are divided into four areas:
- Organisational (37 controls)
- People (8 controls)
- Physical (14 controls)
- Technological (34 controls)
In the tabs below you can see all the ISO 27001 controls’ information.
There are 37 Organisational controls outlined in Annex A of ISO 27001:2022 that are detailed below and cover key areas of risk that most businesses face.
New controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are underlined.
Changed controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are in italics.
5.1 Policies for information security
5.2 Information security roles and responsibilities
5.3 Segregation of duties
5.4 Management responsibilities
5.5 Contact with authorities
5.6 Contact with special interest groups
5.7 Threat intelligence
5.8 Information security in project management
5.9 Inventory of information and other associated assets
5.10 Acceptable use of information and other associated assets
5.11 Return of assets
5.12 Classification of information
5.13 Labelling of information
5.14 Information transfer
5.15 Access control
5.16 Identity management
5.17 Authentication information
5.18 Access rights
5.19 Information security in supplier relationships
5.20 Addressing information security within supplier agreements
5.21 Managing information security in the ICT supply chain
5.22 Monitoring, review and change management of supplier services
5.23 Information security for use of cloud services
5.24 Information security incident management planning and preparation
5.25 Assessment and decision on information security events
5.26 Response to information security incidents
5.27 Learning from information security incidents
5.28 Collection of evidence
5.29 Information security during disruption
5.30 ICT readiness for business continuity
5.31 Legal, statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements
5.32 Intellectual property rights
5.33 Protection of records
5.34 Privacy and protection of PII
5.35 Independent review of information security
5.36 Compliance with policies, rules and standards for information security
5.37 Documented operating procedures
Whilst the team is your greatest asset, the team often presents the greatest cyber security risk to your business. To mitigate those risks consider implementing controls from the point of hiring, through to and beyond the member of staff leaving the firm, for example:
- Write a clear job specification that details the role, responsibilities and eligibility requirements will ensure (subject to verification) that the individual is competent to carry out the role, on the basis of appropriate education, training and experience.
- Ensure a confidentiality agreement is signed by the member of staff that outlines the requirement not to share confidential and commercially sensitive information during or employment or at any time after its termination
There are 8 People controls outlined in Annex A of ISO 27001:2022 that are detailed below and cover key areas of risk that most businesses face.
New controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are underlined.
Changed controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are in italics.
6.1 Screening
6.2 Terms and conditions of employment
6.3 Information security awareness, education and training
6.4 Disciplinary process
6.5 Responsibilities after termination or change of employment
6.6 Confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements
6.7 Remote working
6.8 Information security event reporting
There are 14 Physical controls outlined in Annex A of ISO 27001:2022 that are detailed below and cover key areas of risk that most businesses face.
New controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are underlined.
Changed controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are in italics.
7.1 Physical security perimeters
7.2 Physical entry
7.3 Securing offices, rooms and facilities
7.4 Physical security monitoring
7.5 Protecting against physical and environmental threats
7.6 Working in secure areas
7.7 Clear desk and clear screen
7.8 Equipment siting and protection
7.9 Security of assets off-premises
7.10 Storage media
7.11 Supporting utilities
7.12 Cabling security
7.13 Equipment maintenance
7.14 Secure disposal or re-use of equipment
There are 34 Technology controls outlined in Annex A of ISO 27001:2022 that are detailed below and cover key areas of risk that most businesses face.
New controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are underlined.
Changed controls from the ISO 27001:2022 update are in italics.
8.1 User endpoint devices
8.2 Privileged access rights
8.3 Information access restriction
8.4 Access to source code
8.5 Secure authentication
8.6 Capacity management
8.7 Protection against malware
8.8 Management of technical vulnerabilities
8.9 Configuration management
8.10 Information deletion
8.11 Data masking
8.12 Data leakage prevention
8.13 Information backup
8.14 Redundancy of information processing facilities
8.15 Logging
8.16 Monitoring activities
8.17 Clock synchronization
8.18 Use of privileged utility programs
8.19 Installation of software on operational systems
8.20 Networks security
8.21 Security of network services
8.22 Segregation of networks
8.23 Web filtering
8.24 Use of cryptography
8.25 Secure development life cycle
8.26 Application security requirements
8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles
8.28 Secure coding
8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance
8.30 Outsourced development
8.31 Separation of development, test and production environments
8.32 Change management
8.33 Test information
8.34 Protection of information systems during audit testing
ISO 27001 Control Attributes
Controls have ‘attributes’ assigned to make them easier to categorise:
- Control type (preventive, detective, corrective)
- Information security properties (confidentiality, integrity, availability)
- Cybersecurity concepts (identify, protect, detect, respond, recover)
- Operational capabilities (governance, asset management, etc.)
- Security domains (governance and ecosystem, protection, defence, resilience)
ISO 27001 summary
The ISO 27001 certification process can be long and time consuming. It is a complex procedure involving many controls, documents, policies, agreements as well as different departments of the company, that is judged by an external third party.
There is a risk that despite all the work done and the time spent, the company will fail an audit and this is why it is key to prepare with professionals who are experienced in the process.
Adoptech provides full ISO 27001 support, with a team of experienced experts who can help streamline the process, ensuring the time required and costs associated with the certification are minimised. The Adoptech platform is the perfect tool to bring a structured and coherent approach to managing all the controls and policies to ensure they are always up to date and compliant.
SME SAAS companies often consider ISO 27001 too expensive, but it doesn’t have to be that way, any company, whatever its size, sector or shareholder structure, can implement ISO 27001.
Contact us to see a live demonstration on how Adoptech can help you get ISO 27001 certification simply.
Do you need more information about ISO 27001? Why not take a look at our Certification Guide.
