ISO 27001:2022 Controls Implementation Guide
Implementation guidance for Annex A controls with evidence requirements and audit preparation.
Table of Contents
- Control Categories Overview
- Organizational Controls (A.5)
- People Controls (A.6)
- Physical Controls (A.7)
- Technological Controls (A.8)
- Evidence Requirements
- Statement of Applicability
Control Categories Overview
ISO 27001:2022 Annex A contains 93 controls across 4 categories:
| Category | Controls | Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Organizational (A.5) | 37 | Policies, governance, supplier management |
| People (A.6) | 8 | HR security, awareness, remote working |
| Physical (A.7) | 14 | Perimeters, equipment, environment |
| Technological (A.8) | 34 | Access, crypto, network, development |
Organizational Controls (A.5)
A.5.1 - Policies for Information Security
Requirement: Define, approve, publish, and communicate information security policies.
Implementation:
- Draft information security policy covering scope, objectives, principles
- Obtain management approval signature
- Communicate to all employees and relevant parties
- Review annually or after significant changes
Evidence:
- Signed policy document
- Communication records (email, intranet)
- Acknowledgment records
- Review meeting minutes
A.5.2 - Information Security Roles and Responsibilities
Requirement: Define and allocate information security responsibilities.
Implementation:
- Create RACI matrix for security activities
- Appoint Information Security Manager
- Define responsibilities in job descriptions
- Establish reporting lines
Evidence:
- RACI matrix document
- ISM appointment letter
- Job descriptions with security duties
- Organizational chart
A.5.9 - Inventory of Information and Assets
Requirement: Identify and maintain inventory of information assets.
Implementation:
- Create asset register with classification
- Assign owners for each asset
- Define acceptable use rules
- Review quarterly
Evidence:
- Asset inventory/register
- Classification scheme
- Owner assignment records
- Review logs
A.5.15 - Access Control
Requirement: Establish and implement rules for controlling access.
Implementation:
- Document access control policy
- Implement role-based access control (RBAC)
- Define access provisioning/deprovisioning process
- Conduct access reviews quarterly
Evidence:
- Access control policy
- RBAC role definitions
- Access request forms
- Review reports
People Controls (A.6)
A.6.1 - Screening
Requirement: Verify backgrounds of candidates prior to employment.
Implementation:
- Define screening requirements by role
- Conduct background checks
- Verify references and qualifications
- Document screening results
Evidence:
- Screening policy
- Background check reports
- Verification records
- Consent forms
A.6.3 - Information Security Awareness and Training
Requirement: Ensure personnel receive appropriate awareness and training.
Implementation:
- Develop annual training program
- Include role-specific training
- Conduct phishing simulations
- Track completion and effectiveness
Evidence:
- Training materials
- Completion records
- Test/quiz results
- Phishing simulation reports
A.6.7 - Remote Working
Requirement: Implement security measures for remote working.
Implementation:
- Establish remote working policy
- Require VPN for network access
- Mandate endpoint protection
- Secure home network guidance
Evidence:
- Remote working policy
- VPN configuration records
- Endpoint compliance reports
- User acknowledgments
Physical Controls (A.7)
A.7.1 - Physical Security Perimeters
Requirement: Define and use security perimeters to protect information.
Implementation:
- Define secure areas and boundaries
- Implement access controls (badges, locks)
- Monitor entry points
- Maintain visitor logs
Evidence:
- Site security plan
- Access control system records
- CCTV footage retention
- Visitor logs
A.7.4 - Physical Security Monitoring
Requirement: Monitor premises continuously for unauthorized access.
Implementation:
- Deploy CCTV coverage
- Implement intrusion detection
- Define monitoring procedures
- Establish incident response
Evidence:
- CCTV deployment records
- Monitoring procedures
- Alert configurations
- Incident logs
Technological Controls (A.8)
A.8.2 - Privileged Access Rights
Requirement: Restrict and manage privileged access.
Implementation:
- Implement privileged access management (PAM)
- Enforce separate admin accounts
- Require MFA for privileged access
- Monitor and log privileged activities
Evidence:
- PAM solution records
- Admin account inventory
- MFA enforcement reports
- Privileged activity logs
A.8.5 - Secure Authentication
Requirement: Implement secure authentication mechanisms.
Implementation:
- Enforce strong password policy
- Implement MFA for all users
- Use secure authentication protocols
- Monitor authentication events
Evidence:
- Password policy
- MFA enrollment records
- Authentication configuration
- Failed login reports
A.8.7 - Protection Against Malware
Requirement: Implement detection, prevention, and recovery for malware.
Implementation:
- Deploy endpoint protection on all devices
- Configure automatic updates
- Implement email filtering
- Define malware incident response
Evidence:
- Endpoint protection deployment
- Update/patch status
- Email filter configuration
- Malware incident records
A.8.8 - Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
Requirement: Identify and address technical vulnerabilities.
Implementation:
- Conduct regular vulnerability scans
- Define remediation SLAs by severity
- Track remediation progress
- Verify patches applied
Evidence:
- Vulnerability scan reports
- Remediation tracking
- Patch deployment records
- Penetration test reports
A.8.13 - Information Backup
Requirement: Maintain and test backup copies of information.
Implementation:
- Define backup policy (frequency, retention)
- Implement automated backups
- Encrypt backup data
- Test restoration regularly
Evidence:
- Backup policy
- Backup job logs
- Encryption configuration
- Restoration test records
A.8.15 - Logging
Requirement: Produce, retain, and protect logs of activities.
Implementation:
- Define logging requirements
- Deploy centralized log management (SIEM)
- Set retention periods per compliance
- Protect log integrity
Evidence:
- Logging policy
- SIEM configuration
- Log retention settings
- Access controls on logs
A.8.24 - Use of Cryptography
Requirement: Define and implement cryptographic controls.
Implementation:
- Document cryptography policy
- Encrypt data at rest (AES-256)
- Encrypt data in transit (TLS 1.3)
- Manage keys securely
Evidence:
- Cryptography policy
- Encryption configuration
- Certificate inventory
- Key management procedures
Evidence Requirements
Document Evidence
| Control Area | Required Documents |
|---|---|
| Policies | Approved policy documents |
| Procedures | Documented processes with version control |
| Records | Completed forms, logs, reports |
| Contracts | Signed agreements with security clauses |
Technical Evidence
| Control Area | Required Evidence |
|---|---|
| Access Control | System configurations, access lists |
| Logging | SIEM dashboards, sample logs |
| Encryption | Configuration screenshots, certificate details |
| Vulnerability | Scan reports, remediation tracking |
Retention Requirements
| Evidence Type | Minimum Retention |
|---|---|
| Policies | Current + 2 previous versions |
| Audit reports | 3 years |
| Access logs | 1 year minimum |
| Incident records | 3 years |
| Training records | Duration of employment + 2 years |
Statement of Applicability
SoA Structure
For each Annex A control, document:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Control ID | A.5.1, A.8.24, etc. |
| Control Name | Official control title |
| Applicable | Yes/No |
| Justification | Why applicable or not |
| Implementation Status | Implemented, Partial, Planned, N/A |
| Implementation Description | How control is implemented |
| Evidence Reference | Links to evidence |
Sample SoA Entry
Control: A.8.5 - Secure Authentication
Applicable: Yes
Justification: Required for all user and system access to protect
information assets from unauthorized access.
Implementation Status: Implemented
Implementation Description:
- MFA enforced for all user accounts via Azure AD
- Admin accounts require hardware token
- Password policy: 12+ chars, complexity, 90-day rotation
- Failed login lockout after 5 attempts
Evidence:
- Azure AD MFA configuration (screenshot)
- Password policy document (DOC-SEC-015)
- Authentication audit logs (SIEM dashboard)
Exclusion Justification Examples
| Control | Justification for Exclusion |
|---|---|
| A.7.x (Physical) | Cloud-only operations, no physical facilities |
| A.8.19 (Software) | No user-installed software permitted |
| A.8.23 (Web filter) | Handled by cloud proxy service |