Annex A in ISO/IEC 27001:2022 provides a list of controls that organizations can implement to address information security risks. It consists of a set of control objectives and controls that are intended to help organizations manage and mitigate information security risks.

THE CONTROLS ARE ORGANIZED INTO 4 MAIN CATEGORIES:

1. Organisational Controls: These relate to the management and structure of the organization, including aspects like internal roles and responsibilities, rules, processes, procedures, and information security governance. The total number of controls is 37, with control numbers ranging from ISO 27001 Annex A 5.1 to 5.37.
2. People Controls: These focus on the management of human resources, including training, awareness, personnel security, and handling of information security incidents involving personnel. The total number of controls is 8, with control numbers ranging from ISO 27001 Annex A 6.1 to 6.8.
3. Physical Controls: These address the physical security of facilities and equipment, guest access protocols, asset disposal processes, storage medium protocols, clear desk policies, and environmental factors that might impact information security. The total number of controls is 14, with control numbers ranging from ISO 27001 Annex A 7.1 to 7.13.
4. Technological Controls: These include controls related to information systems and technology, such as malware protection, backups, coding practices, access control, cryptography, and network security & segregation. The total number of controls is 34, with control numbers ranging from ISO 27001 Annex A 8.1 to 8.34.

A template for Annex A controls can assist organizations in establishing a set of measures in place to protect their information assets.

WHAT ARE THE ATTRIBUTE VALUES LISTED IN ISO 27001:2022 ANNEX A?

There are five types of attributes used to categorize controls:

1. Control type (Preventive, Detective, Corrective)
2. Information security properties (Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability)
3. Cyber security concepts (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover)
4. Operational capabilities (Governance, Asset Management, Information Protection, Human Resources Security, Physical Security, System and Network Security, Application Security, Secure Configuration, Identity and Access Management, Threat and Vulnerability Management, Continuity, Supplier Relationship Security, Legal and Compliance, Information Security Event Management, Information Security Assurance.)
5. Security domains (Governance and Ecosystem, Protection, Defence, Resilience)

HOW DO ANNEX A CONTROLS BENEFIT MY ORGANIZATION?

Annex A of ISO 27001 is an essential because it provides a clear and practical framework for implementing and maintaining effective information security practices. The ISO 27001 standard is designed to be flexible, allowing organizations of any size or type to meet its requirements while ensuring robust information security.

Organizations can achieve and maintain ISO 27001 compliance in various ways, depending on their business needs and data processing activities. Annex A offers a straightforward set of guidelines to help create a tailored information security plan that aligns with an organization's specific needs.

Annex A Controls Template helps save time and resources during the initial certification and ongoing compliance processes. It also supports audits, process reviews, and strategic planning. Additionally, it can be used as an internal governance document, such as a risk treatment plan, providing a formal approach to managing information security.

Save up to 85% of your time on risk assessments by using ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Controls. These controls help mitigate risks by allowing you to implement and provide evidence of your security measures.