ISO 27001 Annex A 5.1 - Policies for Information Security

Overview

• Introduction to ISO 27001 and its focus on risks and risk management.
• Emphasis on the importance of policies and their role in information security.
• Resources available for implementation: videos, step-by-step guides, blogs.

Understanding Policies

• Definition: Policies are statements of what you do, not how you do it.
  • What: Describes the actions and intentions regarding specific topics.
  • How: Detailed in process documentation and individual process implementations.
• Separation: Policies should not include specific steps, names, or internal operational details to protect confidentiality and avoid confusion.

ISO 27001:2022 Update

• Requires a high-level information security policy and topic-specific policies.
• Benefits: Clear communication, avoids overloading irrelevant information to certain staff.

Policy Creation and Implementation

• Toolkit: ISO 27001 toolkit available for pre-written policies.
• DIY Approach: Tutorials available to create policies in under five minutes.

Steps to Satisfy ISO 27001 Annex A 5.1

1. Write Policies: Based on controls and business risks.
2. Choose Relevant Policies: Avoid unnecessary policies (e.g., software development policy if not applicable).
3. Assign Ownership: Accountability assigned to an individual in the organization.
4. Approval: Get policies approved via internal mechanisms or information security management meetings.
5. Distribution: Distribute policies to relevant people; ensure accessibility.
6. Acknowledgement: Ensure recipients read, understand, and accept policies.
7. Annual Review: Update policies annually or when changes occur; document updates in Version Control.

Top Tips

• Regular Communication: Communicate policy locations and updates throughout the year.
• HR Onboarding: Include policies in the onboarding process.
• Audit Preparation: Ensure document markups, version controls, approval, and distribution evidences are in place.
• Policy Necessity: Only create policies that add value and are required by standards.

Conclusion

• Presenter: Stuart Barker, ISO 27001 Ninja.
• First of many videos covering ISO 27001 annex controls.
• Encouragement to check out accompanying blog for more details.