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Communications infrastructure
ASD ISMISM-0250

ASD ISM 0250 Ensure IT equipment meets EMI/EMC standards

What it says

IT equipment meets industry and government standards relating to electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility.

Quoted as published. Everything else on this page is written by Control Stack.

What it means

In plain English

IT equipment is required to comply with standards to prevent electromagnetic interference.

IT equipment must meet certain standards to avoid causing electronic or radio interference in other devices. This is important because if your office equipment interferes with nearby electronics, it can disrupt operations, cause errors in communication, and damage your reputation.

Why it matters

Failure to meet EMI/EMC standards can cause interference with radios and networked systems, leading to data loss, outages and degraded operations.

How to implement

  1. Procurement Team should only purchase equipment meeting specified standards: They should ensure that any new IT equipment complies with Australian standards for electromagnetic interference and compatibility.

    This can be done by checking for certification labels and vendor assurance at the point of purchase.

  2. IT Team should regularly test equipment for compliance: They should periodically test office equipment using an EMI/EMC metre to ensure there's no unintentional interference.

    This helps to identify any problems early before they can affect operations.

  3. System Owners should document compliance checks: They must maintain records of compliance for each piece of equipment.

    This involves noting the equipment model, serial number, compliance standard, and date of last check.

  4. Office Managers should train staff on equipment use: Ensure all users are aware of how to operate IT equipment without causing interference.

    This could be through a simple training session or instruction manual that highlights best practices.

  5. Facilities Managers should monitor for interference issues: They need to be alert to signs of interference, like unusual signal noise or device malfunctions.

    On detection, they should arrange an inspection to locate the source and fix it.

Keep it running

Validate new and serviced IT equipment against applicable EMI/EMC standards, and record test results during maintenance to detect interference drift early.

Evidence and audit

  1. Check 1 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    The equipment compliance records: Request the documentation showing which standards each device complies with.

    Look at

    Recognised certification such as the 'RCM' mark.

    Good evidence

    Is a file containing certificates for each device used in the office.

  2. Check 2 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Look at

    Specific mentions of EMI/EMC compliance checks.

    Good evidence

    Is a documented process that mandates compliance checks during procurement.

  3. Check 3 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    To see a live or recorded demonstration of EMI/EMC testing.

    Look at

    The use of appropriate testing tools and clear reporting of results.

    Good evidence

    Is evidence showing the procedure and findings, ensuring no problematic emissions.

  4. Check 4 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Look at

    A structured approach to regular checks and incident handling.

    Good evidence

    Includes regular checks with clear follow-up actions when problems are detected.

  5. Check 5 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Look at

    Clear guidelines communicated during the session.

    Good evidence

    Is a session that covers main interference points and encourages best practices.

Mappings

Closest match in ISO/IEC 27001: A.7.12, Secure cabling for power and data, which partially overlaps with this control.

ISO 27001

ISO/IEC 27001: 1 mapping

  • A.7.12Secure cabling for power and dataPartially overlaps

Mappings show how controls relate across frameworks. They do not imply full equivalence or certification.