Defining Information Security Roles and Responsibilities
Clearly assign security roles and duties to ensure nothing is overlooked.
🏛️ Framework
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
🧭 Control effect
Preventative
🧱 ISO 27001 domain
Organisational controls
🔐 Classifications
N/A
🗓️ Official last update
24 Oct 2022
✏️ Control Stack last updated
19 Mar 2026
🎯 Maturity levels
N/A
Information security roles and responsibilities shall be defined and allocated according to the organization needs.
Source: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
Plain language
Imagine if everyone in an organisation thought someone else was handling security, but no one actually did. This control is like a clear job list, so everyone knows who is responsible for keeping information safe. Without it, tasks can be forgotten, leaving valuable information exposed to risks and causing potential chaos.
Why it matters
If roles and responsibilities are not defined, security tasks are missed, accountability is unclear, and incidents may go unmanaged, increasing breach likelihood and reputational damage.
Operational notes
Maintain a RACI/role matrix; update it on staff or structure changes, and review quarterly to confirm owners for key security tasks and approvals remain current.
Implementation tips
- The IT manager should define specific roles for information security. They can start by reviewing the organisation's information security policy and identifying areas that need protection, such as customer data and internal processes. Then, clearly document who will be responsible for each area and ensure they have the necessary training and resources.
- HR should integrate information security responsibilities into job descriptions. By doing so, current and future employees will understand their roles in keeping information secure. This can be achieved by updating job roles with security responsibilities and setting expectations during onboarding.
- Senior management should assign an overall information security manager who oversees security implementations and risks. This person's role should be to coordinate security efforts across different departments, ensuring everyone knows their part in the organisation's security strategy.
- Department heads should ensure that specific security duties are allocated within their teams. They can do this by discussing security in team meetings and assigning tasks to team members who are both willing and capable. Regular updates and check-ins can help keep these responsibilities on track.
- The board should regularly review and approve the allocation of security roles and responsibilities. This ensures alignment with business needs and compliance with guidelines such as the Privacy Act 1988 and APRA CPS 234. Regular meetings can facilitate updates on the effectiveness of these roles.
Audit / evidence tips
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Ask: Ask for the organisation's information security roles and responsibilities document.
Good: A well-defined document where each role is clearly listed and aligns with the organisation's security policies.
-
Ask: Request job descriptions that include information security responsibilities.
Good: Job descriptions detail specific security responsibilities and are acknowledged by the employees.
-
Ask: Ask for records of training programs related to information security for the responsible individuals.
Good: Training records show regular and relevant training, indicating competence in security roles.
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Ask: Request meeting minutes from management or board meetings discussing security roles.
Good: Minutes reflect ongoing discussions and updates in security roles and responsibilities.
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Ask: Ask for records of security tasks delegated from managers to their teams.
Good: Delegated tasks records show clear responsibility assignments, completion, and validations.
Cross-framework mappings
How Annex A 5.2 relates to controls across ISO/IEC 27001, Essential Eight, and ASD ISM.
These mappings show relationships between controls across frameworks. They do not imply full equivalence or certification.
E8
| Control | Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Supports (1) | ||
| E8-AH-ML2.16 | Annex A 5.2 requires that information security roles and responsibilities are defined and allocated | |
ASD ISM
| Control | Notes | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Partially meets (3) | ||
| ISM-0613 | ISM-0613 sets a specific staffing requirement for a defined privileged role: gateway system administrators for certain classified/releasa... | |
| ISM-0616 | ISM-0616 requires separation of duties in performing administrative activities for gateways | |
| ISM-2035 | ISM-2035 requires organisations to identify and document security roles, responsibilities and knowledge requirements specifically to supp... | |
| Partially overlaps (14) | ||
| ISM-0043 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-0047 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-0714 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-0717 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-0725 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-0726 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-0732 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-0734 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-1071 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-1478 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-1525 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-1773 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-2001 | Annex A 5.2 requires information security roles and responsibilities to be defined and allocated according to organisational needs | |
| ISM-2006 | ISM-2006 requires the board/executive committee to understand their duties in relation to major cyber security incidents and to participa... | |
| Supports (6) | ||
| ISM-0041 | ISM-0041 requires a system security plan that explains how the system is managed, which commonly includes identifying accountable parties... | |
| ISM-0701 | ISM-0701 requires the CISO to manage cyber security personnel, implying the organisation assigns leadership and accountability for securi... | |
| ISM-1998 | ISM-1998 requires executive leadership to ensure cyber security is embedded across all business functions, which depends on clear ownersh... | |
| ISM-1999 | ISM-1999 requires the board/executive committee to ensure cyber security strategy is aligned to the organisation’s business strategy | |
| ISM-2003 | ISM-2003 requires the board/executive to maintain awareness of cyber security recruitment activity, retention rates, and cyber security s... | |
| ISM-2038 | ISM-2038 requires organisations to implement and maintain a register of software developers’ cyber security knowledge and skills | |
| Depends on (1) | ||
| ISM-2020 | ISM-2020 requires the CISO to acquire sufficient cyber security personnel with the right skills and experience | |
| Related (3) | ||
| ISM-0733 | ISM-0733 requires that the CISO is fully aware of all cyber security incidents within their organisation | |
| ISM-1997 | ISM-1997 requires the board or executive committee to define clear cyber security roles and responsibilities across the organisation, inc... | |
| ISM-2036 | Annex A 5.2 requires defining and allocating information security roles and responsibilities across the organisation | |