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Physical controls
ISO 27001A.7.10

ISO 27001 Annex A 7.10 Secure management of storage media

What it says

Storage media shall be managed through their life cycle of acquisition, use, transportation and disposal in accordance with the organization's classification scheme and handling requirements.

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

What it means

In plain English

Manage storage media safely from purchase to disposal based on your risk policies.

This control is about making sure any storage media, like USB drives or paper documents, are handled safely from the moment you buy them until you throw them out. If you don't do this, sensitive information can end up in the wrong hands, leading to data breaches or financial and reputational damage for your organisation.

Why it matters

Poor storage media lifecycle controls can cause data leakage or unauthorised access in transit or disposal, damaging reputation and compliance.

How to implement

  1. The IT manager should develop a clear policy specifically for managing removable storage media.

    This policy should include rules on how to store, use, and dispose of these items securely and must be communicated to all staff handling such media. Refer to ISO 27002:2022 for guidance on information classification and storage practices.

  2. Procurement staff should ensure that all storage media are acquired from reputable suppliers who follow security standards.

    This involves checking supplier credentials and reading through their security procedures to decide if they meet your organisation's requirements.

  3. Office managers should ensure that storage media, such as USB sticks or external hard drives, are kept in secure locations when not in use.

    This means using lockable cabinets or safes, and organising storage based on the sensitivity of the information they contain, as per Australian Privacy Act requirements.

  4. An IT staff member should oversee the use of cryptographic techniques on storage media containing sensitive data.

    This can be done by setting up encryption software and ensuring it is correctly applied before the media leaves the organisation, protecting against unauthorised access.

  5. HR should train all employees on secure storage media handling practices, including proper disposal methods.

    This training should cover how to securely delete or destroy media containing confidential information, following ISO 27001, ensuring staff understand the importance of these actions to prevent data breaches.

Keep it running

Classify and label media, record chain-of-custody for transport, encrypt where possible, and securely sanitise or shred media before disposal.

Evidence and audit

  1. Check 1 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Request the organisation's policy on storage media management.

    Look at

    Check if the policy includes detailed procedures for acquisition, storage, use, and disposal of storage media.

    Good evidence

    The policy should be comprehensive, updated regularly, and be well-known by employees who handle storage media.

  2. Check 2 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Request a log of removed media and their current status.

    Look at

    Verify entries are complete, accurate and show who authorised the removal and what the media contained.

    Good evidence

    There should be a clear audit trail showing all movements of media up till disposal, including authorised sign-offs.

  3. Check 3 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Ask for training records and materials related to secure handling of storage media.

    Look at

    Ensure the training covers practical knowledge and is conducted regularly.

    Good evidence

    Training should be mandatory, with records showing up-to-date training completion for relevant staff.

  4. Check 4 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Request specific examples of encrypted storage media.

    Look at

    Ensure encryption technology is appropriate and currently applied as intended.

    Good evidence

    Encryption should be consistently applied to all sensitive media, with no unencrypted sensitive information stored on removable devices.

  5. Check 5 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Request evidence of secure disposal procedures, such as certificates from disposal companies.

    Look at

    Check if the disposal process is documented and disposal companies are vetted for security clearance.

    Good evidence

    Disposal records should show compliance with policies and confirm destruction through secure methods, with certificates from reputable providers.

Mappings

Closest match in ASD Information Security Manual: ISM-0831, Ensure proper handling of sensitive media, which asks for the same thing.

ASD ISM

ASD Information Security Manual: 64 mappings

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

Get help with this control

ISO 27001 training

Mindset Cyber runs PECB-accredited ISO/IEC 27001 training that maps directly to the controls in this library.