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Technological controls
ISO 27001A.8.3

ISO 27001 Annex A 8.3 Restrict access to information and assets

What it says

Access to information and other associated assets shall be restricted in accordance with the established topic-specific policy on access control.

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

What it means

In plain English

Limit access to information based on set policies to prevent unauthorised use.

This control is all about making sure that only the right people can get their hands on sensitive company information. Imagine if just anyone could walk into a bank vault; that would be chaos! If we don't limit access, our valuable information could fall into the wrong hands, leading to data breaches or even legal troubles.

Why it matters

Unrestricted access can lead to data leaks, financial loss, and reputational damage by exposing confidential assets to unauthorised users.

How to implement

  1. The IT manager should ensure that access permissions are set correctly.

    This means setting up user accounts so that employees only have access to the information they need to do their jobs. This can be done by configuring permissions in software applications and using tools to manage these rights effectively.

  2. The HR department should maintain an up-to-date list of employees and their access needs.

    They should regularly review and update who can access which information resources, especially when there are changes in staff roles or when someone leaves the company, as per the guidance in ISO 27002:2022.

  3. The board should establish clear policies on who can access what types of information.

    This involves drafting and approving an access control policy that defines the levels of access based on the sensitivity of the information, referencing the Privacy Act 1988 for handling personal data.

  4. Supervisors should perform regular checks to ensure compliance with the access policies.

    They can do this by conducting access reviews and confirming that staff are complying with the rules outlined in the access control policy, ensuring alignment with CPS 234.

  5. The security officer should set up alarms for unauthorised access attempts.

    This involves using software that can alert you to any unusual access attempts to sensitive information, allowing immediate investigation as suggested by the ISO 27002:2022 guidance.

Keep it running

Perform scheduled access recertification for key systems, enforce least privilege via roles, and promptly remove/adjust access on joiner-mover-leaver events.

Evidence and audit

  1. Check 1 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Request the documented access control policy.

    Look at

    Check that the policy specifies who has access to what information and under what circumstances.

  2. Check 2 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Ask for logs of access rights assignments and changes.

    Look at

    Look at how access rights are granted, altered, or revoked, and how swiftly changes are made following staff changes.

  3. Check 3 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Request recent access audit reports.

    Look at

    Review these reports to ensure they match policy guidelines and show evidence of regular audits.

  4. Check 4 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Ask to see security alert logs for unauthorised access attempts.

    Look at

    Ensure that there are recorded instances of alerts for attempted breaches and that they are being investigated.

  5. Check 5 of 5What an auditor asks for

    Ask for

    Request a demonstration of dynamic access management tools in use.

    Look at

    Check for features like real-time access control and monitoring capabilities.

Mappings

Closest match in ASD Essential Eight: E8-RA-ML1.4, Limit privileged user accounts to essential online service access, which this control covers in full and more.

Essential Eight

ASD Essential Eight: 5 mappings

ASD ISM

ASD Information Security Manual: 63 mappings

ASD Essentials

ASD Essentials for enterprise IT: 2 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.