ISO 27001 A.5.35 Independent Review of Information Security Checklist
A.5.35 Independent Review of Information Security is a crucial aspect of the ISO 27001:2022 standard, which mandates that the information security management system (ISMS) undergoes regular and independent reviews. This ensures that the ISMS is effective, complies with established policies, and continuously improves. Here’s an exhaustive guide to understanding and implementing this control, including common challenges a Chief Information and Cyber Security Officer (CICSO) might face, how ISMS.online features can assist, and a detailed compliance checklist.
Scope of Annex A.5.35
The primary objective of an independent review is to provide an unbiased assessment of the ISMS. This process identifies areas for improvement, ensures compliance with established policies, and verifies that security controls are effectively protecting the organisation’s information assets.
Regular, independent reviews are vital for maintaining the integrity, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of an organisation’s information security posture.
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Why Should You Comply With Annex A.5.35? Key Aspects and Common Challenges
Regular Reviews
Challenges:
- Establishing a consistent review schedule.
- Ensuring comprehensive coverage.
- Aligning reviews with organisational priorities.
Solutions:
- Use ISMS.online’s Audit Plan feature to schedule and manage audits systematically.
- Utilise Audit Templates to ensure comprehensive and consistent reviews.
- Involve top management and stakeholders to align review schedules with organisational priorities.
Related ISO 27001 Clauses: 6.3, 9.2, 9.3.
Independence
Challenges:
- Ensuring true independence of reviewers.
- Managing potential conflicts of interest.
- Maintaining objectivity.
Solutions:
- Engage external auditors or use internal auditors without direct responsibility for the areas reviewed.
- Document and ensure the independence of the audit process using ISMS.online’s Audit Management features.
- Establish clear guidelines and policies to prevent conflicts of interest.
Related ISO 27001 Clauses: 5.1, 5.3, 9.2.
Comprehensive Scope
Challenges:
- Defining a comprehensive review scope.
- Covering all aspects of the ISMS.
- Ensuring alignment with business objectives and risk appetite.
Solutions:
- Define and document the scope of reviews using ISMS.online’s Risk Management and Compliance Management features.
- Utilise the Regs Database and Dynamic Risk Map to ensure all relevant areas and risks are included.
- Regularly update the scope based on changes in the business environment and risk landscape.
Related ISO 27001 Clauses: 4.1, 6.1.2, 4.3.
Documentation and Reporting
Challenges:
- Thoroughly documenting findings.
- Managing large volumes of data.
- Providing clear, actionable reports to management.
Solutions:
- Create structured, comprehensive documentation of review findings and recommendations using ISMS.online’s Doc Templates and Version Control features.
- Generate clear, actionable reports with ISMS.online’s Reporting features.
- Implement a centralised document management system to handle large volumes of data effectively.
Related ISO 27001 Clauses: 7.5, 9.1, 9.3.
Follow-up Actions
Challenges:
- Developing and implementing effective action plans.
- Tracking progress.
- Ensuring timely resolution of identified issues.
Solutions:
- Track and manage corrective actions arising from audit findings using ISMS.online’s Corrective Actions feature within Audit Management.
- Ensure follow-up actions are effectively implemented and tracked with Risk Monitoring and Policy Management features.
- Conduct regular reviews and updates on the progress of corrective actions.
Related ISO 27001 Clauses: 10.2, 9.1, 10.1.
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ISMS.online Features for Demonstrating Compliance with A.5.35
- Audit Management:
- Audit Templates: Utilise pre-built templates to ensure all relevant areas are reviewed comprehensively.
- Audit Plan: Schedule and manage audits systematically, ensuring regular independent reviews.
- Corrective Actions: Track and manage corrective actions arising from audit findings.
- Compliance Management:
- Regs Database: Access a comprehensive database of regulatory requirements to ensure all relevant standards are reviewed.
- Alert System: Receive notifications about changes in regulations that might affect the ISMS.
- Reporting: Generate compliance reports to demonstrate adherence to standards during independent reviews.
- Incident Management:
- Incident Tracker: Document and manage security incidents, ensuring they are reviewed during the independent assessment.
- Workflow: Automate incident management processes to ensure thorough documentation and accountability.
- Notifications: Set up alerts for key stakeholders when incidents are logged and reviewed.
- Risk Management:
- Risk Bank: Maintain a central repository of risks, ensuring all identified risks are assessed during reviews.
- Dynamic Risk Map: Visualise and monitor risks, supporting the review of risk management effectiveness.
- Risk Monitoring: Track the status of risk mitigation actions and their effectiveness.
- Policy Management:
- Policy Templates: Use standardised templates for creating and updating information security policies.
- Policy Pack: Ensure all policies are easily accessible and up-to-date.
- Version Control: Track changes to policies, ensuring they are reviewed and updated as necessary.
- Documentation:
- Doc Templates: Use structured templates for documenting findings and recommendations from independent reviews.
- Version Control: Maintain a history of document changes to demonstrate the evolution of the ISMS.
- Collaboration: Enable stakeholders to collaborate on documents and action plans resulting from reviews.
Detailed Annex A.5.35 Compliance Checklist
Regular Reviews
Independence
Comprehensive Scope
Documentation and Reporting
Follow-up Actions
Benefits of Compliance
- Unbiased Assessment: Provides an impartial evaluation of the ISMS, enhancing credibility and trust.
- Continuous Improvement: Identifies opportunities for improvement, ensuring that the ISMS evolves to meet emerging threats and changes in the business environment.
- Regulatory Compliance: Helps ensure that the organisation meets regulatory and legal requirements, avoiding penalties and legal issues.
- Risk Mitigation: Identifies potential security gaps and weaknesses, enabling proactive risk mitigation.
By leveraging the features of ISMS.online and following this detailed compliance checklist, organisations can efficiently manage and document independent reviews, ensuring robust compliance with “A.5.35 Independent Review of Information Security.” This integrated approach enhances the effectiveness of the ISMS and supports continuous improvement efforts.
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Every Annex A Control Checklist Table
| ISO 27001 Control Number | ISO 27001 Control Checklist |
|---|---|
| Annex A.6.1 | Screening Checklist |
| Annex A.6.2 | Terms and Conditions of Employment Checklist |
| Annex A.6.3 | Information Security Awareness, Education and Training Checklist |
| Annex A.6.4 | Disciplinary Process Checklist |
| Annex A.6.5 | Responsibilities After Termination or Change of Employment Checklist |
| Annex A.6.6 | Confidentiality or Non-Disclosure Agreements Checklist |
| Annex A.6.7 | Remote Working Checklist |
| Annex A.6.8 | Information Security Event Reporting Checklist |
| ISO 27001 Control Number | ISO 27001 Control Checklist |
|---|---|
| Annex A.7.1 | Physical Security Perimeters Checklist |
| Annex A.7.2 | Physical Entry Checklist |
| Annex A.7.3 | Securing Offices, Rooms, and Facilities Checklist |
| Annex A.7.4 | Physical Security Monitoring Checklist |
| Annex A.7.5 | Protecting Against Physical and Environmental Threats Checklist |
| Annex A.7.6 | Working in Secure Areas Checklist |
| Annex A.7.7 | Clear Desk and Clear Screen Checklist |
| Annex A.7.8 | Equipment Siting and Protection Checklist |
| Annex A.7.9 | Security of Assets Off-Premises Checklist |
| Annex A.7.10 | Storage Media Checklist |
| Annex A.7.11 | Supporting Utilities Checklist |
| Annex A.7.12 | Cabling Security Checklist |
| Annex A.7.13 | Equipment Maintenance Checklist |
| Annex A.7.14 | Secure Disposal or Re-Use of Equipment Checklist |
How ISMS.online Help With A.5.35
Ready to take your information security management to the next level? Discover how ISMS.online can help you achieve robust compliance with ISO 27001:2022, including A.5.35 Independent Review of Information Security.
With comprehensive features designed to streamline your audit processes, enhance risk management, and ensure continuous improvement, ISMS.online is your partner in building a secure and resilient organisation.
Contact us today to learn more about how our platform can transform your ISMS. Book a demo with ISMS.online and see firsthand how our solutions can help you meet your compliance goals efficiently and effectively.
