ISO 27002 Control 7.9: Securing Assets Beyond the Office
When devices containing information assets are taken out of an organisation’s premises, they will be exposed to higher risks of damage, loss, destruction, theft, or compromise.
This is because physical security controls implemented within an organisation’s facilities will not be effective, leaving the assets taken off-site vulnerable to threats such as physical risks and unauthorised access by malicious parties.
For example, employees working off-site can take corporate computers containing sensitive information out of business premises, work at a coffee house or a hotel lobby, connect to an insecure public Wi-Fi and leave their devices unattended. All of these present risks to the security, confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information hosted on these devices.
Therefore, organisations should ensure that devices taken off-site are kept secure.
Control 7.9 addresses how organisations can maintain the security of off-site devices hosting information assets by establishing and implementing appropriate controls and procedures.
Purpose of Control 7.9
Control 7.9 enables organisations to maintain the security of equipment containing information assets by preventing two specific risks:
- Eliminating and/or minimising risks of loss, damage, destruction, or compromise of devices housing information assets when they are taken off-premises.
- Preventing the risk of interruption to the organisation’s information processing activities due to the compromise of off-site devices.
Attributes Table of Control 7.9
Control 7.9 is preventive in nature. It allows organisations to implement appropriate controls and procedures preemptively so that devices removed off an organisation’s premises are afforded the same level of protection provided to devices housed on-site.
| Control Type | Information Security Properties | Cybersecurity Concepts | Operational Capabilities | Security Domains |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #Preventive | #Confidentiality | #Protect | #Physical Security | #Protection |
| #Integrity | #Asset Management | |||
| #Availability |
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Ownership of Control 7.9
Control 7.9 requires organisations to establish and apply procedures and controls that cover all devices owned by or used on behalf of the organisation. Furthermore, the creation of an asset inventory and upper management’s approval of the use of personal devices is essential to the effective protection of off-site devices.
Therefore, the information security manager should consult with the management and relevant assets owners and should be responsible for the creation, implementation, and maintenance of procedures and measures to maintain the security of devices removed off of corporate premises.
General Guidance on Compliance
Control 7.9 lists six requirements that organisations should adhere to when designing and implementing measures and guidelines for the protection of assets taken off-site:
- Computing equipment and storage media taken off-site such as corporate computers, USBs, hard drives, and monitors should not be left unattended in public spaces such as coffee houses or in any insecure area.
- Device manufacturer’s guidance and specifications on the physical protection of the relevant device should be complied with at all times. For instance, the device manufacturer’s instructions may include how to protect the device/equipment against water, heat, electromagnetic fields, and dust.
- Employees and/or other organisations that take computing equipment outside corporate premises may transfer this equipment to other employees or third parties. To maintain the security of this equipment, organisations should keep a log that defines the chain of custody. This log record should at least contain the names of individuals responsible for the device and their organisation.
- If an organisation deems that an authorisation process is necessary and practical for the removal of equipment out of corporate premises, it should establish and apply an authorisation procedure for the taking of certain equipment off-site. This authorisation procedure should also include keeping a record of all device removal actions so that the organisation has an audit trail.
- Appropriate measures should be implemented to eliminate the risk of unauthorised viewing of information on-screen on public transport.
- Location tracking tools and remote access should be in place so that the device can be tracked and the information contained in the device can be wiped off remotely if needed.
Supplementary Guidance on Control 7.9
Control 7.9 also prescribes requirements for the protection of equipment installed outside of corporate premises permanently.
This equipment may include antennas and ATM’s.
Considering that this equipment may be subject to heightened risks of damage and loss, Control 7.9 requires organisations to take into account the following when protecting this off-site equipment:
- Control 7.4, namely the Physical security monitoring, should be considered.
- Control 7.5, namely the protection against environmental and physical threats should be taken into account
- Access controls should be established and appropriate measures should be implemented to prevent tampering.
- Logical access controls should be created and applied.
Furthermore, Control 7.9 recommends organisations consider controls 6.7 and 8.1 when defining and implementing measures to protect devices and equipment.
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Changes and Differences from ISO 27002:2013
27002:2022/ 7.9 replaces 27002:2013/(11.2.6)
There are three key differences that need to be highlighted:
- Control 7.9 prescribes more comprehensive requirements
In comparison to the 2013 version, Control 7.9 in the 2022 version introduces the following two requirements:
- Appropriate measures should be implemented to eliminate the risk of unauthorised viewing of information on-screen on public transport.
- Location tracking tools and remote access should be in place so that the device can be tracked and the information contained in the device can be wiped off remotely if needed.
- Control 7.9 introduces new requirements for permanently installed off-premise devices
In contrast to the 2013 version, Control 7.9 in the 2022 version contains separate guidance on the protection of equipment that is permanently installed in an off-site place.
These may include antennas and ATM’s.
- Prohibition of remote work to eliminate risks
The 2013 version explicitly stated that organisations may prohibit employees from working remotely when it is appropriate to the level of risk identified. The 2022 version, however, does not refer to such a measure.
New ISO 27002 Controls
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control Identifier | ISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control Identifier | Control Name |
|---|---|---|
| 5.7 | NEW | Threat intelligence |
| 5.23 | NEW | Information security for use of cloud services |
| 5.30 | NEW | ICT readiness for business continuity |
| 7.4 | NEW | Physical security monitoring |
| 8.9 | NEW | Configuration management |
| 8.10 | NEW | Information deletion |
| 8.11 | NEW | Data masking |
| 8.12 | NEW | Data leakage prevention |
| 8.16 | NEW | Monitoring activities |
| 8.23 | NEW | Web filtering |
| 8.28 | NEW | Secure coding |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control Identifier | ISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control Identifier | Control Name |
|---|---|---|
| 6.1 | 07.1.1 | Screening |
| 6.2 | 07.1.2 | Terms and conditions of employment |
| 6.3 | 07.2.2 | Information security awareness, education and training |
| 6.4 | 07.2.3 | Disciplinary process |
| 6.5 | 07.3.1 | Responsibilities after termination or change of employment |
| 6.6 | 13.2.4 | Confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements |
| 6.7 | 06.2.2 | Remote working |
| 6.8 | 16.1.2, 16.1.3 | Information security event reporting |
| ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control Identifier | ISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control Identifier | Control Name |
|---|---|---|
| 7.1 | 11.1.1 | Physical security perimeters |
| 7.2 | 11.1.2, 11.1.6 | Physical entry |
| 7.3 | 11.1.3 | Securing offices, rooms and facilities |
| 7.4 | NEW | Physical security monitoring |
| 7.5 | 11.1.4 | Protecting against physical and environmental threats |
| 7.6 | 11.1.5 | Working in secure areas |
| 7.7 | 11.2.9 | Clear desk and clear screen |
| 7.8 | 11.2.1 | Equipment siting and protection |
| 7.9 | 11.2.6 | Security of assets off-premises |
| 7.10 | 08.3.1, 08.3.2, 08.3.3, 11.2.5 | Storage media |
| 7.11 | 11.2.2 | Supporting utilities |
| 7.12 | 11.2.3 | Cabling security |
| 7.13 | 11.2.4 | Equipment maintenance |
| 7.14 | 11.2.7 | Secure disposal or re-use of equipment |
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