ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 6.4

The Purpose of ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 6.4?

The purpose of the disciplinary process is to make sure personnel and any other interested parties recognise the outcomes of a breach of the information security policy.

Annex A 6.4 is designed to both deter and assist in handling any violations of information security policies, ensuring that employees and other related stakeholders are aware of the ramifications.

An effective information security programme must include the capacity to administer suitable disciplinary measures for workers who violate information security regulations. Doing so ensures that personnel understand the implications of disregarding pre-defined regulations, thus diminishing the likelihood of deliberate or inadvertent data leakage.

Examples of activities that could be included while enforcing this control are:

• Carry out regular training sessions to keep staff up to date on policy changes.
• Design disciplinary measures for failure to adhere to information security policies.
• Supply each employee with a copy of the organisation’s disciplinary procedures.
• In similar situations, ensure that disciplinary procedures are followed consistently.

The disciplinary measures outlined in the framework should be swiftly implemented following an incident, to discourage any further breaches of organisational policies.

What Is Involved and How to Meet the Requirements

To meet the requirements of Annex A 6.4, disciplinary action must be taken when there is evidence of not adhering to the organisation’s policies, procedures, or regulations. This also includes any applicable legislation and regulations.

Per Annex A 6.4, the formal disciplinary process should account for the following elements when taking a graduated approach:

• The extent of the breach, its nature, seriousness, and consequences must all be taken into account.
• Whether the offence was deliberate or accidental.
• Regardless of whether this is the initial or repeat offence.
• Whether the transgressor has been given sufficient training is to be considered.

Consider all relevant legal, legislative, regulatory, contractual and corporate obligations, as well as any other relevant factors, when taking action.

Changes and Differences from ISO 27001:2013

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 6.4 replaces ISO 27001:2013 Annex A 7.2.3 in the revised 2022 version of ISO 27001.

ISO 27001:2022 employs user-friendly language to ensure the standard’s users can comprehend its content. There are minor variations in wording, however the overall context and content remain the same.

The only distinction you’ll observe is the Annex A Control Number having been changed from 7.2.3 to 6.4. Moreover, the 2022 standard has the added benefit of a attributes table and statement of purpose which are absent in the 2013 version.

Table of All ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Controls

In the table below you’ll find more information on each individual ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control.

Who Is in Charge of This Process?

In the majority of cases, the disciplinary process is overseen by the department manager or HR representative. It is not uncommon for the HR representative to give the responsibility of disciplinary action to someone else in the organisation, like an information security expert.

The primary goal of disciplinary action is to safeguard the organisation from any additional infringements from the staff member. It further aims to deter any further occurrences of similar incidents by making sure that all employees are aware of the significance of information security breaches.

It is essential for any organisation to ensure that disciplinary action is taken when a staff member has breached any of its policies or procedures. To ensure this, clear guidance must be established on how to handle such situations, including instructions on how to carry out investigations and the actions to take afterwards.

What Do These Changes Mean for You?

If you’re pondering how these alterations affect you, here’s a concise summary of the most critical points:

• No need to re-certify; it’s only a minor alteration.
• Retain your current certification until it expires, provided it remains valid.
• No major alterations have been made to ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 6.4.
• The aim is to bring the standard in line with the most up-to-date best practices and standards.

If you’re aiming to gain ISMS certification, you should assess your security measures to ensure they comply with the revised standard.

To gain insight into the impact the new ISO 27001:2022 could have on your data security procedures and ISO 27001 accreditation, please refer to our complimentary ISO 27001:2022 guide.

How ISMS.Online Help

ISMS.online is the leading ISO 27001 management system software, aiding in compliance with the ISO 27001 standard. It assists companies to ensure their security policies and procedures are in line with the requirement.

This cloud-based platform offers a full range of tools to help organisations to establish an Information Security Management System (ISMS) based on ISO 27001.

These tools comprise of:

• A library of templates for frequently encountered corporate documents is available.
• A collection of pre-established guidelines and protocols is in place.
• An audit tool to facilitate internal audits is available.
• An interface to personalise Information Security Management System (ISMS) policies and procedures is provided.
• All changes to policies and procedures must be approved through a workflow process.
• Create a list to ensure that your policies and information protection measures are in line with international standards.

ISMS.Online provides users with the ability to:

• Handle all areas of the ISMS life-cycle with ease.
• Gain immediate understanding of their security status and compliance problems.
• Integrate with other systems such as HR, finance and project management.
• Ensure conformance of the ISMS to ISO 27001 criteria.

ISMS.Online offers advice on how to execute your ISMS optimally, with guidance on forming policies and protocols associated with risk management, staff security awareness training and incident response preparation.

Reach out to us now to schedule a demonstration.