ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 8.20

Network Security

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Network security is a critical component of an organisation’s information security strategy.

It must be managed with care and accuracy to ensure the safety of all data.

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.20 is a set of comprehensive protocols that cover network security as a governing concept in all its forms. It draws on guidance from many significant information security controls from ISO 27001:2022.

Purpose of ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.20

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.20 is a preventive and detective control that keeps risk at bay by implementing controls that secure an organisation’s ICT network from the top down. This is done by making sure that network activity is logged, compartmentalised, and done by authorised personnel.

Ownership of Annex A 8.20

Annex A 8.20 covers more than just the daily operation of back-end networking, maintenance and diagnostic tools and procedures. The ownership of this control should be attributed to the organisation’s Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or similar.

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General Guidance on ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.20 Compliance

Annex A 8.20 emphasises two fundamental aspects of network security in its general guidance:

  1. Ensuring information security is a top priority.

  2. Protection from unauthorised access (especially when dealing with linked services) is essential.

Annex A 8.20 requires organisations to attain its two purposes (above) by carrying out the following:

  • Organise data across a network based on type and categorisation for efficient management and upkeep.

  • Ensure personnel with documented job roles and responsibilities maintain networking equipment.

  • Maintain recent data, including version-controlled documents, on LAN and WAN network diagrams and firmware/configuration files of critical network equipment such as routers, firewalls, access points, and switches.

  • Distinguish responsibilities for the organisation’s network from ordinary ICT system and application operations (as per ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.3), including the division of administrative traffic from normal network traffic.

  • Ensure the secure storage and transfer of data across all applicable networks (including those of third parties), and ensure the proper functioning of all connected applications (See ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.22, 8.24, 5.14 and 6.6).

  • Keep track of and observe all activities influencing overall information security all over the network, or within individual components (consult ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.16 and 8.15).

  • Co-ordinate network management operations to fit in with the company’s usual business processes. Ensure accuracy and efficiency in order to meet goals.

  • Ensure that all systems and applications necessitating use are authenticated prior to operation.

  • Filter all traffic passing through the network by setting a sequence of regulations, content filtering principles, and data regulations.

  • Ensure all equipment connecting to the network is visible, genuine, and can be managed by ICT personnel.

  • Maintain the aptitude to segregate essential business sub-networks in the occurrence of a security incident.

  • Temporarily halt or inactivate network protocols that have been breached or become unreliable or weak.

Accompanying Annex A Controls

  • ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.14

  • ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.22

  • ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.3

  • ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 6.6

  • ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.15

  • ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.16

  • ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.24

Changes and Differences from ISO 27001:2013

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.20 replaces ISO 27001:2013 Annex A 13.1.1 (Network Controls) in the revised 2022 standard.

Annex A 8.20 calls for a thorough approach to network security, offering several key pieces of advice to cover elements such as:

  • Isolating sub-networks.

  • Maintaining visible devices.

  • Firmware records.

  • Filtering traffic.

  • Suspending protocols.

  • Categorising network information.

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.

ISO 27001:2022 Organisational Controls

Annex A Control TypeISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A IdentifierISO/IEC 27001:2013 Annex A IdentifierAnnex A Name
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.1Annex A 5.1.1
Annex A 5.1.2		Policies for Information Security
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.2Annex A 6.1.1Information Security Roles and Responsibilities
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.3Annex A 6.1.2Segregation of Duties
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.4Annex A 7.2.1Management Responsibilities
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.5Annex A 6.1.3Contact With Authorities
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.6Annex A 6.1.4Contact With Special Interest Groups
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.7NEWThreat Intelligence
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.8Annex A 6.1.5
Annex A 14.1.1		Information Security in Project Management
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.9Annex A 8.1.1
Annex A 8.1.2		Inventory of Information and Other Associated Assets
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.10Annex A 8.1.3
Annex A 8.2.3		Acceptable Use of Information and Other Associated Assets
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.11Annex A 8.1.4Return of Assets
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.12Annex A 8.2.1Classification of Information
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.13Annex A 8.2.2Labelling of Information
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.14Annex A 13.2.1
Annex A 13.2.2
Annex A 13.2.3		Information Transfer
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.15Annex A 9.1.1
Annex A 9.1.2		Access Control
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.16Annex A 9.2.1Identity Management
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.17Annex A 9.2.4
Annex A 9.3.1
Annex A 9.4.3		Authentication Information
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.18Annex A 9.2.2
Annex A 9.2.5
Annex A 9.2.6		Access Rights
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.19Annex A 15.1.1Information Security in Supplier Relationships
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.20Annex A 15.1.2Addressing Information Security Within Supplier Agreements
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.21Annex A 15.1.3Managing Information Security in the ICT Supply Chain
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.22Annex A 15.2.1
Annex A 15.2.2		Monitoring, Review and Change Management of Supplier Services
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.23NEWInformation Security for Use of Cloud Services
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.24Annex A 16.1.1Information Security Incident Management Planning and Preparation
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.25Annex A 16.1.4Assessment and Decision on Information Security Events
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.26Annex A 16.1.5Response to Information Security Incidents
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.27Annex A 16.1.6Learning From Information Security Incidents
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.28Annex A 16.1.7Collection of Evidence
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.29Annex A 17.1.1
Annex A 17.1.2
Annex A 17.1.3		Information Security During Disruption
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.30NEWICT Readiness for Business Continuity
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.31Annex A 18.1.1
Annex A 18.1.5		Legal, Statutory, Regulatory and Contractual Requirements
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.32Annex A 18.1.2Intellectual Property Rights
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.33Annex A 18.1.3Protection of Records
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.34 Annex A 18.1.4Privacy and Protection of PII
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.35Annex A 18.2.1Independent Review of Information Security
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.36Annex A 18.2.2
Annex A 18.2.3		Compliance With Policies, Rules and Standards for Information Security
Organisational ControlsAnnex A 5.37Annex A 12.1.1Documented Operating Procedures

ISO 27001:2022 People Controls

Annex A Control TypeISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A IdentifierISO/IEC 27001:2013 Annex A IdentifierAnnex A Name
People ControlsAnnex A 6.1Annex A 7.1.1Screening
People ControlsAnnex A 6.2Annex A 7.1.2Terms and Conditions of Employment
People ControlsAnnex A 6.3Annex A 7.2.2Information Security Awareness, Education and Training
People ControlsAnnex A 6.4Annex A 7.2.3Disciplinary Process
People ControlsAnnex A 6.5Annex A 7.3.1Responsibilities After Termination or Change of Employment
People ControlsAnnex A 6.6Annex A 13.2.4Confidentiality or Non-Disclosure Agreements
People ControlsAnnex A 6.7Annex A 6.2.2Remote Working
People ControlsAnnex A 6.8Annex A 16.1.2
Annex A 16.1.3		Information Security Event Reporting

ISO 27001:2022 Physical Controls

Annex A Control TypeISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A IdentifierISO/IEC 27001:2013 Annex A IdentifierAnnex A Name
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.1Annex A 11.1.1Physical Security Perimeters
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.2Annex A 11.1.2
Annex A 11.1.6		Physical Entry
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.3Annex A 11.1.3Securing Offices, Rooms and Facilities
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.4NEWPhysical Security Monitoring
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.5Annex A 11.1.4Protecting Against Physical and Environmental Threats
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.6Annex A 11.1.5Working In Secure Areas
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.7Annex A 11.2.9Clear Desk and Clear Screen
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.8Annex A 11.2.1Equipment Siting and Protection
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.9Annex A 11.2.6Security of Assets Off-Premises
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.10Annex A 8.3.1
Annex A 8.3.2
Annex A 8.3.3
 Annex A 11.2.5		Storage Media
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.11Annex A 11.2.2Supporting Utilities
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.12Annex A 11.2.3Cabling Security
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.13Annex A 11.2.4Equipment Maintenance
Physical ControlsAnnex A 7.14Annex A 11.2.7Secure Disposal or Re-Use of Equipment

ISO 27001:2022 Technological Controls

Annex A Control TypeISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A IdentifierISO/IEC 27001:2013 Annex A IdentifierAnnex A Name
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.1Annex A 6.2.1
Annex A 11.2.8		User Endpoint Devices
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.2Annex A 9.2.3Privileged Access Rights
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.3Annex A 9.4.1Information Access Restriction
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.4Annex A 9.4.5Access to Source Code
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.5Annex A 9.4.2Secure Authentication
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.6Annex A 12.1.3Capacity Management
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.7Annex A 12.2.1Protection Against Malware
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.8Annex A 12.6.1
Annex A 18.2.3		Management of Technical Vulnerabilities
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.9NEWConfiguration Management
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.10NEWInformation Deletion
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.11NEWData Masking
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.12NEWData Leakage Prevention
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.13Annex A 12.3.1Information Backup
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.14Annex A 17.2.1Redundancy of Information Processing Facilities
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.15Annex A 12.4.1
Annex A 12.4.2
Annex A 12.4.3		Logging
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.16NEWMonitoring Activities
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.17Annex A 12.4.4Clock Synchronization
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.18Annex A 9.4.4Use of Privileged Utility Programs
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.19Annex A 12.5.1
Annex A 12.6.2		Installation of Software on Operational Systems
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.20Annex A 13.1.1Networks Security
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.21Annex A 13.1.2Security of Network Services
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.22Annex A 13.1.3Segregation of Networks
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.23NEWWeb filtering
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.24Annex A 10.1.1
Annex A 10.1.2		Use of Cryptography
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.25Annex A 14.2.1Secure Development Life Cycle
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.26Annex A 14.1.2
Annex A 14.1.3		Application Security Requirements
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.27Annex A 14.2.5Secure System Architecture and Engineering Principles
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.28NEWSecure Coding
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.29Annex A 14.2.8
Annex A 14.2.9		Security Testing in Development and Acceptance
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.30Annex A 14.2.7Outsourced Development
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.31Annex A 12.1.4
Annex A 14.2.6		Separation of Development, Test and Production Environments
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.32Annex A 12.1.2
Annex A 14.2.2
Annex A 14.2.3
Annex A 14.2.4		Change Management
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.33Annex A 14.3.1Test Information
Technological ControlsAnnex A 8.34Annex A 12.7.1Protection of Information Systems During Audit Testing

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Karen burton
Security Analyst, Thrive Health

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