ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.28 Checklist Guide

ISO 27001 A.8.28 Secure Coding Checklist

Implementing A.8.28 Secure Coding under the ISO 27001:2022 framework is a critical task requiring strategic execution, continuous oversight, and adherence to security best practices throughout the software development lifecycle.

This control aims to ensure that security is embedded in every phase of software development, reducing the risk of vulnerabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.

Scope of Annex A.8.28

A.8.28 Secure Coding within ISO 27001:2022 mandates that organisations implement stringent coding standards, ensure that developers are adequately trained, and establish ongoing review and improvement processes for code security. The goal is to integrate security into the very fabric of the development process, making it an intrinsic part of organisational culture and daily operations.

Implementation involves multiple aspects, including the creation of secure coding standards, developer education, rigorous code reviews, secure development environments, managing third-party components, and thorough testing. Each area presents unique challenges, especially in large, complex, or rapidly evolving organisations. These challenges can range from ensuring consistency in secure coding practices across different teams to maintaining the security of third-party components.

Why Should You Comply With Annex A.8.28? Key Aspects and Common Challenges

Challenge: Establishing consistent secure coding standards across diverse teams, especially in large or geographically dispersed organisations, can be complex. Additionally, keeping these standards up-to-date with evolving security threats is essential but challenging.

• Solution:
  • Develop a centralised set of secure coding standards based on recognised best practices (e.g., OWASP, SANS).
  • Regularly review and update these standards to reflect the latest threats and vulnerabilities.
  • Use ISMS.online’s Policy Management feature to create, communicate, and enforce these standards. Version control ensures that updates are managed efficiently, and the platform facilitates dissemination across all teams.

Training and Awareness

Challenge: Ensuring that all developers are adequately trained in secure coding practices can be difficult, especially with high turnover rates, rapid onboarding, or integration of contractors. Keeping training materials current with the latest threats is another challenge.

• Solution:
  • Develop and deploy a comprehensive secure coding training programme tailored to the technologies and languages used within your organisation.
  • Regularly update training materials to include the latest security challenges and techniques.
  • Leverage ISMS.online’s Training Management module to track training completion, ensure consistency, and maintain updated training content. This ensures that all developers are consistently trained and aware of secure coding practices.

Code Reviews and Static Analysis

Challenge: Conducting thorough code reviews and static analysis across all projects is resource-intensive and requires specialised skills. Ensuring consistency and depth in these reviews across large development teams can be challenging.

• Solution:
  • Implement a mandatory code review process for all code changes, focusing on identifying security vulnerabilities.
  • Utilise static analysis tools to automate the detection of common vulnerabilities in code.
  • Schedule regular audits of the code review process using ISMS.online’s Audit Management features. These tools facilitate the documentation of reviews and ensure consistency and depth across projects, providing clear evidence of compliance.

Secure Development Environment

Challenge: Securing the development environment to prevent unauthorised access to source code, while maintaining the integrity of version control systems, is critical. This becomes complex when multiple tools and systems are in use, or when developers work remotely.

• Solution:
  • Implement access controls to secure the development environment, ensuring that only authorised personnel can access source code.
  • Use version control systems to manage code changes and maintain the integrity of the codebase.
  • ISMS.online’s Documentation Management feature ensures secure storage and control of development documentation, including version control records, and supports access management to prevent unauthorised access.

Third-Party Components

Challenge: Validating the security of third-party libraries and components, and ensuring they are updated with the latest security patches, is challenging due to the complexity and volume of external code.

• Solution:
  • Assess the security of third-party libraries and components before integrating them into your codebase.
  • Establish a process for regularly updating these components with the latest security patches.
  • Use ISMS.online’s Supplier Management feature to monitor third-party components, ensuring they meet security standards and compliance requirements.

Testing and Validation

Challenge: Ensuring comprehensive testing and validation, including penetration testing and dynamic analysis, is resource-intensive and requires specialised skills. This is especially challenging in complex or legacy systems.

• Solution:
  • Conduct regular penetration testing and dynamic analysis to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
  • Implement automated testing tools to validate the security of code during development and deployment.
  • ISMS.online’s Incident Management and Audit Management tools support structured processes for testing and validation, ensuring that vulnerabilities are identified, documented, and addressed effectively.

Detailed Annex A.8.28 Compliance Checklist

To effectively demonstrate compliance with A.8.28 Secure Coding, the following checklist should be followed:

Secure Coding Standards

• Establish secure coding standards aligned with industry best practices (e.g., OWASP, SANS).
• Regularly review and update secure coding standards to reflect new threats and vulnerabilities.
• Communicate secure coding standards to all developers and relevant stakeholders.
• Implement version control for secure coding standards to track changes and updates.
• Document the dissemination process of secure coding standards across all teams.

Training and Awareness

• Develop and deploy a secure coding training programme tailored to the technologies and languages used by your organisation.
• Ensure all developers complete secure coding training before beginning work on code.
• Regularly update training materials to reflect new security challenges and coding techniques.
• Track completion of secure coding training for all team members.
• Provide refresher courses periodically to reinforce secure coding principles.
• Document training records and maintain an audit trail of who has been trained and when.

Code Reviews and Static Analysis

• Implement a mandatory code review process for all code changes, with a focus on identifying security vulnerabilities.
• Utilise static analysis tools to automate the detection of common vulnerabilities in code.
• Schedule regular audits of the code review process to ensure consistency and depth.
• Document all code review findings and actions taken to address identified vulnerabilities.
• Ensure that code reviews are conducted by qualified personnel with expertise in secure coding.
• Maintain records of all code review sessions and outcomes for audit purposes.

Secure Development Environment

• Secure the development environment by implementing access controls, ensuring that only authorised personnel can access source code.
• Use version control systems to manage code changes and maintain the integrity of the codebase.
• Regularly audit the development environment to identify and address security risks.
• Ensure that all development tools and systems are up-to-date with the latest security patches.
• Implement encryption and other security measures to protect sensitive data within the development environment.
• Document all security controls applied within the development environment.

Third-Party Components

• Assess the security of third-party libraries and components before integration into the codebase.
• Establish a process for regularly updating third-party components with the latest security patches.
• Monitor the security status of third-party components and respond promptly to any identified vulnerabilities.
• Document the security assessment and update process for third-party components.
• Maintain a repository of approved third-party components and ensure that only vetted components are used.
• Track and document the lifecycle of third-party components, including their patch and update history.

Testing and Validation

• Conduct regular penetration testing and dynamic analysis of the code to identify potential security vulnerabilities.
• Implement automated testing tools to validate the security of code during development and deployment.
• Document all testing and validation activities, including identified vulnerabilities and corrective actions taken.
• Ensure comprehensive testing coverage for all code, including legacy systems and new features.
• Track and document all test results, ensuring that vulnerabilities are retested after remediation.
• Regularly review and update testing methodologies to reflect the latest security threats and industry best practices.

Every Annex A Control Checklist Table

How ISMS.online Help With A.8.28

Implementing A.8.28 Secure Coding within your organisation doesn’t have to be daunting. With the right tools and guidance, you can ensure that your software development processes are not only compliant with ISO 27001:2022 but also fortified against emerging security threats.

ISMS.online offers a comprehensive platform designed to streamline your compliance journey, from establishing secure coding standards to managing third-party components and conducting rigorous code reviews.

Contact us today to book a personalised demo and discover how our platform can empower your organisation to implement A.8.28 Secure Coding effectively.