ISO 27002:2022, Control 7.1 – Physical Security Perimeters

ISO 27002:2022 Revised Controls

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What is Control 7.1?

Control 7.1 in the new ISO 27002:2022 covers the need for organisations to define and set security perimeters and use these parameters to protect areas that contain information and other associated assets.

Information and Information Security Assets Explained

Information can be defined as any data, information or knowledge that has value to your organisation or business. This includes any data collected about individuals, customers, partners, employees and other stakeholders.

Information security assets can be divided broadly into:

Data

Data is often confused with information but there is a difference between data and information. Data is raw, unprocessed and often unusable in its current state whereas information is data that has been processed into usable pieces of information such as an email address or phone number.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure refers to all of the components that make up a network including servers and other devices such as printers and routers etc.

Infrastructure can also include software such as operating systems and applications which should be protected from cyber attacks just as much as hardware does as both need to be kept up-to-date with patches and fixes for vulnerabilities discovered by hackers so they can’t be exploited by malicious hackers who want to gain access to sensitive data.

Physical Security Perimeters Explained

Physical security refers to all the physical measures that protect an organisation’s facilities and assets. Physical security is the most basic and important part of information security. It is not just about locking the door but also knowing who has access to what, when, where and how.

Physical security perimeters are used to identify the physical boundaries of a building or area and control access to it. Physical security perimeters may include fences, walls, gates and other barriers that prevent unauthorised access by people or vehicles. In addition to physical barriers, electronic surveillance equipment such as closed circuit television cameras can be used to monitor activity outside the facility.

Physical security perimeters provide a first line of defence against intruders who might try to enter your computer system through the network cable or wireless connection in an organisation. They are often used in conjunction with other types of information security controls such as identity management, access control and intrusion detection systems.

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Attributes Table

Attributes are a way to classify controls. Attributes allow you to rapidly match your control selection with typical industry specification and terminology. The following controls are available in control 7.1.

Control TypeInformation Security Properties Cybersecurity Concepts Operational Capabilities Security Domains
#Preventive#Confidentiality
#Integrity
#Availability
#Protect#Physical Security#Protection

Control 7.1 ensures that an organisation can demonstrate that it has adequate physical security perimeters in place to prevent unauthorised physical access to information and other associated assets.

This includes preventing:

  • Unauthorised entry to buildings, rooms or areas containing information assets;
  • Unauthorised removal of assets from premises;
  • Unauthorised use of assets on premises (e.g., computers and computer related devices); and
  • Unauthorised access to electronic communications equipment such as telephones, fax machines and computer terminals (e.g., unauthorised tampering).

Physical security perimeters can be implemented through the following two categories:

Physical access control: Provides controls over the entry into facilities and buildings, as well as the movement within them. These controls include locking doors, using alarms on doors, using fences or barriers around facilities, etc.

Hardware security: Provides controls over physical equipment (e.g., computers) used by an organisation to process data such as printers and scanners that may contain sensitive information.

Implementing this control may also cover the unauthorised use of facility space, equipment and supplies in order to protect information and other associated assets, such as confidential documents, records and equipment.

What Is Involved and How to Meet the Requirements

The following guidelines should be considered and implemented where appropriate for physical security perimeters:

  • Defining security perimeters and the siting and strength of each of the perimeters in accordance with the information security requirements related to the assets within the perimeter.
  • Having physically sound perimeters for a building or site containing information processing facilities (i.e. there should be no gaps in the perimeter or areas where a break-in can easily occur).
  • The exterior roofs, walls, ceilings and flooring of the site should be of solid construction and all external doors should be suitably protected against unauthorised access with control mechanisms (e.g. bars, alarms, locks).
  • Doors and windows should be locked when unattended and external protection should be considered for windows, particularly at ground level; ventilation points should also be considered.

You can get more information on what is involved in meeting the requirements for the control in the ISO 27002:2022 standard document.

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Changes and Differences from ISO 27002:2013

The new 2022 revision of ISO 27002 was published on February 15, 2022, and is an upgrade of ISO 27002:2013.

11 new controls were added to this version of ISO 27002. However, control 7.1 is not a new control, rather, it is a modified version of control 11.1.1 in the 2013 version of ISO 27002. The major difference between the 2013 and 2022 version is the change of control number.

The control number 11.1.1 was replaced with 7.1. Apart from that, the context and meaning are largely similar, even though that phraseology is different.

Another difference between both controls is that the implementation requirements were reduced in the 2022 version.

The following requirements which are available in control 11.1.1 of ISO 27002:2013 are missing in control 7.1:

  • A manned reception area or other means to control physical access to the site or building should be in place.
  • Access to sites and buildings should be restricted to authorised personnel only.
  • Physical barriers should, where applicable, be built to prevent unauthorised physical access and environmental contamination.
  • Suitable intruder detection systems should be installed to national, regional or international standards and regularly tested to cover all external doors and accessible windows.
  • Unoccupied areas should be alarmed at all times.
  • Cover should also be provided for other areas, e.g. computer room or communications rooms.
  • Information processing facilities managed by the organisation should be physically separated from those managed by external parties.

These omissions do not in any way make the new standard less effective, instead they were removed to make the new control more user-friendly.

Who Is in Charge of This Process?

The chief information officer is the person in charge of information security. This individual is responsible for implementing policies and procedures to protect the company’s data and systems. The CIO typically works with other executives, such as the chief financial officer and chief executive officer, to ensure that security measures are taken into account during business decisions.

The chief financial officer is also involved in making decisions regarding physical security perimeters. He or she works with other members of the C-suite — including the CIO — to determine how much money should be allocated to physical security measures like surveillance cameras, access controls and alarms.

What Do These Changes Mean for You?

The new ISO 27002:2022 is not a major revision. Therefore, you do not need to implement any serious changes to be compliant with the latest version of ISO 27002.

However, you should consider reviewing your current implementation and making sure that it aligns with the new requirements. In particular, if you have made any changes since the previous version was published in 2013. It is worth taking a look at those changes again to see whether they are still valid or if they need to be amended.

That said, you can get more information on how the new ISO 27002 will affect your information security processes and ISO 27001 certification by reading our ISO 27002:2022 guide.

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New Controls

ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control IdentifierISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control IdentifierControl Name
5.7NewThreat intelligence
5.23NewInformation security for use of cloud services
5.30NewICT readiness for business continuity
7.4NewPhysical security monitoring
8.9NewConfiguration management
8.10NewInformation deletion
8.11NewData masking
8.12NewData leakage prevention
8.16NewMonitoring activities
8.23NewWeb filtering
8.28NewSecure coding

Organisational Controls

ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control IdentifierISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control IdentifierControl Name
5.105.1.1, 05.1.2Policies for information security
5.206.1.1Information security roles and responsibilities
5.306.1.2Segregation of duties
5.407.2.1Management responsibilities
5.506.1.3Contact with authorities
5.606.1.4Contact with special interest groups
5.7NewThreat intelligence
5.806.1.5, 14.1.1Information security in project management
5.908.1.1, 08.1.2Inventory of information and other associated assets
5.1008.1.3, 08.2.3Acceptable use of information and other associated assets
5.1108.1.4Return of assets
5.12 08.2.1Classification of information
5.1308.2.2Labelling of information
5.1413.2.1, 13.2.2, 13.2.3Information transfer
5.1509.1.1, 09.1.2Access control
5.1609.2.1Identity management
5.17 09.2.4, 09.3.1, 09.4.3Authentication information
5.1809.2.2, 09.2.5, 09.2.6Access rights
5.1915.1.1Information security in supplier relationships
5.2015.1.2Addressing information security within supplier agreements
5.2115.1.3Managing information security in the ICT supply chain
5.2215.2.1, 15.2.2Monitoring, review and change management of supplier services
5.23NewInformation security for use of cloud services
5.2416.1.1Information security incident management planning and preparation
5.2516.1.4Assessment and decision on information security events
5.2616.1.5Response to information security incidents
5.2716.1.6Learning from information security incidents
5.2816.1.7Collection of evidence
5.2917.1.1, 17.1.2, 17.1.3Information security during disruption
5.30NewICT readiness for business continuity
5.3118.1.1, 18.1.5Legal, statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements
5.3218.1.2Intellectual property rights
5.3318.1.3Protection of records
5.3418.1.4Privacy and protection of PII
5.3518.2.1Independent review of information security
5.3618.2.2, 18.2.3Compliance with policies, rules and standards for information security
5.3712.1.1Documented operating procedures

People Controls

ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control IdentifierISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control IdentifierControl Name
6.107.1.1Screening
6.207.1.2Terms and conditions of employment
6.307.2.2Information security awareness, education and training
6.407.2.3Disciplinary process
6.507.3.1Responsibilities after termination or change of employment
6.613.2.4Confidentiality or non-disclosure agreements
6.706.2.2Remote working
6.816.1.2, 16.1.3Information security event reporting

Physical Controls

ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control IdentifierISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control IdentifierControl Name
7.111.1.1Physical security perimeters
7.211.1.2, 11.1.6Physical entry
7.311.1.3Securing offices, rooms and facilities
7.4NewPhysical security monitoring
7.511.1.4Protecting against physical and environmental threats
7.611.1.5Working in secure areas
7.711.2.9Clear desk and clear screen
7.811.2.1Equipment siting and protection
7.911.2.6Security of assets off-premises
7.1008.3.1, 08.3.2, 08.3.3, 11.2.5Storage media
7.1111.2.2Supporting utilities
7.1211.2.3Cabling security
7.1311.2.4Equipment maintenance
7.1411.2.7Secure disposal or re-use of equipment

Technological Controls

ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Control IdentifierISO/IEC 27002:2013 Control IdentifierControl Name
8.106.2.1, 11.2.8User endpoint devices
8.209.2.3Privileged access rights
8.309.4.1Information access restriction
8.409.4.5Access to source code
8.509.4.2Secure authentication
8.612.1.3Capacity management
8.712.2.1Protection against malware
8.812.6.1, 18.2.3Management of technical vulnerabilities
8.9NewConfiguration management
8.10NewInformation deletion
8.11NewData masking
8.12NewData leakage prevention
8.1312.3.1Information backup
8.1417.2.1Redundancy of information processing facilities
8.1512.4.1, 12.4.2, 12.4.3Logging
8.16NewMonitoring activities
8.1712.4.4Clock synchronization
8.1809.4.4Use of privileged utility programs
8.1912.5.1, 12.6.2Installation of software on operational systems
8.2013.1.1Networks security
8.2113.1.2Security of network services
8.2213.1.3Segregation of networks
8.23NewWeb filtering
8.2410.1.1, 10.1.2Use of cryptography
8.2514.2.1Secure development life cycle
8.2614.1.2, 14.1.3Application security requirements
8.2714.2.5Secure system architecture and engineering principles
8.28NewSecure coding
8.2914.2.8, 14.2.9Security testing in development and acceptance
8.3014.2.7Outsourced development
8.3112.1.4, 14.2.6Separation of development, test and production environments
8.3212.1.2, 14.2.2, 14.2.3, 14.2.4Change management
8.3314.3.1Test information
8.3412.7.1Protection of information systems during audit testing
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