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EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) – Overview

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What is the Cyber Resilience Act – CRA

The Cyber Resilience Act is the first European regulation to set a mandatory minimum level of cyber security for all connected products available on the EU market – something that did not exist before.

The CRA is a regulation from the European Union — formally Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 — but it is likely to be applied soon in other parts of the world, which produce for and sell products in the EU.

It covers both hardware and software products whose intended or foreseeable use involves connection (direct or indirect) to a device or network. That includes things like smartphones, laptops, IoT devices (smart-home cameras, smart fridges, connected toys), embedded systems, routers, industrial control systems, and even software with network connectivity.

Non-commercial open source software products are exempt from the CRA and therefore do not have to fulfill the requirements of the CRA.

Some product categories are excluded because they are already covered by other sector-specific regulation (e.g. certain medical devices, aviation, automotive, defense).

As can be seen, the aim is to increase cybersecurity within the European Union. The new regulation applies in all EU Member States and will be implemented gradually.

Timeline & Legal Effect

The CRA entered into force on 10 December 2024. There is a transition / compliance period: the full requirements become applicable by 11 December 2027 for new products.

Starting 11 June 2026, the Conformity Assessment Bodies can assess the fulfillment of the requirements.

Reporting of vulnerabilities and security incidents starts on 11 September 2026.

*CABs = Conformity Assessment Bodies

Source: BSI

Key Requirements & Obligations

For manufacturers, importers or distributors of in-scope products, CRA demands:

Secure-by-design and secure-by-default

During design and development, implement baseline cybersecurity controls (minimizing attack surface, secure defaults, applying cryptography, access control, integrity protection, etc.).

If you design or manufacture hardware or software intended for the EU market — start including security early: threat modelling, secure defaults, update mechanisms, patch management, SBOM (software-bill-of-materials) for components, documentation.

Lifecycle security

Maintain security across the lifecycle — through production, deployment, maintenance, updates (patches), and eventual decommissioning.

Prepare to collect and maintain documentation of the build, supply chain components, update/maintenance history, and test results for many years.

Vulnerability & incident reporting

If a product becomes subject to a “actively exploited vulnerability” or a “severe security incident”, the manufacturer must report promptly (early warning within 24 h, full notification within 72 h, final report within certain timeframes) via the CRA Single Reporting Platform.

For software vendors — ensure update/patch infrastructure is robust and built-in, and notification processes in place for vulnerabilities.

Documentation & traceability

Maintain technical documentation, data inventories and evidence of security measures for a defined period (often many years) after placing the product on the market.

CE-marking with security

Products that comply must carry the CE-mark, indicating conformity with the CRA’s cybersecurity requirements — similar to CE marking for safety or environmental compliance.

For buyers/customers — expect CE-mark + transparency regarding security posture. Choose vendors who commit to long-term patching and vulnerability response.

Conformity assessments for higher-risk products

While many products (roughly 90%) fall under a “default” tier and can be self-assessed by manufacturers, certain more critical or important product types (e.g. firewalls, security modules, intrusion detection systems, certain embedded systems) may require third-party assessment before being placed on market.

Why It Matters

The CRA establishes a common, EU-wide baseline for cybersecurity of digital products. This helps avoid fragmentation where different member states might otherwise have different rules. It forces manufacturers and vendors to adopt security by default + lifecycle security, rather than treating cybersecurity as an optional afterthought. This helps reduce the attack surface and improves resilience against cyber threats.

It increases transparency for consumers and businesses: when they buy a product with digital elements, they can expect a baseline of security and support — including updates and vulnerability management.

For vendors and developers — in enterprise, embedded, IoT or consumer space — it’s a legal obligation. Non-compliance when required could lead to regulatory consequences, and non-compliant products will not be allowed on the EU market once the deadlines lapse.

 

CRA Product Classification

Criteria & Examples

The CRA divides “products with digital elements (PDEs)” into four classification tiers. Classification drives what conformity assessment, certification, and compliance rigour you must apply.

Category When a product is placed here (criteria / rationale) Typical product examples*
Default Products that are not listed in the “Important” or “Critical” annexes — i.e. no particularly sensitive cybersecurity function or high risks associated with compromise. Many consumer devices & software: smart toys, basic IoT devices, simple smart-home equipment, non-security-critical apps, common consumer electronics.
Important – Class I PDEs that provide a cybersecurity-relevant function (authentication, access control, network access, system functions) but whose compromise would have a moderate risk (less than Class II). Identity management systems / privileged-access software or hardware (e.g. access readers), standalone/embedded browsers, password managers, VPN clients, network management tools, operating systems, microcontrollers/microprocessors with security-related functions, routers/modems/switches.
Important – Class II PDEs whose function involves a significant cybersecurity risk, or whose compromise could have wide or severe impact, especially on many other systems — thus higher criticality than Class I. For these, third-party conformity assessment is mandatory. Firewalls, intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), virtualisation/hypervisor/ container runtime systems, tamper-resistant microprocessors/microcontrollers, industrial-grade network/security systems.
Critical PDEs with cybersecurity-related functionality whose compromise could disrupt or control a large number of other products, critical infrastructure, supply chains or sensitive services. These must either get an EU cybersecurity certificate (per relevant scheme) or undergo strict third-party assessment. Hardware security modules (“security boxes”), smart meter gateways, smartcards / secure-elements, secure cryptoprocessing hardware — i.e. devices central to critical infrastructure, secure identity, secure communication or supply chain security.

* These examples reflect currently published annex examples and guidance. Regulatory technical specification updates (e.g. by the European Commission) may refine or expand the lists.

 

Assessment & conformity requirements per class

Below are examples of software products affected by the Cyber Resilience Act, organized into two tables and classified into the CRA categories:

  • Default Category – non-critical, low inherent risk

  • Important Class I – higher exposure, widely deployed, could be abused at scale

  • Important Class II – products with elevated security relevance, including security software and products in Annex III

  • Critical – core components of cybersecurity, identity, encryption, or essential network infrastructure

These classifications follow the CRA’s conceptual tiers, not an official certification list, because exact classification depends on the manufacturer’s intended use and applicability of Annex III.

Examples of Software Products Classification

Disclaimer: this is my current understanding of products with digital elements (PDEs). There is no official list of categories of products published, or at least I did not find one.

This list was created with help of AI and it is no guarantee to be complete or correct.

 

Software Type Example(s) CRA Category Rationale
CRM Platforms Salesforce, HubSpot, MS Dynamics Default General business software; no direct security function.
Blogging/CMS Platforms WordPress, Ghost, Drupal Default Consumer and enterprise web software; not security-critical by default.
Office Productivity Tools LibreOffice, MS Office Default Widely used but not security components.
Developer Tools IDEs, build systems Important Class I Used in software supply chains; compromise impacts downstream.
Cloud Management Consoles AWS CLI tools, Azure Portal extensions Important Class I Access to infrastructure; security implications.
Antivirus / Endpoint Protection CrowdStrike, Defender, Bitdefender Important Class II Security products explicitly listed under risk-sensitive categories.
EDR/XDR Platforms SentinelOne, Trellix, Microsoft XDR Important Class II Security monitoring and threat response capabilities.
Firewalls (Software-based) pfSense, OPNsense, Cisco, Juniper Important Class II Security enforcement components.
VPN Clients OpenVPN Client, WireGuard clients Important Class II Encryption and secure communications; directly covered.
Identity & Access Software SSO, MFA clients, IdP agents Critical Core identity systems; high systemic impact.
Key Management & Crypto Libraries OpenSSL, libsodium Critical Cryptographic primitives/implementations; part of critical components.
Secure Configuration Agents MDM agents, compliance agents Important Class II Affect system posture and policy enforcement.
Network Monitoring / SIEM Splunk, Elastic, QRadar Important Class II Security event analysis and detection.
Container Security Tools Aqua, Twistlock Important Class II Protect containerized workloads; tied to infrastructure security.

 

Further reading and sources

The post EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) – Overview first appeared on Sorin Mustaca’s blog.

From Idea to Proof of Concept to MVP: The POC stage (2/3)

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We continue the series of 3 articles with the second one, about the Proof of Concept (POC).

Here is the first article in the series, From Idea to Proof of Concept to MVP: The Idea stage (1/3) .

2. The Proof of Concept (POC)

The POC is where the team tests a specific risky assumption that could make or break the idea.
The aim is not to build a usable product but to verify that a key technical, architectural, or data-processing challenge is solvable.

POC code is intentionally imperfect. It moves fast and cuts corners. However, it should still be written in a way that reduces friction when extracting reusable parts for the MVP.

What Defines a POC

  • A POC is short-lived and narrowly focused. It often tests only one or two questions:
    Can we integrate with this external system?
  • Can this algorithm scale?
  • Can the frontend render a dynamic timeline with the required performance?

The purpose is to generate a clear yes/no answer, not to produce a polished outcome.

Inputs and Outputs

Inputs include the problem statement and hypothesis defined in the idea stage.
Outputs include a working demonstration, documentation of findings, architectural constraints, and a clear decision: continue, pivot, or stop.

Actors

Developers implement the experiment.
Tech leads help evaluate results.
QA may help with validation but does not perform full product testing.
Security engineers review risks that appear during the experiment.

Engineering Expectations at This Stage

Code and Reuse

POC code is disposable, but that does not mean it should be sloppy. Developers should write code that can be extracted later without major re-architecture. This typically means:

  • Avoid hardcoded credentials, external URLs, or secrets.

  • Organize files in a simple but meaningful structure.

  • Implement the core logic in isolated modules instead of burying it inside an ad-hoc script.

  • Use interfaces or adapters to make future dependency injection easier.

The mindset should be: “This code may be thrown away, but if it works well, we want to reuse pieces of it.”

What Must Change Later

Before integrating POC code into the MVP, the team will need to refactor it: add error handling, consistent logging, tests, and proper abstractions.
In other words, the POC shows the core idea works, but the MVP requires turning this into real engineering.

Process Evolution

The POC often introduces small process steps such as:

  • Lightweight code reviews

  • A temporary branch in the repository

  • Simple build scripts to allow teammates to run the demonstration

This is still not production engineering. CI/CD pipelines and test automation usually come only at the MVP stage.

Backend Example

Suppose the team is building a new recommendation engine.
The backend POC might implement a single endpoint that forwards a request to an external ML service and measures latency and response quality.
Logging might be minimal, validation might be non-existent, and error handling might be crude—but the team learns whether the external ML service meets the performance requirements.

Frontend Example

A frontend POC might involve building a rough React component that displays personalized recommendations using mock data.
The component may not follow the design system, may not handle loading states cleanly, and may ignore error cases.
The goal is to check whether the UI interaction model feels intuitive and whether the state updates behave as expected.

Security

Security engineers examine how the POC handles sensitive data, even if the handling is mocked.
They validate risky paths such as authentication flows, data transformation logic, or external integrations.
The POC must identify whether the solution will require additional compliance measures, encrypted storage, or stricter authentication schemes.
This becomes a mandatory input for the MVP.

The post From Idea to Proof of Concept to MVP: The POC stage (2/3) first appeared on Sorin Mustaca’s blog.

From Idea to Proof of Concept to MVP: The Idea stage (1/3)

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This is a a developer focused guide in three parts to evolving code, architecture, and processes with the purpose of turning a raw concept into a usable product. This process is one of the hardest parts of software development.

Teams often jump into implementation too early, or they build something polished before testing whether the underlying assumptions hold.

A structured flow—Idea → Proof of Concept (POC) → Minimum Viable Product (MVP)—keeps this journey predictable and reduces waste.

Each stage exists for a specific reason, and each stage demands a different mindset about code quality, design rigor, and security.
For developers, this is also a shift in how code is written, reused, refactored, and prepared for production.
This article explains the journey from the perspective of engineering teams, with practical backend and frontend examples and a clear separation of security activities.

Legend

Idea
A raw concept describing a problem and a possible technical direction. It has no validated assumptions.

At this point, teams focus on understanding why the problem matters and what a potential solution could look like. No production-ready code exists yet.

Proof of Concept (POC)
A disposable implementation created to validate one or two critical assumptions. The focus is feasibility, not quality.

The POC answers narrow engineering questions such as: Can this API be used to implement the idea? or Can the frontend render this interaction reliably?

Code is expected to be thrown away or heavily rewritten later.

Minimum Viable Product (MVP)
A functional, small-scope product that solves a real user need with the minimum set of features.

Unlike a POC, the MVP requires maintainable code, basic architecture, observability, initial security measures, and repeatable engineering processes.

It is the first version that can be deployed and measured with real users.

Transition: Idea → POC
The transition tests feasibility. Only the highest-risk technical assumptions are validated. Success means the idea has enough technical grounding to justify investment.

Transition: POC → MVP
The transition focuses on turning validated feasibility into a real product. Teams refactor or rebuild the POC code into production-ready components. Architecture stabilizes, security controls appear, and processes become repeatable.

1. The Idea Stage

The idea stage is where the team defines the problem and shapes the first version of the solution direction. The discussion is broad, and uncertainty is still high.

At this point the team is not writing code in any meaningful sense, but rather exploring possibilities, boundaries (technological, legal, usability related), and early risks.

The goal here is not to “design the whole system”. The goal is to understand whether the idea is worth testing and whether the technical foundation appears feasible. This prevents teams from sinking time into something that cannot work or is not worth the investment.

What Makes This Stage Unique

The idea stage is low-cost, low-risk, and exploratory. Developers participate mainly by assessing feasibility, identifying potential architectural constraints, and sketching which components might be reused later. The conversation stays intentionally shallow. Nothing should be implemented that the team cannot abandon without regret.

Inputs and Outputs

Inputs include the product need, early UX sketches, discussions about the problem, and high-level constraints such as data privacy, integration requirements, or performance expectations.
Outputs include a defined problem statement, a preliminary solution outline, and a clear hypothesis that the POC must validate.

Actors

Product managers frame the problem. Engineering leads assess feasibility. UX designers shape initial user interactions. Security architects provide early warnings about potential data-handling or compliance pitfalls.

Engineering Expectations at This Stage

Code and Architecture

No production code is written. If developers create anything, it is lightweight and disposable:
simple mock APIs written in Postman collections, small HTML/JS mockups, or rough OpenAPI drafts.
Nothing created at this stage is meant to be reused directly, but these drafts help teams align on concepts.

However, developers should already think about potential reuse paths.
For instance, if the solution will likely need a shared data-access layer or a reusable front-end state-management module, this is the time to name those opportunities—even if nothing is implemented.

Process Implications

The team documents assumptions, potential dependencies, and cases where reuse might save time later.
There is no review process, no CI pipeline changes, and no branching strategy decisions.
This remains a design and exploration stage.

Backend Example

A backend developer might sketch a future architecture in AWS or draft a sequence diagram showing how the system would communicate with an external payment service.
They might explore the integration constraints by reading documentation and checking rate limits, but no or very little code is produced.

Frontend Example

A frontend developer might draft wireframes and map out how new UI states could fit into existing structures.
They might also check whether existing UI components can be repurposed to avoid re-inventing layout patterns later.

Security and Privacy

Security work is limited to conceptual analysis. No real data is supposed to be used in this stage, so privacy concerns should not exist.
Security architects identify which data categories will be processed, assess whether regulatory frameworks apply, and highlight technical constraints that must be tested in the POC.
No security implementation takes place at this stage, but early awareness helps avoid blind spots later.

The post From Idea to Proof of Concept to MVP: The Idea stage (1/3) first appeared on Sorin Mustaca’s blog.

Delivering often in small increments with Scrum

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Agile software development, particularly using Scrum, has revolutionized the way software is built and delivered.

At its core, Agile embraces iterative and incremental development, a stark contrast to traditional “waterfall” methodologies.

The primary objective is to deliver working software frequently and in small increments, ensuring continuous feedback, adaptability, and rapid value delivery.

However, we know from experience that this is not always the case, and if you have worked long enough in the software development industry, you know that usually, it is not the case.

I wrote before about this and the articles were well read (on LinkedIn), but I still see the need to summarize those articles:

Guide for delivering frequently software features that matter (series) #1/2: the Pillars of successful frequent delivery

Guide for delivering frequently software features that matter (series) #2/2: Challenges and the path forward

 

Key principles and practices

In order to frequently deliver small-increment you need to implement several key principles and practices:

Decomposition and User Stories

Break down large features or requirements into smaller, manageable user stories.
A well-formed user story describes a desired functionality from the perspective of an end-user, following the format: “As a [type of user], I want [some goal] so that [some reason].”
These stories are then estimated and prioritized.

Time-boxed Sprints

Scrum operates in short, fixed-length iterations called “sprints,” typically 2-4 weeks long.
Each sprint has a specific goal and a defined set of user stories to be completed.
The time-box ensures a consistent rhythm of delivery and prevents scope creep within an iteration.

Definition of Done (DoD)

A clear and shared “Definition of Done” is crucial.
This defines the criteria that a user story must meet to be considered complete, including coding, testing, documentation, and integration.
This ensures quality and prevents partially finished work from accumulating.

 

Cross-functional Teams

Scrum teams are self-organizing and cross-functional, meaning they possess all the skills necessary to take a user story from conception to delivery.
This reduces dependencies and streamlines the development process.

 

Frequent Feedback Loops

Scrum incorporates several built-in feedback loops:

  • Daily Scrums: Short daily meetings where the team synchronizes, discusses progress, and identifies impediments.
  • Sprint Demo: At the end of each sprint, the team demonstrates the “potentially shippable increment” to stakeholders, gathering feedback for future sprints.
  • Sprint Retrospectives: The team reflects on the past sprint to identify what went well, what could be improved, and creates actionable plans for the next sprint.

Prioritization and Backlog Refinement

The Product Owner is responsible for maintaining and prioritizing the Product Backlog, a living list of all desired features.
Regular “backlog refinement” sessions ensure that upcoming user stories are well-understood, estimated, and ready for development.

 

Now, if you think that by doing this solves all your problems, well, you are not entirely wrong, but also not entirely right. 🙂

As with any methodology, there are challenges.

Challenges and Solutions

Large, Undifferentiated Requirements

Stakeholders often present high-level, monolithic requirements that are difficult to break down into small, shippable increments. This can lead to long development cycles and delayed feedback.

Solutions

  • Invest in User Story Mapping: Collaboratively map out the user’s journey and identify smaller, deliverable “slices” of functionality.
  • Employ techniques like “Splitting User Stories”: Learn patterns and techniques to effectively break down large stories into smaller, valuable pieces (e.g., by workflow steps, by data type, by role).
  • Product Owner Focus: The Product Owner plays a critical role in collaborating with stakeholders to refine and decompose requirements, ensuring they are “INVEST” (Independent, Negotiable, Valuable, Estimable, Small, Testable)

Technical Debt and Integration Issues

Rapid delivery can sometimes lead to accumulating technical debt (shortcuts taken for speed) and integration headaches if not managed carefully.

This can slow down future development and make small increments harder to achieve.

Solutions

  • Prioritize Technical Excellence: Bake in time for refactoring, code quality, and automated testing within each sprint. The Definition of Done should include these aspects.
  • Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD): Implement robust CI/CD pipelines to automate builds, tests, and deployments, ensuring that the software is always in a releasable state.
  • Pair Programming and Code Reviews: collaborative development and peer review usually catch issues early and maintain code quality, but they also slow down delivery. Use with care.

Lack of Clear Prioritization

Without a clear and stable Product Backlog and a Product Owner empowered to make decisions, teams can struggle with shifting priorities, leading to wasted effort and delayed delivery.

Solutions

  • Empower the Product Owner: Ensure the Product Owner has the authority and understanding to prioritize the Product Backlog effectively, balancing business value, risk, and dependencies.
  • Regular Backlog Refinement: Conduct frequent and collaborative backlog refinement sessions to ensure upcoming stories are well-understood and ready for development.
  • Transparency: Make the Product Backlog visible and accessible to everyone, fostering understanding and aligning expectations.

 

External Dependencies and Silos

In larger organizations, external dependencies (e.g., other teams, external vendors, compliance departments) or internal silos can hinder a team’s ability to deliver independently and frequently.

Solutions

  • Active Stakeholder Management: The Product Owner and Scrum Master should proactively identify and manage external dependencies, facilitating communication and coordination.
  • Cross-team Collaboration: Encourage regular communication and collaboration between teams, potentially through “Scrum of Scrums” or other scaling frameworks if applicable.
  • Shift to a “Value Stream” Mindset: Focus on optimizing the flow of value across the entire organization, identifying and removing bottlenecks that span multiple teams or departments.

The post Delivering often in small increments with Scrum first appeared on Sorin Mustaca’s blog.

Accelerating feature delivery in software development

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My company develops security products for all major operating systems. We work with startups and with big companies, all striving to develop features (functional and non-functional) as fast and as good as possible.

While on the first view this seems like a contradiction, there are actually ways of implementing exactly this.

For security software development teams aiming to deliver features more frequently, streamlined processes and efficient workflows are essential.

You guessed, the keywords are agile methods with the related activities such as automated testing, strategic prioritization, agile delivery, efficient workflows, regular and early feedback.

Below are several approaches that emphasize frequent and reliable delivery.

Define requirements with speed in mind

Clear, concise requirements set a strong foundation for quick delivery. Ensuring each feature has straightforward objectives and well-defined acceptance criteria reduces delays caused by back-and-forth clarifications. For security-focused teams, requirements should include key security considerations without overloading the development process. By clarifying expectations from the start, developers can stay on track, avoiding unnecessary revisions and accelerating overall delivery. This being said, also do not change the direction too often (called Pivoting). If you don’t allow feature to “sit”, the product will never reach maturity.

Setup incremental, agile delivery

Breaking down feature development into small, manageable increments supports faster delivery. Rather than waiting for a full release, an incremental approach allows developers to deliver small updates frequently. This Agile-inspired method brings quick wins, shortens feedback cycles, and lets teams adjust direction as needed based on real-world usage. Incremental delivery ensures that new functionality reaches users sooner, making the product more responsive to changing needs.

Optimize for efficiency

Security doesn’t have to slow down delivery. By embedding secure coding practices into the team’s daily workflows, developers can build security right into each feature rather than adding it at the end. Code reviews focused on security can be streamlined with checklists or automated tools, keeping the process efficient. This “security-first” mindset ensures that features remain secure while minimizing delays, as there’s no need for last-minute security fixes.

Invest in CI/CD

Automated testing is key to quick, reliable feature deployment. Automated tests that cover basic functionality and security requirements provide instant feedback, allowing developers to identify and address issues faster. Implementing continuous integration (CI) tools that automatically trigger these tests during development helps the team validate new features on the go. By automating tests, the team gains more time for development and can release updates with minimal manual intervention.

Integrating DevSecOps practices into the development pipeline enables seamless security without slowing down delivery. Automated security checks within the CI/CD pipeline provide fast, reliable security validations, allowing developers to address issues before deployment. This approach keeps the pipeline moving smoothly, as security checks become an integrated part of the process, rather than an additional step that slows down delivery.

Encourage collaborative and efficient workflow

Encourage open communication between developers, security teams, and testers to streamline workflows. Collaborative sessions for discussing roadblocks or coordinating on shared goals help prevent bottlenecks. An open environment where team members share updates and resolve issues collectively accelerates progress by addressing concerns in real time. By emphasizing collaboration, teams can work faster, catching potential blockers early and adapting quickly to new requirements.

Use regular retrospectives to identify and remove delivery obstacles

Post-release retrospectives focused on delivery efficiency help identify and eliminate roadblocks. By analyzing each release or sprint for delays and other issues, teams can identify specific pain points in the development or deployment process. These retrospective sessions allow the team to adjust practices and improve their ability to deliver quickly, refining the workflow with each iteration.

 

The post Accelerating feature delivery in software development first appeared on Sorin Mustaca on Cybersecurity.

Understanding the SOC 2 Certification

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Introduction

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2) certification is a framework designed by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) to help organizations manage customer data based on five Trust Service Criteria: , confidentiality,processing integrity, availability, security and privacy. This certification is crucial for service organizations that store or process customer data in the cloud.

Comparison of Various SOC Certification Versions

SOC 1 (Service Organization Control 1)

  • Focus: SOC 1 is centered around internal control over financial reporting. It is particularly relevant for service organizations that impact their clients’ financial statements.
  • Users: Primarily used by financial auditors and companies that outsource services impacting financial operations.
  • Types: There are two types of SOC 1 reports:
    • Type I: Assesses the suitability of the design of controls at a specific point in time.
    • Type II: Examines the effectiveness of controls over a defined period.

SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2)

  • Focus: SOC 2 addresses controls relevant to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, or privacy, based on the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria.
  • Users: Useful for management, customers, regulators, and other stakeholders concerned with information security and privacy.
  • Types: Like SOC 1, SOC 2 also offers Type I and Type II reports, focusing either on the design of controls at a point in time or their effectiveness over time.

Note: There is also SOC 3, but it is out of scope of this article.

 

Who Should Certify?

SOC 2 certification is essential for any organization that handles customer data, particularly cloud service providers, SaaS companies, and data centers.

It’s also relevant for companies in healthcare, finance, and other sectors where data security is paramount.

Why Certify?

Organizations pursue SOC 2 certification to demonstrate their commitment to data security, build customer trust, and comply with industry regulations. It also helps them stand out in competitive markets and avoid the financial and reputational damage associated with data breaches.

What Is Certified?

SOC 2 certification verifies that an organization adheres to robust information security policies and procedures. The certification evaluates five trust service criteria:

  1. Security: Protection of system resources against unauthorized access.
  2. Availability: Accessibility of the system as agreed upon.
  3. Processing Integrity: System processing is complete, valid, accurate, timely, and authorized.
  4. Confidentiality: Protection of confidential information.
  5. Privacy: Collection, use, retention, and disposal of personal information is in line with the organization’s privacy notice.

While some security frameworks like ISO 27001, PCI DSS, TISAX, HIPAA  have rigid requirements, SOC 2 considers that controls are unique to every organization.

Each company designs its own controls to comply with its Trust Services Criteria.

An independent auditor is then brought in to verify whether the company’s controls satisfy SOC 2 requirements.

After the audit, the auditor writes a report about how well the company’s systems and processes comply with SOC 2.

Every organization that completes a SOC 2 audit receives a report, regardless of whether they passed the audit.

There are two types of SOC 2 reports:

  • SOC 2 Type I reports evaluate a company’s controls at a single point in time. It answers the question: are the security controls designed properly?
  • SOC 2 Type II reports assess how those controls function over a period of time, generally 3-12 months. It answers the question: do the security controls a company has in place function as intended?

To choose between the two, consider your goals, cost, and timeline constraints.

A Type I report can be faster to achieve, but a Type II report offers greater assurance to your customers.

 

 

Topics Verified in SOC 2 Certification

1. Security

The Security Criteria are also known as the Common Criteria. They prove that a service organization’s systems and control environment are protected against unauthorized access and other risks.

Security is the only Trust Services Criteria required for every SOC 2 audit. The other criteria can be added to your report scope if your organization chooses, but they are not required to achieve SOC 2 compliance.

These are the security criteria needed for SOC 2:

  • CC1 — Control environment
    Does the organization value integrity and security?
  • CC2 — Communication and Information
    Are policies and procedures in place to ensure security? Are they communicated well to both internal and external partners?
  • CC3 — Risk Assessment
    Does the organization analyze risk and monitor how changes impact that risk?
  • CC4 — Monitoring Controls
    Does the organization monitor, evaluate, and communicate the effectiveness of its controls?
  • CC5 — Control Activities
    Are the proper controls, processes, and technologies in place to reduce risk?
  • CC6 – Logical and Physical Access Controls
    Does the organization encrypt data? Does it control who can access data and restrict physical access to servers?
  • CC7 – System Operations
    Are systems monitored to ensure they function properly? Are incident response and disaster recovery plans in place?
  • CC8 – Change Management
    Are material changes to systems properly tested and approved beforehand?
  • CC9 – Risk Mitigation
    Does the organization mitigate risk through proper business processes and vendor management?

Implementation: Organizations must establish and maintain a set of security controls to protect against unauthorized access. This includes firewalls, encryption, access controls, and intrusion detection systems.

Audit: Auditors examine security policies, test the effectiveness of security controls, and review incident response plans.

Responsibility: Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) and IT security teams are typically responsible for implementing and maintaining these controls.

2. Availability

Implementation: Ensuring systems are available involves implementing redundancy, disaster recovery plans, and maintaining system performance monitoring.

Audit: Auditors assess the organization’s ability to meet service level agreements (SLAs) and review backup and recovery procedures.

Responsibility: IT operations teams and service managers oversee availability aspects.

3. Processing Integrity

Implementation: Organizations must ensure that data processing is accurate and complete. This includes validating input data, processing logic, and output accuracy.

Audit: Auditors review data processing controls, check for errors, and validate processing integrity.

Responsibility: Data quality teams and IT personnel are responsible for maintaining processing integrity.

4. Confidentiality

Implementation: Protecting confidential information involves data encryption, access controls, and secure storage solutions.

Audit: Auditors evaluate the measures in place to protect confidential data and check compliance with confidentiality agreements.

Responsibility: Data protection officers (DPOs) and compliance teams handle confidentiality matters.

5. Privacy

Implementation: Organizations must adhere to privacy policies that govern the collection, use, and disposal of personal data. This involves data anonymization and consent management.

Audit: Auditors examine privacy policies, consent forms, and data handling procedures to ensure compliance with relevant privacy laws.

Responsibility: Privacy officers and legal teams are responsible for privacy compliance.

Conclusion

SOC 2 certification is a comprehensive framework that ensures organizations adhere to best practices in data security and management.

By certifying under SOC 2, organizations can demonstrate their commitment to protecting customer data, comply with regulatory requirements, and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Implementing and maintaining SOC 2 controls requires collaboration across various teams, including IT, security, operations, and legal departments, to ensure continuous compliance and security.

The post Understanding the SOC 2 Certification first appeared on Sorin Mustaca on Cybersecurity.

Maping NIS2 requirements to the ISO 27001:2022 framework

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We described here the process needed to perform a gap analysis for NIS2, but we did not add the details on how to approach this.

This article references on the ISO27001:2022 series, especially on the description of the Annex A controls. Make sure you are familiar with the ISO 27oo1:2022 requirements and the with the Annex A.

Introduction

The NIS2 Directive, aimed at strengthening network and information system security across the European Union, necessitates a thorough alignment with the latest iteration of the ISO 27001 standard, which was updated in 2022. This article explores a comprehensive methodology for conducting a gap analysis to ensure compliance with NIS2 using the framework provided by ISO 27001:2022.

Understand NIS2 Requirements

The NIS2 Directive expands upon its predecessor by setting stringent cybersecurity and resilience measures for essential and important entities across various sectors. Its key focus areas include incident response, supply chain security, and the security of network and information systems. These areas are critical in maintaining the integrity and availability of services that are vital to the internal market and public welfare.

 

The NIS2 Directive does not prescribe a specific set of controls for the affected companies.

Rather, it states that they should adopt measures that are appropriate to their specific risk profile, considering factors such as:

  • The state of the art in cybersecurity

  • The potential impact of incidents on their services

  • The costs of implementing the measures

  • The proportionality between the measures and the risks

The directive also refers to existing standards, guidelines, and best practices that can help entities to choose suitable controls.
For example, it mentions:

  • The NIST Cybersecurity Framework

  • The ENISA Good Practices for Security of Internet of Things

  • The ETSI Technical Specification on Critical Security Controls for Effective Cyber Defense

 

Read here our collection of articles about the NIS2 directive.

Overview of ISO 27001:2022

ISO 27001:2022 establishes requirements for an Information Security Management System (ISMS), providing a systematic approach to managing sensitive company information so that it remains secure.

It includes people, processes, and IT systems by applying a risk management process and clearly defines information security control requirements in its Annex A .

 

Similarities

Despite the differences in scope, objectives, requirements and controls, there are some similarities between the NIS2 Directive and the ISO 27001:2022 standard.

Here are the most evident similarities :

  • Risk management: Both frameworks are based on the concept of risk management, which involves identifying, analyzing, evaluating, and treating the information security risks that affect the organization or the service.

  • Involvement and commitment of top management: Both frameworks require the involvement and commitment of top management, who are responsible for ensuring that the appropriate resources, roles and responsibilities are allocated to support the implementation and maintenance of the measures.

  • Importance of continuous improvement: Both frameworks emphasize the importance of continuous improvement, which involves monitoring, measuring, reviewing, and updating the measures to ensure they remain effective and relevant in a changing environment.

  • Cooperation and information sharing: Both frameworks encourage cooperation and information sharing among relevant stakeholders, such as authorities, regulators, customers, suppliers, and peers, to enhance the overall level of cybersecurity.

Mapping NIS2 to ISO27001:2022 requirements

The mapping begins with identifying the specific NIS2 requirements that are applicable to the organization.

Step 1: Identify NIS2 requirements

1. Scope of Application

  • Expansion of Affected Entities: NIS2 extends its requirements beyond the sectors covered by the original NIS Directive, including essential and important entities across various sectors such as energy, transport, health, and digital services.

2. Risk Management Measures

  • Comprehensive Security Requirements: Entities are required to implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to manage the risks posed to the security of network and information systems, including measures for incident handling, business continuity, and supply chain security.

3. Incident Response and Reporting

  • Incident Reporting Obligations: NIS2 mandates strict incident reporting requirements, where entities must notify relevant national authorities about significant cybersecurity incidents with potentially severe operational impacts, within a short timeframe.

4. Supply Chain Security

  • Security of Supply Chains and Supplier Relationships: Entities need to address cybersecurity risks not only within their own operations but also across their supply chains, ensuring that suppliers meet security requirements to protect against potential vulnerabilities and threats.

5. Interoperability and Cooperation

  • Enhanced Cooperation Among States: NIS2 emphasizes improved information sharing and coordinated response among EU member states, with mechanisms for cross-border collaboration in cybersecurity threat detection, response, and recovery.

6. Security and Network Systems

  • Strengthening of Security Practices: Detailed requirements on securing network and information systems, ensuring the integrity, availability, and confidentiality of services, particularly in critical infrastructure sectors.

7. Regulatory Oversight and Compliance

  • Increased Enforcement Powers: Regulatory authorities are granted more significant powers to enforce the Directive, including the ability to conduct audits, review compliance, and impose sanctions on entities failing to meet the cybersecurity requirements.

8. Financial Penalties

  • Penalties for Non-Compliance: NIS2 introduces substantial financial penalties for non-compliance, aimed at ensuring that entities take their cybersecurity obligations seriously.

9. Cybersecurity Measures Specificity

  • Detailed Guidelines and Standards: The Directive encourages the use of established standards and specifications to fulfill the required security measures, promoting best practices in cybersecurity management.

 

This step involves a detailed review of NIS2, focusing on the obligations that directly impact the organizational processes and security measures.

Step 2: Map requirements to the ISO 27001:2022 chapters

The next step is to map relevant chapters and controls in ISO 27001:2022 to these NIS2 requirements:

  • Chapter 4 (Context of the Organization) -> NIS2 1,4,5
    • Understand external and internal issues that affect the ISMS, aligning with NIS2’s broader security requirements.
    • Identify if the company is falling into the two entity categories: Important and Essential.
    • An important step is also to identify and assess all external suppliers.
  • Chapter 5 (Leadership) -> NIS2 1,5,8
    • Ensures management’s commitment to the ISMS, mirroring NIS2’s emphasis on leadership and governance in cybersecurity.
  • Chapter 6 (Planning) -> NIS2 2,3,4,6 
    • Address the assessment and treatment of information security risks, a core component of proactive compliance under NIS2.
    • Conduct a risk assessment to identify threats, vulnerabilities, and impacts on information assets.
    • Develop a risk treatment plans to address identified risks, including mitigation, transfer, or acceptance.
  • Chapter 7 (Support) -> 5,7,9
    • Provide the framework for managing resources and operational planning,
    • Establish communication channels for reporting security incidents and seeking guidance on information security matters.
  • Chapter 8 (Operation) -> NIS2 2,3,4,6
    • Provide the framework for managing resources and operational planning, establishes incident response and business continuity plans to mitigate the impact of security incidents and disruptions, crucial for implementing the technical and organizational measures required by NIS2.
  • Chapter 9 (Performance Evaluation) -> NIS2 8,9
    • Assess the performance of the ISMS, helping to ensure continuous improvement in line with NIS2’s dynamic compliance landscape.

Disclaimer:
This mapping is author’s own interpretation based on his personal opinion and understanding of the requirements. It is not the only possible interpretation and it is most probably not the best one available.

 

Conclusion

By mapping NIS2 requirements to the structured framework provided by ISO 27001:2022, organizations can not only ensure compliance but also strengthen their overall security posture.

It is important to understand that this alignment is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of adaptation and improvement, reflecting the dynamic nature of cybersecurity threats and regulatory requirements.

As such, organizations should focus on regular reviews and updates to their ISMS, ensuring that it remains robust, responsive, and compliant.

The post Maping NIS2 requirements to the ISO 27001:2022 framework first appeared on Sorin Mustaca on Cybersecurity.

NIS-2: 10 common misconceptions about the regulation

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We wrote here about NIS2 and we will continue to add more content about it.

Because we are getting closer to October 17th, many people are getting more and more nervous about NIS2.

Despite its significance, there are numerous misconceptions and misinterpretations circulating about the scope and implications of this regulation.

This article aims to clarify some of the misconceptions,  which I collected mostly from LinkedIn and articles about NIS-2.

 

Note:

“NIS2” and “NIS-2” are exactly the same thing. I am using both in this article only because of SEO.

 

 

1. NIS2 starts being applied in the EU starting 17.10.2024

Truth is that the regulation is already applicable in the EU since it was approved. This deadline applies to the individual countries of the EU to convert and apply the NIS2 requirements in local laws.

If national authorities fail to properly implement EU laws, the Commission may launch a formal infringement procedure against the country in question. If the issue is still not settled, the Commission may eventually refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

 

2. Limited scope of application

Contrary to the belief that NIS-2 only applies to large tech companies, the directive significantly broadens its scope compared to its predecessor, NIS.

NIS-2 extends beyond just critical infrastructure sectors like energy and transport, encompassing a wide array of sectors such as digital services, public administration, and healthcare.

It mandates a security and incident reporting framework that applies to both Essential and Important Entities, significantly expanding the list of sectors and services affected.

3. NIS-2 Is Just About Cybersecurity

While cybersecurity is a core component, NIS-2 is not merely about preventing cyberattacks. The directive emphasizes a comprehensive approach to security, which includes resilience against a wide range of threats.

This includes but it is not limited to:

  • supply chain security,
  • incident response, and
  • crisis management.

It establishes a baseline for security measures and incident notifications that entities must adhere to, ensuring a uniform level of security across member states.

4. NIS-2 compliance is the same across all EU countries

Although NIS-2 sets a framework for cybersecurity across the EU, member states have some flexibility in implementation. This means that there can be variations in how directives are enforced from one country to another, depending on local laws and regulations.

Companies operating across multiple jurisdictions need to be aware of and comply with local variations to ensure full compliance.

5. Heavy penalties are the main compliance driver

While it is true that NIS-2 can impose hefty fines for non-compliance, focusing solely on penalties misses the broader objective of the directive.

NIS-2 is designed to cultivate a culture of security and resilience. It encourages entities to proactively manage their cybersecurity risks and to collaborate with national authorities.

This cooperative approach is fundamental to enhancing the overall cybersecurity posture of the EU.

6. NIS-2 does not affect third-party suppliers

NIS-2 places explicit requirements on the security practices of third-party suppliers. Entities covered under the directive are required to ensure that their supply chains are secure.

This includes mandatory risk assessments and incident reporting requirements that extend to service providers, reflecting an understanding that security is only as strong as the weakest link in the supply chain.

 

7. NIS-2 contains rules for AI, IoT, Industry 4.0.

NIS-2 sets a framework for cybersecurity and it does not address anything in particular. However, the rules described can be very well applied to companies in the fields like those mentioned that fall under the regulation applicability.

The companies active in Digital Infrastructure Services (Internet Nodes, DNS Service Providers, TLD Registries, Cloud Providers, Data Centers, Content Delivery Networks, Trust Services, Communication Networks, Communication Services ) and in

ICT Service Management (B2B only) (Managed Services (IT, Networks/Infrastructure, Applications), Managed Security Services (Risk and Cyber Security) ) are potentially directly affected by the regulation. However, there are clear criteria about which companies are affected.

 

8. Any company with activity in the domains marked as Important and Essential is affected by NIS-2

Although the domains are under the NIS-2 regulation, a company is affected if it meets the criteria:

  • Essential Entities (EE):
    • at least 250 employees and
    • 50 Mil € revenue
  • Important Entities (IE):
    • at least 50 employees and
    • 10 Mil € revenue

If a company doesn’t have these characteristics, then, in general, it is not affected by the regulation directly. It is highly recommended that even in such cases the companies follow the regulation’s requirements, since it will increase their resilience against cyber attacks.

However, an entity may still be considered “essential” or “important” even if it does not meet the size criteria, in specific cases such as when it is the sole provider of a critical service for societal or economic activity in a Member State.

 

9. All affected companies must certify for NIS-2

A the time of writing this post there is no certification for NIS-2. This might change in the future, especially when because we don’t know at this time how the regulation will be implemented in each of the EU member states.

There are consulting companies that sell consulting services and guarantee that a company will get the “NIS-2  certification” if they bus their services. While buying consulting is in general a good thing, the only thing that can be obtained is help in meeting the requirements of the regulation.

I recommend to stay away from offers that promise things that don’t exist.

 

10. Companies can buy software/hardware products to become conform with NIS-2

Although conformity is sometimes made easier by using specialized software and hardware products, there is no requirement or recommendation to purchase anything.

Some security providers and consulting companies are offering On The Shelf  (OTS) products that promise immediate conformity with NIS-2 (or guarantee obtaining a “certification” – see point 9 above).

If you look at the series of articles in the NIS2 area of this website, you will see that actually quite a lot of  steps involve an ISMS, a cybersecurity framework, cybersecurity products and so on.

These can be implemented with commercial or open source products, but there is still need to know where and how to install them in order to become conform.

I can very well imagine that there will be soon commercial offerings with sets of templates for implementing the NIS-2 requirements, just like there are with ISO 27001, TISAX and other certifications.

The post NIS-2: 10 common misconceptions about the regulation first appeared on Sorin Mustaca on Cybersecurity.

Understanding ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.8 – Asset Management

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ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.8, “Asset Management,” addresses the importance of identifying, classifying, and managing information assets within an organization. This annex emphasizes the need for organizations to establish processes for inventorying assets, assessing their value, and implementing appropriate controls to protect them. In this technical educational article, we’ll explore how to implement Annex A.8 in practice, highlight its significance, and discuss the audit process for assessing compliance.

 

 

 

 

What is an Asset ?

In the context of ISO 27001:2022, an asset refers to anything that has value to an organization and needs to be protected.

This includes not only tangible assets such as

  • Physical assets:
    • hardware and equipment
    • buildings
    • vehicles
  • People
    • Employees
    • Customers
    • Suppliers
  • Software
  • Intangible
    • Data
    • Intellectual property
    • Proprietary information
    • Reputation
    • Market Share

ISO 27001:2022 recognizes that assets come in various forms and play a crucial role in achieving an organization’s objectives.

What makes an asset worth to be added to the list?

Here are some key points to consider regarding assets in the context of ISO 27001:2022:

  1. Identification: Organizations need to identify and inventory all their assets, including both tangible and intangible ones. This involves understanding what assets the organization possesses, where they are located, and who has ownership or responsibility for them. If this can be done, then the asset is worth enough to be considered to be managed.
  2. Classification: Assets should be classified based on their value, sensitivity, and criticality to the organization. This classification helps prioritize protection efforts and allocate resources effectively. For example, sensitive customer data may be classified as high-value assets requiring stringent security measures. If an asset is classified with a category that makes it important for the company, then it should be definitely managed.
  3. Risk Management: Assets are subject to various risks, including cybersecurity threats, natural disasters, and human error. Organizations need to conduct risk assessments to identify and mitigate threats to their assets effectively. This involves evaluating the likelihood and potential impact of risks and implementing controls to reduce risk to an acceptable level.
  4. Protection: Based on the risk assessment for an asset, organizations must implement appropriate controls to protect their assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. This includes measures such as access controls, encryption, backup procedures, and physical security measures. Based on the measures identified, an asset can be quite expensive to be protected, but losing it or damaging it might prove to be even more expensive.

 

Importance of Asset Management

Effective asset management is crucial for organizations to safeguard their information assets, optimize resource allocation, and mitigate risks. Annex A.8 underscores this importance by:

  1. Risk Reduction: Identifying and classifying information assets helps organizations prioritize security measures and allocate resources effectively to mitigate risks.
  2. Compliance: Maintaining an accurate inventory of assets and implementing appropriate controls ensures compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards.
  3. Cost Savings: Efficient asset management practices enable organizations to optimize resource utilization and avoid unnecessary expenses associated with redundant or underutilized assets.

Implementing Annex A.8 in Practice

To effectively implement Annex A.8, organizations can follow these practical steps:

  1. Asset Identification: Begin by identifying all information assets within the organization, including hardware, software, data, and intellectual property. Establish criteria for identifying assets, such as ownership, criticality, and sensitivity.Example: Develop an asset inventory list categorizing assets based on their type, location, owner, and importance to business operations.
  2. Asset Classification: Classify information assets based on their value, sensitivity, and criticality to the organization. Define classification levels or categories to differentiate between assets requiring different levels of protection.Example: Classify data assets as public, internal use only, confidential, or restricted based on their sensitivity and impact on the organization if compromised.
  3. Asset Ownership: Assign ownership responsibilities for each information asset to designated individuals or departments within the organization. Clearly define roles and responsibilities for managing and protecting assigned assets.Example: Assign data ownership responsibilities to business units or functional departments responsible for creating, accessing, or managing specific types of data.
  4. Risk Assessment: Conduct risk assessments to identify threats, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts on information assets. Assess the likelihood and impact of potential risks to prioritize mitigation efforts.Example: Perform a vulnerability assessment to identify weaknesses in IT systems and applications that could expose information assets to security threats.
  5. Control Implementation: Implement appropriate controls to protect information assets from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. Select controls based on the results of risk assessments and compliance requirements.Example: Implement access control mechanisms, such as user authentication, role-based access control (RBAC), and encryption, to safeguard sensitive information assets from unauthorized access.

Audit of Compliance with Annex A.8

Auditing compliance with Annex A.8 is essential for evaluating an organization’s adherence to asset management requirements. Here’s how the audit process typically unfolds:

  1. Audit Preparation: The organization gathers documentation related to asset management policies, procedures, and controls. An audit team is appointed to facilitate the audit process.
  2. Audit Planning: The audit team defines the audit scope, objectives, and criteria. They develop an audit plan outlining the audit activities, timelines, and responsibilities of auditors and auditees.
  3. On-site Audit: Auditors conduct on-site visits to assess the implementation of asset management controls. They review documentation, interview personnel, and observe asset management practices in action. Auditors may use checklists or standardized assessment tools to evaluate compliance.
  4. Audit Findings: After the on-site audit, auditors analyze their findings and identify areas of non-compliance or improvement opportunities. They document their observations, including strengths and weaknesses in the organization’s approach to asset management.
  5. Reporting: Auditors prepare an audit report summarizing their findings, conclusions, and recommendations for corrective actions. The report is shared with senior management and relevant stakeholders for review and action.
  6. Follow-up: Management addresses audit findings by implementing corrective actions and improvements as recommended. Follow-up audits may be conducted to verify the effectiveness of corrective measures and ensure ongoing compliance with Annex A.8 requirements.

Conclusions

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.8 highlights the importance of asset management in safeguarding information assets and mitigating risks. By implementing robust processes for identifying, classifying, and managing information assets, organizations can optimize resource allocation, ensure compliance, and enhance their security posture. Regular audits help assess compliance with Annex A.8 requirements and drive continuous improvement in asset management practices. Prioritizing asset management is essential for organizations seeking to protect their valuable information assets and maintain trust in their operations.

The post Understanding ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.8 – Asset Management first appeared on Sorin Mustaca on Cybersecurity.

Understanding ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.6 – Organization of Information Security

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We started the ISO 27001:2022 series with the promise of explaining how the 14 categories of controls can be implemented.

We start today with ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.6, “Organization of Information Security”, which outlines requirements for establishing an effective management framework to govern information security within an organization. This annex emphasizes the importance of defining roles, responsibilities, and processes to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information assets.

In this technical educational article, we’ll explore how to implement Annex A.6 in practice and elucidate the audit process for assessing compliance.

 

Importance of Organization of Information Security

A well-organized approach to information security is essential for maintaining the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational assets. Annex A.6 helps organizations achieve this by:

  1. Defining Responsibilities: Clearly delineating roles and responsibilities ensures accountability for information security tasks across the organization.
  2. Establishing Processes: Formalizing processes for risk management, incident response, and access control streamlines security operations and enhances responsiveness to security incidents.
  3. Ensuring Compliance: Implementing a structured framework for information security governance helps organizations meet regulatory and compliance requirements.

Implementing Annex A.6 in Practice

To effectively implement Annex A.6, organizations can follow these practical steps:

  1. Define Information Security Roles and Responsibilities: Identify key stakeholders responsible for information security governance, including senior management, IT personnel, data owners, and end-users. Clearly define their roles and responsibilities in safeguarding information assets.Example: Establish a Security Steering Committee comprising senior management representatives and department heads to oversee information security initiatives and decision-making.
  2. Develop Information Security Policies and Procedures: Create comprehensive policies and procedures covering areas such as access control, risk management, incident response, and asset management. Ensure alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory requirements.Example: Develop an Incident Response Plan outlining the steps to be followed in the event of a security incident, including incident detection, containment, eradication, and recovery.
  3. Implement Security Controls: Deploy technical and administrative controls to mitigate security risks and protect information assets. These controls may include firewalls, intrusion detection systems, encryption mechanisms, and user access controls.Example: Implement role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict access to sensitive information based on users’ roles and responsibilities within the organization.
  4. Provide Training and Awareness Programs: Educate employees about their roles in maintaining information security and raise awareness about common security threats and best practices. Conduct regular training sessions and awareness campaigns to reinforce security protocols.Example: Offer cybersecurity awareness training to employees covering topics such as phishing awareness, password hygiene, and social engineering tactics.
  5. Establish Security Incident Management Procedures: Develop procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to security incidents promptly. Define escalation paths and communication channels to ensure swift resolution of incidents.Example: Establish a Security Incident Response Team (SIRT) tasked with coordinating incident response efforts, conducting forensic investigations, and implementing remediation measures.

Auditing Compliance with Annex A.6

Audits play a crucial role in evaluating an organization’s compliance with Annex A.6 requirements. Here’s how the audit process typically unfolds:

  1. Audit Preparation: The organization gathers documentation related to information security policies, procedures, and controls. An audit team is appointed to facilitate the audit process.
  2. Audit Planning: The audit team defines the audit scope, objectives, and criteria. They develop an audit plan outlining the audit activities, timelines, and responsibilities of auditors and auditees.
  3. On-site Audit: Auditors conduct on-site visits to assess the implementation of information security controls. They review documentation, interview personnel, and observe security practices in action. Auditors may use checklists or standardized assessment tools to evaluate compliance.
  4. Audit Findings: After the on-site audit, auditors analyze their findings and identify areas of non-compliance or improvement opportunities. They document their observations, including strengths and weaknesses in the organization’s approach to information security.
  5. Reporting: Auditors prepare an audit report summarizing their findings, conclusions, and recommendations for corrective actions. The report is shared with senior management and relevant stakeholders for review and action.
  6. Follow-up: Management addresses audit findings by implementing corrective actions and improvements as recommended. Follow-up audits may be conducted to verify the effectiveness of corrective measures and ensure ongoing compliance with Annex A.6 requirements.

Conclusion

ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.6 underscores the importance of establishing a structured framework for organizing information security within an organization.

By following best practices for defining roles, responsibilities, processes, and controls, organizations can strengthen their security posture and mitigate risks effectively. Regular audits help assess compliance with Annex A.6 requirements and drive continuous improvement in information security governance.

The post Understanding ISO 27001:2022 Annex A.6 – Organization of Information Security first appeared on Sorin Mustaca on Cybersecurity.