How to Implement ISO 27001 Annex A 6.2 Terms and Conditions of Employment
Welcome to your guide on implementing one of the crucial people controls in the standard. As a certification body, we at ISO27001.com see many organisations struggle with the human side of security. It is easy to focus on firewalls and forget about contracts. However, your employees are often your first line of defence. They can also be your biggest risk if expectations are not clear.
Annex A 6.2 deals with terms and conditions of employment. It sounds legal and dry, but it is actually quite simple. It ensures that every person who works for you understands their responsibility regarding information security. This applies before they even start their first day. We are here to show you how to implement this control effectively and what we expect to see during an audit.
Table of contents
Understanding Annex A 6.2
The primary goal of this control is to state the security responsibilities of employees and contractors within their contractual agreements. You need to make sure that anyone joining your team knows that security is part of their job. This is not just about being nice. It is about having a legal framework in place if things go wrong.
When we audit a client, we want to see that the organisation has legally binding agreements. These agreements must state that the employee agrees to follow your information security policies. If an employee steals data or shares passwords, you need to be able to show that they breached their contract. Without this clause, taking disciplinary action becomes much harder.
Why this control matters to us
From the perspective of ISO27001.com, we view this control as a foundational layer of trust. If you do not have security clauses in your contracts, you are building your Information Security Management System on sand. You cannot enforce a policy if the employee never agreed to follow it.
This control protects the organisation and the employee. The organisation gets legal protection and assurance. The employee gets clarity. They know exactly what is expected of them regarding confidentiality and data protection. It removes ambiguity. When everyone knows the rules, the culture of security becomes stronger.
Steps to implement the control
You do not need to be a lawyer to get this right, but you might need to talk to one. Implementing Annex A 6.2 involves reviewing and updating your current hiring documents. Here is how you can approach it.
Review your existing contracts
Start by gathering your current employment contracts and offer letters. Read them carefully. do they mention information security? Do they mention data protection? If the answer is no, you have a gap. You need to add specific clauses that mandate compliance with your security policies.
Incorporate confidentiality agreements
Sometimes a standard contract is not enough. You might need a separate Non-Disclosure Agreement or NDA. This is common for roles with access to highly sensitive data. You should ensure that the obligation to keep secrets safe continues even after the employee leaves your company. We often check for this “post-employment” clause during our audits.
Address copyright and intellectual property
You should clarify who owns the work the employee creates. If a software developer writes code for you, does the company own it? The contract must state that all intellectual property created during employment belongs to the organisation. This prevents disputes later and secures your assets.
Don’t forget contractors
This control is not just for full-time staff. It applies to contractors and temporary workers too. If a consultant comes in to fix your server, they have access to your data. Their contract must have the same strong security requirements as your permanent staff. At ISO27001.com, we check contractor agreements just as rigorously as employee contracts.
What the auditor will look for
When an auditor from a certification body arrives, we look for evidence. We cannot just take your word for it. We need to see the documents. You should be prepared to show us a sample of redacted employment contracts.
We will look for a signed acceptance of your Information Security Policy. It is a good practice to have new hires sign a document saying they have read and understood the staff handbook. If you use a digital HR system, a timestamped log of their acceptance is perfect. We also verify that these documents are signed before the employee gets access to your systems. If they sign the contract two weeks after they started, that is a non-conformity.
Common pitfalls to avoid
We see many people make the mistake of using generic contract templates found online. These templates often lack specific references to information security policies. Another mistake is failing to update contracts for long-term employees. If someone has worked for you for ten years, their original contract might be outdated. You need to ensure their terms align with your current security standards.
Finally, do not treat this as a one-time task. Laws change and your risks change. You should review these terms regularly. If you are unsure where to start with your documentation, ISO27001.com offers resources and templates that can guide you in the right direction.
Summary
Implementing Annex A 6.2 is about binding your staff to your security culture legally. It ensures they know their duties and protects you if they fail to uphold them. By updating your contracts and ensuring every worker signs them before accessing data, you satisfy the standard and secure your business.
Get your legal and HR teams together and review those documents today. It is a small step that makes a massive difference in your audit performance.