ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12 is about how a company should classify its information. This means sorting information into groups based on how important and sensitive it is. By doing this, a company can make sure it protects its most important data the right way.
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What Is Information Classification?
Information classification is a way to sort different kinds of data. You decide how much security each piece of data needs. The purpose is to know what level of protection is right for each piece of information. The rule says you should classify information based on its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
What is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12?
The latest version of the ISO 27001 standard is ISO/IEC 27001:2022 (published in October 2022).
In the ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Standard the control is titled “Classification Of Information”.
What is the ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12 control objective?
The formal definition and control objective in the standard is: “Information should be classified according to the information security needs of the organisation based on confidentiality, integrity, availability and relevant interested party requirements.“
What is the purpose of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12?
The purpose of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12 is “to ensure the identification and understanding of the protection needs of information in accordance with its importance to the organisation.“
Is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12 Mandatory?
ISO 27001 Annex A control 5.12 (Classification Of Information in the 2022 standard) is not automatically mandatory in the same way the clauses in the main body of the standard (clauses 4 through 10) are.
The mandatory part of the standard requires you to consider ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12 and all other Annex A controls, but you have the flexibility to exclude it if it is not applicable to your organisation’s specific risks and context.
Key Parts of the Rule
To follow this rule, you should have clear plans and policies. Here are some important steps:
- Make a plan: First, you should decide how you will classify your information. You can create your own system or use one that is already made. A simple system is often best. For example, you can use three levels like “Confidential,” “Internal,” and “Public.”
- Find an owner: Each piece of information should have an owner. This person is in charge of deciding how the information should be classified.
- Put controls in place: Once information is classified, you must use the right security controls to protect it. The controls you choose should match the classification level. For example, highly confidential information needs more security than public information.
- Keep it fresh: The value of information can change over time. You should check the classification of your information often, at least once a year, to make sure it is still correct.
What an Auditor Will Check
An auditor will want to see proof that you are following these rules. They will look for:
- A written policy for classification of information.
- Evidence that you follow the process for information classification.
- Proof that you have a way to check information classification on a regular basis.
You can learn more about Classification Of Information and ISO 27001 by watching this video: ISO 27001 Annex A 5.12 Classification Of Information Explained
