What is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.25 in ISO 27001?
Annex A 5.25 requires a documented procedure to evaluate security events. Organisations use existing tools to determine if events qualify as incidents. This process integrates into internal workflows like Jira. It ensures human oversight remains central to the security decision-making process. Accurate assessment protects organisational assets.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Many organisations rely on automated SaaS “compliance portals” to assess events. This creates a dangerous shortcut. Staff often click a button without understanding the risk. Auditors prefer seeing assessment logic within your native SharePoint or Jira environments. Real evidence shows human intent and technical validation. Automated green ticks carry little weight during a lead audit. Your internal document history proves genuine management ownership of security events.
Transition Table (2013 vs 2022)
| ISO 27001:2013 Reference | ISO 27001:2022 Reference | Key Change Summary |
|---|---|---|
| A.16.1.4 Assessment of security events | 5.25 Assessment and decision | The 2022 version explicitly links assessment to the decision phase. |
How to Implement ISO 27001 Annex A 5.25 (Step-by-Step)
Implementation focuses on creating a lived process within your business-as-usual tools. You must define what an incident looks like for your specific organisation. Avoid using generic software templates for this task.
- Map Your Process: Define the triage workflow within your internal Jira projects.
- Set Criteria: Publish an assessment matrix on a version-controlled SharePoint page.
- Assign Responders: Use your internal directory to name authorised decision-makers.
- Capture Decisions: Ensure every triage ticket includes a clear “Incident” or “Non-Incident” outcome.
- Audit the History: Regularly review assessment logs to improve your classification criteria.
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.25 Audit Evidence Checklist
Auditors look for manual records and meeting minutes. These prove human oversight and intent within the organisation. Focus on version-controlled documents in native repositories.
- Jira service desk logs showing event triage and technical assessment.
- Confluence pages describing the organisational incident classification scheme.
- SharePoint records showing management approval for incident declarations.
- Meeting minutes where security events were discussed and categorised.
- Internal audit reports on the effectiveness of event assessment.
Relational Mapping
Annex A 5.25 is a central link in the incident lifecycle. It follows Clause 5.24 (Incident Management Planning) for its operational structure. It feeds directly into Clause 5.26 (Response to Information Security Incidents). Effective assessment also supports Clause 5.27 (Learning from Incidents) by providing initial data. These inter-dependencies form a cohesive management system.
Auditor Interview
Auditor: How do you track the assessment of new security events?
User: We log every report in Jira and use a dedicated triage workflow.
Auditor: Where is the criteria for declaring an incident documented?
User: Our assessment matrix is stored in the SharePoint Document Management System.
Auditor: Who approves the final decision on high-priority events?
User: The Information Security Manager reviews the triage notes and approves the status.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Auditor Note |
|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on platform green ticks without having internal procedural evidence. |
| Undefined Criteria | Assessing events without a documented organisational classification matrix. |
| Lack of Audit Trail | Closing event reports without documenting the decision logic or authoriser. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary objective of Annex A 5.25?
The primary objective is to evaluate whether a security event constitutes a real incident. Organisations must use documented criteria to make this decision. This process prevents improper resource allocation. It ensures critical threats receive immediate attention from the response team. Efficient assessment reduces overall business risk.
How should organisations document security event assessments?
Organisations should document assessments within native tools like Jira or SharePoint. Each record must detail the triage results. Include the timestamp of the decision and the staff responsible. This provides a clear audit trail for management review. It also facilitates future process improvements.
Who is responsible for the final incident decision?
Appointed security officers or managers must confirm the assessment results. They use internal criteria to validate the event status. Their decision must be recorded in the organisational document system. This ensures accountability for the security response process. It also validates the effectiveness of the initial triage.