What is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.30 ICT Readiness For Business Continuity in ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.30 requires ICT systems to be ready for business disruptions. It is a documented process within your internal management system. It ensures that technical infrastructure meets recovery time and recovery point objectives. Use your existing SharePoint or Confluence to maintain these technical specifications and readiness plans.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Many organisations use automated SaaS compliance platforms to manage continuity. These tools provide generic templates. These often fail to reflect actual technical architecture. Auditors want to see your specific server configurations. We look for evidence in your internal Jira tickets. Do not trust a platform dashboard for your DR readiness. Actual logs in your native environment provide the only valid proof. Automated green ticks without internal procedural evidence lead to audit failure.
| 2013 Control Reference | 2022 Control Reference | Key Requirement Changes |
|---|---|---|
| A.17.1.1, A.17.1.2, A.17.1.3 | 5.30 ICT Readiness | Consolidates continuity planning into specific technical readiness. Focuses on matching ICT performance to business impact analysis. |
How to Implement ISO 27001 Annex A 5.30 ICT Readiness For Business Continuity (Step-by-Step)
Implementation requires aligning your technical recovery plans with business requirements. Use your existing SharePoint and Jira environments to track these activities. This ensures that security becomes a cultural habit for your technical teams. Avoid installing third-party compliance software that complicates your daily operations.
- Establish Performance Metrics: Define RTO and RPO for all critical ICT services in SharePoint.
- Map Technical Dependencies: Use internal wikis to document how systems interact during recovery.
- Configure Redundancy: Implement technical failover based on the business impact analysis.
- Schedule Routine Tests: Create recurring Jira tickets for testing technical recovery procedures.
- Update Documentation: Revise recovery playbooks in Confluence after every successful or failed test.
ISO 27001 Annex A 5.30 ICT Readiness For Business Continuity Audit Evidence Checklist
- Approved Business Impact Analysis documents stored in SharePoint.
- Formal register of RTO and RPO targets for critical systems.
- Technical disaster recovery playbooks with clear version histories.
- Jira workflow records showing completed recovery and failover simulations.
- Minutes from management meetings discussing ICT infrastructure investment for continuity.
Relational Mapping
- Annex A 5.29: Information security during disruption.
- Annex A 8.13: Information backup procedures.
- Clause 6.1.2: Information security risk assessment.
Auditor Interview
Auditor: How do you determine your recovery time objectives?
Manager: We perform a Business Impact Analysis with department heads. We store the results in our SharePoint management folder.
Auditor: Can you show me evidence of your last technical test?
Manager: Yes. Here is the Jira ticket with the attached server logs from our last failover.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Auditor Observation | Remediation Action |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on a SaaS dashboard. No internal procedural knowledge exists among staff. | Move recovery plans to internal wikis. Conduct staff-led recovery drills. |
| Mismatched Objectives | Technical recovery speed does not meet business requirements. | Update SharePoint RTO targets. Upgrade hardware or cloud configurations to match. |
| Lack of Evidence | Tests are performed but not recorded in a managed system. | Mandate Jira logging for all technical maintenance and continuity tests. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main goal of Annex A 5.30?
The main goal is ensuring ICT systems support business continuity. It requires technology to recover within timeframes set by the business. You must document these requirements in your internal systems. It is not just about having backups. It is about technical readiness and performance.
How often should we test ICT readiness?
Organisations should test readiness at least annually. High-risk environments often test quarterly. Use Jira to schedule these tests as part of your normal maintenance. Record every failure and success. This proves to auditors that your management system is active and improving.
Can we use cloud providers for ICT readiness?
Yes, cloud providers offer excellent redundancy tools. However, you must still document the configuration in your internal wikis. You are responsible for the readiness of the services you use. Auditors will check your internal procedures, not the cloud provider’s generic certifications.