ISO 27001 Annex A 5.6 is a rule about a company staying in touch with outside groups that care about information security. This helps the company get new knowledge and stay up to date.
Table of contents
What is Contact With Special Interest Groups?
This rule asks a company to connect with special interest groups, like security forums or professional clubs. The goal is to make sure the company is always learning and sharing information about keeping data safe. Being part of these groups helps a company:
- Learn about new threats: It’s like having an early warning system.
- Get expert advice: Companies can talk to experts about problems.
- Share information: They can trade ideas and help each other.
- Stay current: This helps them keep their security plans modern.
What is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.6?
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 “Contact With Special Interest Groups”.
What is the ISO 27001 Annex A 5.6 control objective?
The formal definition and control objective in the standard is: “The organisation should establish and maintain contact with special interest groups or other specialist security forums and professional associations.“
What is the purpose of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.6?
The purpose of ISO 27001 Annex A 5.6 is “To ensure the appropriate flow of information takes place with respect to information security.“
Is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.6 Mandatory?
ISO 27001 Annex A control 5.6 (Contact With Special Interest Groups 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 5.6 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:
- Find the right groups. Look for groups that are a good fit for the company’s work.
- Join and be active. It’s not enough to just join; you must take part in the group.
- Keep records. You should write down which groups you are in, who the contact people are, and what information you share or get.
- Check on it often. Make sure the groups are still helpful to your company over time.
What an Auditor Will Check
An auditor will want to see proof that you are following these rules. They will look for:
- A list of any specialist groups that you are part of.
They will also ask questions about what you get from the group and how you use the information to make your company safer.
You can learn more about Contact With Special Interest Groups and ISO 27001 by watching this video:ISO 27001 Annex A 5.6 Contact With Special Interest Groups Explained
