What is ISO 27001 Annex A 7.10 in ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 Annex A 7.10 governs the lifecycle of physical and digital storage media. Organisations manage media through documented procedures within SharePoint. These rules cover acquisition, use, transportation, and disposal. Integration into existing document systems ensures accountability. It prevents unauthorised access or data leakage from portable devices.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Automated SaaS platforms often display a green tick for media handling. This masks serious physical security failures. Auditors find hard drives in unlocked drawers while the dashboard claims compliance. We prefer seeing disposal certificates in your native SharePoint folders. A platform dashboard cannot verify a physical shredding event. Internal records prove genuine management oversight. You must own the process within your existing operational tools.
| ISO 27001:2013 Reference | ISO 27001:2022 Reference | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Annex A 11.2.7 & 11.2.8 | Annex A 7.10 | Media management and secure disposal merged for clarity. |
How to Implement ISO 27001 Annex A 7.10 (Step-by-Step)
Secure storage media by integrating controls into your primary business tools. This method ensures staff follow rules during daily work. Frame the implementation as a cultural change. Do not treat it as a software installation.
- Draft your media handling policy and store it in SharePoint.
- Define encryption requirements for all portable storage devices.
- Create a media register using a SharePoint list or internal wiki.
- Use Jira to log every media disposal or transport request.
- Schedule monthly reviews of media logs in management meetings.
ISO 27001 Annex A 7.10 Audit Evidence Checklist
Focus on manual records and internal document versions. These prove human oversight and intent. Auditors check for consistency between your registers and physical reality.
- Media handling policy with a clear SharePoint version history.
- A complete register of storage media kept in Confluence.
- Jira tickets showing the decommissioning of old servers.
- Destruction certificates signed by an authorised service provider.
- Internal audit reports on physical media storage locations.
Relational Mapping
Control A 7.10 connects to several other ISO 27001 requirements:
- Clause 8.1 (Operational Planning): Directs the management of media lifecycles.
- Annex A 5.9 (Inventory of Information): Provides the basis for the media register.
- Annex A 8.10 (Information Deletion): Governs the digital cleansing of media.
Auditor Interview: Direct Process Management
Auditor: How do you track a USB drive leaving the office?
Manager: We use a Jira request system. The staff member logs the serial number and the return date.
Auditor: How do you ensure the data is safe during transport?
Manager: Our SharePoint policy mandates BitLocker encryption. We audit this through our standard endpoint management tool.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Description | Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on a SaaS platform tick without physical evidence. | Conduct site inspections and log them in SharePoint. |
| Missing Disposal Logs | No record of where old hard drives went. | Implement a Jira disposal workflow with certificate uploads. |
| Unencrypted Media | Portable drives lack mandatory encryption protocols. | Enforce technical policies and update the Confluence wiki. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 27001 Annex A 7.10?
The Bottom Line: It is the requirement to manage storage media throughout its life. You must secure media during use, transport, and disposal. Document these procedures in your internal SharePoint. This ensures your organisation maintains control over sensitive data carriers.
How do I manage the media disposal process?
The Bottom Line: Use Jira to track the decommissioning of assets. Record every step from the request to final destruction. Upload certificates to your internal document system. This provides a clear audit trail of your secure disposal activities.
Why is a document-based management system better?
The Bottom Line: It integrates security into your actual daily workflows. Auditors trust records kept in SharePoint or Confluence more than external dashboards. It proves your team actively manages media risks. This reduces the danger of surface-level compliance failures.
