What is ISO 27001 Annex A 7.5 Protecting Against Physical and Environmental Threats in ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 Annex A 7.5 protects information from environmental hazards. This control requires a documented process integrated into internal tools. It mitigates risks from fire, floods, and power failures. Organisations must maintain physical protections and record all maintenance activities. Successful implementation involves active management within business-as-usual workflows.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Reliance on automated SaaS platforms leads to surface-level compliance. These portals often show a green tick without verifying hardware status. A SaaS platform cannot empty a water drip tray. Auditors prefer seeing internal evidence in SharePoint. Jira tickets for UPS testing prove active management. Third-party software creates a decoupling of security from site operations. Authentic compliance requires records within your native repositories.
| 2013 Reference | 2022 Reference | Key Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Annex A 11.1.4 / 11.1.5 | Annex A 7.5 | Combines protection against general threats and environmental hazards. Focuses on physical resilience. |
How to Implement ISO 27001 Annex A 7.5 (Step-by-Step)
Implement protection by integrating checks into existing operational tools. This approach ensures security becomes a cultural habit. Avoid external software that staff will eventually ignore.
- Identify environmental risks and store them in SharePoint.
- Define control measures for fire, water, and power.
- Schedule recurring equipment inspections using Jira workflows.
- Maintain all service certificates in a central Confluence page.
- Update site floor plans to show emergency equipment locations.
ISO 27001 Annex A 7.5 Protecting Against Physical and Environmental Threats Audit Evidence Checklist
Auditors look for manual records and internal document versions. These prove human oversight and operational intent. Ensure all files are stored in your primary document management system.
- Dated maintenance logs for air conditioning units.
- Signed meeting minutes reviewing environmental risks.
- Version-controlled emergency response procedures in SharePoint.
- Jira tickets showing closure of hardware faults.
- Photos of correctly positioned fire suppression systems.
Relational Mapping
Annex A 7.5 connects to several other ISO 27001 areas:
- Clause 6.1.2: Information security risk assessment.
- Annex A 7.1: Physical security perimeters.
- Annex A 8.14: Redundancy of information processing facilities.
Auditor Interview: Direct Process Verification
Auditor: How do you manage your server room cooling risks?
User: We track HVAC maintenance cycles in Jira. The contractor uploads service reports directly to SharePoint.
Auditor: How do you ensure fire extinguishers are ready?
User: Our facilities team performs monthly visual checks. They record these checks in our internal wiki.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Description | Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on a SaaS dashboard while hardware fails. | Record manual inspections in internal tools. |
| Expired Logs | Maintenance records are older than one year. | Set automated Jira alerts for renewals. |
| Single Point of Failure | No backup power testing is documented. | Log UPS load tests in Confluence. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 27001 Annex A 7.5?
The Bottom Line: It is the requirement to protect assets from environmental damage. You must identify threats like fire or floods. Document these risks in your internal SharePoint register. Implement physical barriers and monitoring systems to mitigate these hazards effectively.
How do I manage environmental risks?
The Bottom Line: Manage risks by integrating maintenance logs into Jira or Confluence. Conduct regular site inspections of fire extinguishers and power units. Record every check within your internal version-controlled documents. This proves management ownership of the physical site security.
Is a SaaS tool enough for environmental compliance?
The Bottom Line: No, a SaaS tool is never sufficient. Automated software cannot physically inspect a site. Auditors require evidence of manual testing and local records. Use your existing internal repositories to demonstrate genuine oversight of physical protections.