What is ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.25 Secure development life cycle in ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 Annex A 8.25 requires a documented secure development life cycle for all software. This process must be integrated into standard project management tools like Jira. It ensures security is considered from the initial design through to deployment. Implementation relies on internal procedures rather than disconnected software tools.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Many organisations rely on “Black Box” SaaS platforms for SDLC compliance. These tools often show a “green tick” for a generic development policy. They fail to record the actual human oversight within the development team. I prefer seeing security checklists embedded in your Jira tickets. SharePoint versioning proves your team manages coding standards actively. SaaS shortcuts decouple security from your daily development work. This lack of integration leads to major non-conformities during audits.
| ISO 27001:2013 Reference | ISO 27001:2022 Reference | Primary Nature of Change |
|---|---|---|
| Annex A 14.2.1 Secure development policy | Annex A 8.25 Secure development life cycle | Broadened from a simple policy to a full lifecycle requirement. It focuses on practical integration. |
How to Implement ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.25 (Step-by-Step)
The core requirement for Annex A 8.25 is establishing security as a standard developer habit. You must use existing tools to build a robust audit trail. This integrated approach ensures technical teams follow security protocols naturally. Follow these clinical steps for implementation.
- Draft your secure development guidelines within a SharePoint policy library.
- Ensure all developers acknowledge the latest standards via internal training logs.
- Modify Jira workflows to include a “Security Review” status for all tickets.
- Use Confluence to document architectural design reviews for new features.
- Perform manual peer reviews for all production-bound code changes.
- Capture the outcome of these reviews in versioned internal wiki pages.
- Schedule monthly security meetings to discuss development risks and log the minutes.
ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.25 Secure development life cycle Audit Evidence Checklist
Auditors look for manual records and internal document versions. These prove human oversight and operational intent. Your evidence must show that the process is active. Avoid showing disconnected dashboards from third-party software.
- A Secure Development Policy with clear version history in SharePoint.
- Jira ticket history demonstrating security sign-off before code merging.
- Historical peer review logs stored within your Confluence environment.
- Internal training records showing developer competence in secure coding.
- Meeting minutes from management reviews of the software life cycle.
Relational Mapping
Annex A 8.25 relies on several other core ISO 27001 requirements. Clause 8.1 requires operational planning and control. Annex A 8.28 manages secure coding rules. Annex A 8.31 governs environment separation. Annex A 8.32 controls system changes. All these processes must link back to your central document management system.
Auditor Interview
Auditor: How do you manage security during the coding phase?
User: We integrate security checkpoints into our standard Jira workflows for all developers.
Auditor: Where is the evidence that these reviews actually take place?
User: We store our peer review logs and architectural sign-offs in Confluence. Every production release has a linked SharePoint folder for audit evidence.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Description | Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on a SaaS platform’s green tick without having internal procedural evidence. | Move security reviews into your primary Jira development workflow. |
| Missing Sign-off | Features move to production without a documented security review. | Enforce mandatory Jira workflow transitions for security approval. |
| Static Standards | Coding guidelines exist in SharePoint but staff never update them. | Schedule an annual review of coding standards in SharePoint. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an ISO 27001 secure development life cycle?
The bottom line: It is a documented framework for building secure software. It requires integrating security at every phase of development. You must manage this within tools like Jira and SharePoint. This ensures security is not an afterthought during the coding process. Real evidence exists in your native repositories.
How do I implement Annex A 8.25 using Jira?
The bottom line: Configure Jira workflows to include mandatory security reviews. Developers must complete specific security tasks before closing a sprint. This creates a verifiable audit trail for an external auditor. It embeds security directly into your daily technical operations without extra tools.
Why is SharePoint better than SaaS for SDLC compliance?
The bottom line: SharePoint preserves version history and management intent. SaaS compliance tools often provide generic templates that development teams eventually ignore. Using SharePoint keeps your security policies within your organisational boundary. This approach proves genuine management ownership to an auditor.