What is ISO 27001 Annex A 8.3 Information Access Restriction in ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 Annex A 8.3 requires restricting access to information according to defined organisational rules. It is a documented process managed within your standard business tools. You must enforce these restrictions using SharePoint permissions and Jira authorisation workflows. This ensures data protection aligns with specific business requirements.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Reliance on automated SaaS platforms often leads to surface-level compliance. These tools show lists of permissions but lack the business context. Auditors prefer seeing evidence within your native document repositories like SharePoint. Internal meeting minutes prove that managers actively discuss and approve access. SaaS dashboards fail to capture the human intent behind authorisation. You must demonstrate management ownership through your integrated internal tools.
| ISO 27001:2013 Reference | ISO 27001:2022 Reference | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| Annex A 9.4.1 | Annex A 8.3 | Minor numbering change: Focus remains on restricting access to information. |
How to Implement ISO 27001 Annex A 8.3 (Step-by-Step)
Implement information access restriction by integrating security into your daily organisational tools. You must define access rules based on business needs rather than simple software settings. Use your existing SharePoint and Jira environments to manage this control.
- Draft a formal access control policy and store it in SharePoint.
- Identify sensitive information sets across your business functions.
- Define user roles and map them to these information sets in Confluence.
- Configure SharePoint permission groups to match your role mappings.
- Use Jira workflows for all new access requests and approvals.
- Schedule recurring reviews of access rights in management meetings.
ISO 27001 Annex A 8.3 Information Access Restriction Audit Evidence Checklist
Focus on manual records and internal document versions. These prove human oversight and organisational intent. Auditors check your primary repositories for this evidence.
- Version history of the Access Control Policy in SharePoint.
- Jira audit trail for individual access grants.
- Management meeting minutes showing quarterly access reviews.
- SharePoint site permission reports showing current group members.
- Evidence of staff training on information handling procedures.
Relational Mapping
Annex A 8.3 integrates with several other ISO 27001 controls:
- Annex A 5.15: Complements access control policies.
- Annex A 8.2: Relates to privileged access rights management.
- Clause 9.2: Internal audits verify access restriction effectiveness.
Auditor Interview
Auditor: How do you decide who can view sensitive financial data?
Manager: We use our role mapping document in Confluence. The Finance Director must approve all access via a Jira ticket.
Auditor: How do you know if someone still needs their current access?
Manager: We perform quarterly reviews. We record the outcome in our management meeting minutes in SharePoint.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Description | Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on a SaaS tool without having internal procedural evidence. | Ensure Jira tickets and meeting minutes document the process. |
| Excessive Permissions | Users keep access after changing roles or departments. | Implement a formal move/leave process in Jira. |
| Lack of Policy | Restricting access without a documented or approved policy. | Publish an approved access policy in SharePoint. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 27001 Annex A 8.3?
The bottom line is that Annex A 8.3 requires you to limit information access. You must define who can see specific data based on their job role. Manage this within your existing SharePoint and Jira systems. This ensures your data protection is integrated into your daily operations.
How does this control differ from user access management?
The bottom line is that Annex A 8.3 focuses on the information itself. While other controls manage accounts, this control manages what those accounts can see. You implement this by applying specific permissions to your SharePoint folders and Confluence pages.
Do I need special software for access restriction?
The bottom line is no. Standard tools like SharePoint and Jira are sufficient for compliance. These tools allow you to create robust permission schemes and approval workflows. Avoid third-party SaaS platforms that isolate your security evidence from your daily work.