What is ISO 27001 Annex A 8.5 Secure Authentication in ISO 27001?
ISO 27001 Annex A 8.5 requires a documented process to verify user identities before system access. This control integrates into daily operations via SharePoint policies and Jira workflows. It mandates Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and strong password standards. You must manage authentication credentials according to their risk classification.
Auditor’s Eye: The Shortcut Trap
Reliance on automated SaaS platforms leads to surface-level compliance for authentication. These tools show a green tick if MFA is “on” but ignore management intent. Auditors prefer seeing the Jira ticket where a manager approved an MFA bypass for a specific legacy system. We check SharePoint to ensure your policy defines complexity: not just a software default. Decoupling security from your native repositories creates an evidence gap. Real compliance requires human oversight recorded in your organisational tools.
| ISO 27001:2013 Reference | ISO 27001:2022 Reference | Key Focus Areas |
|---|---|---|
| Annex A 9.4.2 & 9.4.3 | Annex A 8.5 | Strengthening identity verification. Mandatory MFA for sensitive access. Secure credential management. |
How to Implement ISO 27001 Annex A 8.5 (Step-by-Step)
Secure authentication starts with defining strong standards within your internal document management systems. You must implement Multi-Factor Authentication for all sensitive information access. Frame this as a cultural change in identity verification. Use your existing SharePoint and Jira environments to maintain evidence.
- Draft a comprehensive authentication policy and store it in SharePoint.
- Enforce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) across all corporate systems.
- Use Jira to track the lifecycle of hardware and software authenticators.
- Document password complexity and rotation rules in your internal wiki.
- Conduct manual audits of Active Directory settings every quarter.
- Record review findings in management meeting minutes for auditor inspection.
ISO 27001 Annex A 8.5 Secure Authentication Audit Evidence Checklist
Focus on manual records and internal document versions that prove human oversight and intent. Auditors look for evidence within your native organisational tools. Avoid presenting dashboards from “black box” SaaS platforms.
- An approved authentication policy with SharePoint versioning history.
- Jira history for authenticator requests and management approvals.
- Exported configuration reports showing MFA enforcement status.
- Internal audit reports of credential management procedures.
- Minutes from security meetings reviewing failed login attempts.
Relational Mapping
Annex A 8.5 connects to several other core ISO 27001 controls:
- Annex A 5.15: Access control policy requirements.
- Annex A 8.2: Privileged access rights verification.
- Annex A 8.16: Monitoring and logging of authentication events.
Auditor Interview: Direct Process Management
Auditor: How do you ensure only authorised users access the production environment?
Manager: We enforce MFA for all production logins. We manage user elevation requests through a formal Jira ticket process.
Auditor: How do you verify your password policy meets current standards?
Manager: We review our Active Directory settings against our SharePoint policy monthly. We log the results in our security meeting minutes.
Common Non-Conformities
| Failure Mode | Description | Corrective Action |
|---|---|---|
| Automated Complacency | Relying on a SaaS dashboard tick while MFA is disabled for admins. | Perform manual configuration checks and log them in SharePoint. |
| Weak Password Policy | Using system defaults that do not meet your documented policy. | Update GPO settings to match the SharePoint authentication standard. |
| Unmanaged Tokens | Issuing hardware authenticators without tracking them in a register. | Create an authenticator register within your internal wiki. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 27001 Annex A 8.5?
The Bottom Line: It is the requirement to verify user identities securely before granting access. You must use strong credentials and Multi-Factor Authentication. Document your specific rules in SharePoint to provide an audit trail. This ensures your identity management remains under organisational control.
How do I implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)?
The Bottom Line: Enforce MFA using your primary identity provider like Entra ID. Record the enforcement policy in your internal wiki. Use Jira to manage any exceptions or hardware token distributions. This approach proves to auditors that you actively manage the authentication process.
Why avoid SaaS platforms for authentication evidence?
The Bottom Line: SaaS platforms often hide the configuration details auditors need to see. Internal repositories like SharePoint provide a transparent history of your policy decisions. Showing native logs and meeting minutes demonstrates a higher level of security maturity.