ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34 – Protection of Information Systems During Audit Testing

Find out more about Annex A 8.34 of ISO 27001:2022. Learn how to keep information systems safe during audit testing, why it’s important, and how to do it right.

Key Takeaways

• ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34 is all about keeping live systems, data, and environments safe during audits and tests.
• The goal of the control is to keep operations running smoothly and protect private data.
• It works for testing and auditing done by the company itself, by other companies, or by a third party.
• To put something into action, you need written procedures, permission processes, and technical protections.

What does ISO 27001 say about protecting information systems during audit testing?

This control makes sure that when a company does audits or tests, like internal audits, penetration tests, or compliance assessments, it doesn’t put production systems, data integrity, or privacy at risk.

The intent is to balance verification with protection, allowing testing without introducing risks or unintentional disruptions.

What is ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34?

Annex A 8.34 is a part of the ISO 27001:2022 standard for technological controls.

It states:

“Protection of information systems and tools used for audit and testing shall be implemented to prevent adverse impact on operations and security.”

This means that activities that test systems must be carefully planned, approved, and watched over to keep operational systems and information safe.

Is Annex A 8.34 of ISO 27001 Required?

Yes, Annex A 8.34 is required if it applies. This means that organizations must decide if this control is relevant to their ISMS scope.

The control must be put in place if testing or auditing could affect production systems.

The Statement of Applicability (SoA) should explain why it is not applicable and keep a record of it.

What is the purpose of ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34?

If not done safely, audit and test activities, especially penetration tests or vulnerability scans, can make systems unstable, corrupt data, or expose sensitive data.

This control makes sure that:

• The system is still available.
• During testing, private information is kept safe.
• Data and testing tools are kept safe.
• Maintaining compliance with regulations and trust from clients

When Do You Need ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34?

You need this control every time you do an audit or test, like when you do

• Internal audits of ISMS.
• Vulnerability tests or penetration tests.
• Testing the performance of an application or network.
• Assessments of security for suppliers or customers.
• Investigations by forensic experts or compliance audits.

Where Do You Need ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34

This rule applies to:

• Production environments are live servers, apps, and databases.
• Test environments are systems that are like production systems.
• The organization is responsible for cloud systems and SaaS platforms.
• Testing was done in remote or third-party environments.

How do you write Annex A 8.34 of ISO 27001?

Your procedure for writing down this control should include:

1. Purpose: to keep systems safe during testing or audits.
2. Scope: List the systems and types of testing that it covers.
3. Responsibilities: Who is in charge of approving, doing, and keeping an eye on testing?
4. Testing Controls: talk about safety measures like limited access, backups, and monitoring.
5. Authorization—get written permission before testing starts.
6. Review after the test should include analysis and steps to fix any problems.

How do you put ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34 into action?

To put this into action, follow these steps:

1. Make rules and policies for testing and auditing activities.
2. Set up a controlled testing environment, like a staging or sandbox system.
3. Limit Access: Only people who have permission can do tests.
4. Before testing, make a backup of important data.
5. Keep an eye on and record what happens during tests.
6. Check the effects and fix the systems if there are problems.
7. Write down and look over the results to find ways to make things better.

How to Use ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34 (An Example Approach)

• Pre-Test Phase: Get written permission and set the test’s limits.
• Test Phase: Use data that isn’t in production and environments that aren’t connected to the internet.
• After the test, look at the results, take away temporary access, and restore the settings.
• Review Phase: Look over the results and change the risk assessments as needed.

ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34: Information Security Standards That Need

This control is in line with a number of other standards and frameworks:

• ISO 27002:2022 Control 8.34
• ISO 27019 – energy industry-specific ISMS controls.
• ISO 27035 – incident management.
• NIST SP 800-53 CA-8 – penetration testing.
• SOC 2 CC5.2 – change and testing integrity.

List of Relevant ISO 27001:2022 Controls

• A.5.15 Access Control Policy
• A.5.23 Information Security for Cloud Services
• A.8.8 System Security Testing
• A.8.9 Configuration Management
• A.8.16 Monitoring Activities
• A.8.28 Secure Coding

These controls work together to make sure that testing is done safely and that the system is safe.

How to check ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34

Auditors should check that:

• There are written rules for protecting tests.
• All test activities have been approved ahead of time.
• When possible, testing is done in places that are separate from other things.
• There is no record of any unauthorized testing in the logs.
• We look over the test results and keep track of what needs to be done to fix them.

Test plans, risk assessments, and records of communication are all examples of audit evidence.

ISO 27001 Annex A 8.34 Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does ISO 27001 allow testing on live systems?

A: Yes, but only if the right precautions are taken and permission is given.

Q: Can auditors from outside the company do testing?

A: Yes, as long as privacy and security measures are in place.

Q: How often should you do audit testing?

A: It depends on the level of risk and compliance needed, but usually once a year or after big changes.

ISO 27002:2022 Control 8.34

ISO/IEC 27002:2022 gives detailed instructions for this control, with a focus on:

• Before testing, make a plan and assess the risks.
• There is a difference between production and test systems.
• Safe handling of test data (no private or personal information).
• Keeping an eye on test tools and activities.