ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.16 – Identity Management

Effective identity management is essential for controlling access to your organisation’s sensitive data and IT resources. ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.16 provides a comprehensive framework for managing and governing both human and non-human identities throughout their entire lifecycle. By establishing clear protocols for registering, managing, and removing identities, this control ensures your organisation can track and manage who (or what) is accessing your network at any given time.

What Is ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.16?

Annex A Control 5.16 focuses on the management of identities on your network, which includes users, groups, devices, and applications. This control defines how organisations should handle identity creation, registration, and lifecycle management, ensuring that each entity has the appropriate access rights for their role or function.

Identity management is critical for protecting sensitive information, as it defines the perimeter of your cybersecurity operations. Proper identity governance reduces risks by ensuring that only authorised individuals and systems can access key data and resources.

What Does Annex A Control 5.16 Do?

Annex A Control 5.16 establishes clear procedures for managing identities throughout their lifecycle. This control helps organisations:

1. Identify Who or What Is Accessing the Network: It tracks human users, devices, applications, and systems that interact with data and IT assets.
2. Ensure Proper Access Rights: By carefully managing identities, the organisation ensures that each entity has only the permissions they need, helping to prevent unauthorised access.
3. Maintain Security Governance: Annex A 5.16 serves as a core part of the organisation’s cybersecurity framework, defining how identity and access management (IAM) processes should be structured and governed.

Why Identity Management Matters

Proper identity management is a key part of an organisation's overall cybersecurity. By effectively managing identities, organisations can:

• Reduce the Risk of Unauthorised Access: Clear identity management ensures that only authorised users and devices can access sensitive information, reducing the likelihood of data breaches.
• Ensure Compliance: Many regulations, such as GDPR, require organisations to protect personal data through strict identity management processes.
• Improve Cybersecurity: Identity management forms a crucial layer of protection in your security strategy, helping prevent insider threats and account misuse.
• Streamline IT Operations: A well-managed identity system makes it easier to onboard, offboard, and manage employees, devices, and systems over time.

Key Steps to Implement Annex A Control 5.16

Implementing ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.16 requires a structured approach to managing identities, whether human or non-human. Here’s how your organisation can implement this control effectively:

1. Assign Unique Identities: Every user or device should be given a unique identity to track their access. Shared identities should only be used when absolutely necessary, with a separate approval process.
2. Establish Clear Policies for Identity Use: Users must not share their login credentials or use any identity other than the one assigned to them. Ensure that your IT policies clearly communicate these rules and that staff understand their responsibilities.
3. Handle Human and Non-Human Identities Differently: While human identities are tied to individual users, non-human identities (for devices, applications, etc.) require separate processes for approval and registration. These non-human identities should also be monitored for unusual activity, just like user accounts.
4. Regularly Audit and Remove Unnecessary Identities: As part of your identity lifecycle management, perform regular audits to identify redundant or inactive identities. For employees who leave the organisation, ensure that their identities are deactivated immediately.
5. Avoid Duplicate Identities: Follow a strict "one entity, one identity" rule to ensure that no entity has more than one identity, which could lead to security gaps or unauthorised access.
6. Document Identity Events: Keep detailed records of all identity-related activities, such as when identities are created, modified, or removed. This helps ensure accountability and provides an audit trail for compliance purposes.

Supplementary Guidance for Identity Management

Beyond the core processes, Annex A 5.16 also provides guidance on specific aspects of identity management. When creating or modifying an identity, follow these four key steps:

1. Establish a Business Case for Identity Creation: Every identity should have a clear purpose, and new identities should only be created when absolutely necessary.
2. Verify the Identity Before Registration: Ensure that both human and non-human identities are verified before being granted access to the network. This could involve confirming an employee’s role or verifying the legitimacy of a device.
3. Create the Identity in Line with Business Requirements: When building an identity, limit its permissions to what is strictly necessary based on the approved business case.
4. Configure Permissions and Roles: Once the identity is created, assign the appropriate access permissions, authentication services, and roles that align with the organisation’s access control policies.

Changes From ISO 27001:2013

The 2022 update to ISO 27001 brings several key changes in how identities are managed. Annex A Control 5.16 replaces the previous A.9.2.1 (User Registration and Deregistration) control from ISO 27001:2013. While both controls deal with maintaining and deactivating identities, Annex A 5.16 introduces more comprehensive guidelines that address both human and non-human identities, recognising the increasing complexity of modern IT systems.

• Human vs Non-Human Identities: In previous versions, non-human identities were not addressed. Annex A 5.16 acknowledges that both types of identities must be treated with equal importance in terms of security.
• Lifecycle Management: The new control focuses on the full lifecycle of identities, from creation and registration to their eventual deactivation, offering a more holistic approach to identity management.

Best Practices for Ensuring Compliance

To comply with Annex A Control 5.16, follow these best practices:

1. Maintain a Central Identity Repository: Use a central system for tracking all identities, whether human or non-human, to avoid duplication and ensure consistency in how identities are managed.
2. Regularly Review Access Rights: Periodically review identity permissions and access rights to ensure they still align with the individual’s role or function. Remove any access that is no longer needed.
3. Create Comprehensive Policies: Ensure your identity management policies cover all aspects of identity creation, verification, modification, and deletion.
4. Provide Employee Training: Train your staff on the importance of identity management and the organisation’s rules around using and managing identities.

How Harpe.io Can Help Implement ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.16

Harpe.io provides a comprehensive platform that simplifies the management of identities and access control in line with ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 5.16. Here’s how Harpe.io can support your organisation:

• Identity Management Framework: Harpe.io enables you to manage both human and non-human identities across your network, ensuring each identity has the correct access rights and permissions.
• Centralised Documentation and Tracking: With Harpe.io, you can maintain detailed records of all identity-related activities, helping you stay compliant with ISO standards.
• Regular Auditing Tools: Harpe.io supports regular audits of identities, making it easier to identify and deactivate inactive or unnecessary identities.
• Employee Training and Awareness: Harpe.io offers tools to educate your staff on identity management best practices and the importance of maintaining secure access rights.