ISO 27001 Annex A Controls 5.19 to 5.22: Supplier Assurance

Why It’s Crucial to Monitor the Security Posture of You and Your Partners

In the rapidly evolving landscape of digital health, cybersecurity is no longer a choice but a necessity. With the need to manage information security comes the requirement to be certified to the standard of ISO 27001:2022 compliance. It’s easy to look internally and assess your own security posture when trying to improve it, but this isn’t the only area you need to consider. ISO 27001 Annex A Controls 5.19, 5.20, 5.21, and 5.22 underscore the importance of monitoring and managing the security posture of not only your own organisation but also that of your partners.

Understanding the Importance of Supplier Assurance

When it comes to cybersecurity, your organisation is only as strong as its weakest link. In today’s complex tech environment, you likely rely on many suppliers and partners to make your business as effective as possible, making supplier assurance crucial.

Controls 5.19 to 5.22 of ISO 27001:2022 focus on helping you overcome this hurdle:

• 5.19 Information Security in Supplier Relationships: Aims to protect your organisation’s valuable assets that are accessible to or affected by suppliers.
• 5.20 Addressing Information Security Within Supplier Agreements: Details how an organisation should form contracts with suppliers, ensuring they meet the necessary information security requirements.
• 5.21 Managing Information Security in the ICT Supply Chain: Serves as a preventative control to maintain risk within the ICT supply chain by establishing an agreed level of security between the parties.
• 5.22 Monitoring and Review and Change Management of Supplier Services: Ensures that an agreed level of information security and service delivery is maintained.

These controls are not just about ticking boxes; they are about building a resilient security framework that keeps your business at the highest level of information security.

How Can Harpe Help?

The Harpe App is an essential tool for managing your supplier relationships, especially when aiming for ISO 27001:2022 compliance. That’s why we’ve developed a dedicated ‘Suppliers’ tab within Harpe, designed to streamline and simplify supplier assurance.

Key Features of the Harpe Supplier Tab:

• Seamless UI: Navigate your suppliers using unique IDs, a search function, and step-by-step guidance as you add new suppliers.
• Assurance Questionnaire: Leads you through relevant tasks to ensure compliance with ISO 27001 Annex A Controls.
• Disaster Recovery Tab: Helps you understand the security considerations for potential issues with your external relationships and how these organisations would handle incidents. This allows you to assess and mitigate risks by understanding the security posture of your suppliers.
• Annual Reviews: Help you stay on top of and maintain strong supplier risk management practices.
• Certification Storage: Provides a handy facility to track the certifications that your suppliers adhere to, ensuring ongoing cybersecurity and supplier risk management.

Ensure your business and its partners are secure with Harpe. Strengthen every link in your supply chain and master ISO 27001 compliance effortlessly. Take control of your supplier assurance today—get started with Harpe now.