ISO 27001:2022 Annex A Control 7.8

To implement ISO 27001 Control 7.8 effectively, your organization must follow a structured approach that includes physical security measures, access control, and environmental protection. Below is a breakdown of key implementation steps:

1. Secure Placement of Equipment

• Restrict physical access to critical IT infrastructure such as servers, firewalls, and data storage devices.
• Ensure that equipment handling sensitive data is placed in areas with restricted entry, preventing unauthorized personnel from viewing or tampering with information.
• Avoid placing workstations or screens in publicly visible locations where confidential information could be observed.
• Use physical barriers such as locked cabinets, dedicated server rooms, or secured workspaces for high-risk equipment.

2. Protecting Equipment from Environmental Threats

Equipment must be shielded from potential environmental threats, including:

• Fire hazards: Install fire suppression systems such as gas-based fire suppression (FM-200 or CO2 systems) to protect IT assets.
• Water leaks: Position server rooms away from plumbing lines to minimize water damage risks.
• Humidity & temperature fluctuations: Use HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) systems and real-time monitoring tools to maintain optimal conditions.
• Seismic risks: Install anti-vibration mounts and reinforced racks in earthquake-prone areas.

3. Implementing Environmental Monitoring

Your organization must establish continuous environmental monitoring to protect IT infrastructure from climate-related threats:

• Deploy temperature and humidity sensors in data centers, server rooms, and storage areas.
• Set up automated alerts for abnormal environmental conditions.
• Establish contingency plans for HVAC failures or sudden temperature spikes.

4. Protection Against Electromagnetic Emanations

Equipment processing confidential data may be vulnerable to electromagnetic leakage, leading to data interception or interference. To mitigate this risk:

• Use electromagnetic shielding (Faraday cages, RF filters) for high-risk data processing areas.
• Implement shielded cabling to prevent data loss from electromagnetic interference (EMI).
• Ensure compliance with TEMPEST security standards where necessary.

5. Power Protection & Lightning Mitigation

Power disruptions and lightning strikes can severely damage IT infrastructure, causing data loss and downtime. Your organization should:

• Install surge protectors and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) for critical devices.
• Deploy lightning arrestors for buildings housing IT equipment.
• Use dual power supplies and automatic failover mechanisms for high-priority systems.

6. Separation of Internal & External IT Facilities

Your organization must physically separate information processing facilities that are internally managed from those controlled by third parties. This includes:

• Dedicated network infrastructure for in-house IT operations.
• Separate physical access controls for externally managed systems.
• Monitoring of third-party service providers handling organizational equipment.

7. Establishing Clear Guidelines for Proximity Activities

To prevent accidental damage, organizations should enforce strict guidelines for proximity activities:

• Eating, drinking, and smoking must be prohibited near information processing equipment.
• Regular cleaning and dust control measures should be in place to prevent debris accumulation.
• Training employees on the importance of protecting equipment from contaminants.