In this ultimate how to implement guide to ISO 27001 Annex A 5.8 Information Security in Project Management, you will learn directly from an ISO 27001 Lead Auditor:
- The requirement of the control
- The required implementation steps
- The minimum requirement
I am Stuart Barker, the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor and author of the Ultimate ISO 27001 Toolkit.
Using over 30 years of industry experience across hundreds of audits, I’m giving you the exact templates, walkthroughs, and practical examples you need to achieve ISO 27001 certification.
Table of contents
- ISO 27001 Information Security in Project Management Implementation Checklist
- 1. Update the Project Management Framework
- 2. Embed Security in the Project Charter
- 3. Execute the Security Impact Assessment (SIA)
- 4. Define Explicit Security Requirements
- 5. Appoint a Project Security Champion
- 6. Secure the Project Environment
- 7. Update the ‘Definition of Done’ (Agile/DevOps)
- 8. Perform Pre-Go-Live Vulnerability Testing
- 9. Sign the ‘Go / No-Go’ Security Declaration
- 10. Conduct Post-Implementation Security Review
Implementing ISO 27001 Annex A 5.8 is the structured integration of information security into project management frameworks to ensure risks are addressed at every phase of the lifecycle. It requires organizations to embed security gates, define explicit non-functional requirements, and perform mandatory vulnerability assessments before project delivery to prevent the deployment of insecure systems.
ISO 27001 Information Security in Project Management Implementation Checklist
Use this implementation checklist to achieve compliance with ISO 27001 Annex A 5.8. Compliance with this control requires integrating security checkpoints into your actual project lifecycle, whether Waterfall or Agile, rather than filling out retrospective forms in a GRC dashboard.
1. Update the Project Management Framework
Control Requirement: Information security shall be integrated into project management.
Required Implementation Step: Open your organization’s Project Management Policy or Handbook. Insert a mandatory “Security Gate” clause that forbids any project from passing the “Initiation” phase without a signed Security Triage form. This ensures security is a constraint, not an afterthought.
Minimum Requirement: A published version of the Project Management Policy containing the phrase “Security approval is required at Initiation and Closure phases.”
2. Embed Security in the Project Charter
Control Requirement: Information security risks must be identified at the start of the project.
Required Implementation Step: Modify your standard “Project Charter” or “Project Initiation Document” (PID) Word template. Add a section titled “Security Classification”. This section must force the Project Manager to tick one of three boxes: Public, Internal, or Confidential, based on the data the project will handle.
Minimum Requirement: A Project Charter template with a mandatory Data Classification field.
3. Execute the Security Impact Assessment (SIA)
Control Requirement: Information security implications must be addressed.
Required Implementation Step: Before code is written or vendors are signed, the Project Manager must complete a “Security Impact Assessment” spreadsheet. This lists the data types, volume, and regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, PCI-DSS). Store this in the project’s secure documentation folder, not a GRC tool.
Minimum Requirement: A completed SIA for every active project, stored in the project’s primary file repository.
