ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 5.17 Authentication information for AI Companies

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.17 Authentication information is a security control that governs the allocation, management, and secure handling of user credentials such as passwords, API keys, and tokens. For AI companies, this control is vital to prevent unauthorized access to high-performance computing resources and protect sensitive datasets from being compromised through leaked or weak authentication secrets.

As a leader in the AI industry, you understand that your most valuable assets are not just your algorithms, but the vast datasets that train them and the complex systems that run them. While the ISO 27001 security standard provides a robust framework for protection, ISO 27001 Annex A 5.17 Authentication information, which governs authentication information, might seem like a standard IT requirement. However, its application is uniquely critical and complex in AI-driven environments. This guide is designed to help you see robust authentication not as a compliance burden, but as the foundational element for building trust with your customers, protecting your high-value intellectual property, and securing your place at the forefront of innovation.

The “No-BS” Translation: Decoding the Requirement

Let’s strip away the consultant-speak. Authentication is simply the “password” process. But for AI, it is about securing the “keys to the kingdom.”

The Auditor’s View (ISO 27001)	The AI Company View (Reality)
“Allocation and management of authentication information shall be controlled by a management process.”	No Shared Passwords. Stop sharing the AWS root password on Slack. Give everyone their own account. If you give a temp password to a new hire, force them to change it on first login.
“Users shall be advised to keep authentication information confidential.”	Don’t commit secrets to Git. If you push an API key to a public repo, you fail this control. Use .env files or a secrets manager (like Vault).

The Business Case: Why This Actually Matters for AI Companies

Why should a founder care about “password policies”? Because 81% of hacking-related breaches leverage either stolen or weak passwords. In AI, credentials are the keys to your compute and data.

The Sales Angle

Enterprise clients will ask: “Do you enforce MFA on all systems?” and “How do you distribute initial passwords securely?”. If your answer is “We email them,” you look incompetent. If your answer is “We use an automated IdP (Identity Provider) with forced MFA and secure, one-time links for initial credentials,” you look professional. Annex A 5.17 provides the evidence.

The Risk Angle

The “Crypto-Mining” Bill: If a hacker guesses your weak AWS password, they won’t just steal data; they will spin up 1,000 GPU instances to mine crypto. You will wake up to a $500,000 cloud bill. Strong authentication prevents this financial disaster.

DORA, NIS2 and AI Regulation: The Authentication Imperative

Weak authentication is no longer just bad practice; it is illegal in many contexts.

• DORA (Article 9): Requires “strong authentication mechanisms.” This means MFA is mandatory for accessing financial systems. Single-factor passwords are non-compliant.
• NIS2 Directive: Mandates “cyber hygiene,” including password security. If you use “Password123” for your admin accounts, you are negligent under EU law.
• EU AI Act: High-risk AI systems must ensure “robustness.” A system that can be compromised by a simple brute-force password attack is not robust.

ISO 27001 Toolkit vs SaaS Platforms: The Credential Trap

SaaS platforms often just check “Is MFA on?”. They miss the nuances of how you issue and revoke credentials. Here is why the ISO 27001 Toolkit is superior.

Feature	ISO 27001 Toolkit (Hightable.io)	Online SaaS Platform
Depth	Full Process. Our templates cover the “human” side: verifying identity before issuing a password.	Tech-Only. Platforms check technical settings but can’t verify if you actually checked the ID of the contractor you just hired.
Ownership	Your Policy. You own the “Password Policy” document. It sits in your ISMS.	Rented Rules. If you leave the SaaS platform, you lose the documented evidence of your authentication procedures.
Simplicity	Clear Instructions. “Do not write passwords on post-it notes.” Simple, actionable rules for staff.	Configuration Hell. You spend hours mapping IDP groups instead of defining clear rules for your team.
Cost	One-off fee. Pay once. Secure forever.	Subscription. You pay monthly for a dashboard that just tells you “MFA is enabled.”

Understanding the Core Requirement: What is ISO 27001 Annex A 5.17?

Before we explore the unique challenges that artificial intelligence presents, it is essential to have a solid grasp of the fundamental requirements of Annex A 5.17. This control governs the entire lifecycle of any information used to verify an identity – be it a password, a token, a PIN, or a biometric credential.

The Purpose of the Control

The core purpose of Annex A 5.17 is to ensure that the authentication of all entities, both internal and external, is managed properly. It establishes a formal management process to control who gets access, how they prove their identity, and how those credentials are protected.

Key Compliance Obligations

To achieve compliance, your organisation must implement and evidence the following practices:

• Verification: Verify the identity of a user before issuing credentials.
• Secure Transfer: Send temporary passwords securely (e.g., via One-Time Link), not plain text email.
• Default Credentials: Change vendor defaults immediately.
• User Responsibility: Users must sign an agreement to keep passwords secret.

The AI Magnifier: Unique Authentication Risks in Your AI Workflows

For an AI company, a standard interpretation of authentication risk is insufficient. A single compromised credential doesn’t just unlock a user’s account; it can unlock the very “brain” of your business.

Exposure of Sensitive Training Datasets

Your training data is a core component of your intellectual property. Unauthorised access enabled by a stolen password can lead to data poisoning or theft. This threat becomes a reality when basic obligations – such as enforcing strong passwords – are overlooked.

Disruption of Algorithmic Processes

If an attacker gains access to your MLOps platform using compromised credentials, they can manipulate deployment pipelines to push flawed models into production. Without robust authentication logs, tracing this is impossible.

Vulnerabilities in the AI Supply Chain

You rely on a complex supply chain. A single weak credential at a data annotation partner can create a backdoor into your organisation.

From Theory to Practice: Your Actionable Compliance Roadmap

Achieving auditable compliance with Annex A 5.17 requires a structured approach.

Establish a Formal Authentication Management Policy

Create a comprehensive policy that defines allowed authentication methods (MFA, SSO) and the process for issuing credentials.

Secure the Entire Credential Lifecycle

• Issuance: Only issue credentials after verifying identity.
• Change: Force password changes on first login.
• Revocation: Disable credentials immediately upon termination.

Define and Enforce Clear User Responsibilities

Include password security obligations in employment contracts and conduct regular awareness training.

Maintain Meticulous, Audit-Ready Records

Keep logs of who requested credentials, who approved them, and when they were issued/revoked.

The Evidence Locker: What the Auditor Needs to See

When the audit comes, prepare these artifacts:

• Password Policy (PDF): A signed document defining rules (e.g., “12 chars minimum”).
• New Starter Ticket (Linear/Jira): Evidence that you verified identity before sending the Okta invite.
• System Configuration (Screenshot): A screenshot of your IdP (Okta/Google) showing “MFA Enforced = True”.
• User Acknowledgement (PDF): A signed Acceptable Use Policy where the user agrees to keep passwords safe.

Common Pitfalls & Auditor Traps

Here are the top 3 ways AI companies fail this control:

• The “Sticky Note” Admin: The root password for the server is written on a whiteboard in the office. Instant Major Non-Conformity.
• The “Email” Distribution: You email the new employee their username and password in the same email. If that email is intercepted, the account is compromised. Send them via separate channels (e.g., Email + SMS).
• The “Hardcoded” Credential: A developer hardcoded a password in a script to make testing easier. The auditor finds it during a code review sample.

Handling Exceptions: The “Break Glass” Protocol

If SSO fails, how do you log in to fix it? You need a “Break Glass” account.

The Emergency Auth Workflow:

• Account: A dedicated admin account excluded from SSO.
• Storage: Credentials split and stored in a physical safe or secure vault accessible only to C-Suite.
• Process: Accessing this account triggers an alert. Passwords must be rotated immediately after use.

The Process Layer: “The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)”

How to operationalise A 5.17 using your existing stack (Google Workspace, 1Password).

• Step 1: Verification (Manual). HR confirms new hire identity via video call/passport check.
• Step 2: Generation (Automated). IT generates a random temp password.
• Step 3: Distribution (Manual). Send username via Email. Send temp password via SMS/Signal.
• Step 4: Enforcement (Automated). Google Workspace forces “Change Password on Next Login” and “Enrol in 2FA.”

By adopting a structured approach like that provided by the High Table ISO 27001 Toolkit, you can move beyond simple compliance. You can build a resilient security posture that protects your most valuable innovations.

ISO 27001 Annex A 5.17 for AI Companies FAQ

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