In this ultimate how to audit guide to ISO 27001 Annex A 8.28 Secure Coding, you will learn directly from an ISO 27001 Lead Auditor:
- 10 Key Audit Steps
- Verification Criteria
- Required Evidence
- The Pass / Fail Test
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 Annex A 8.28 Secure Coding Audit Checklist
- 1. Secure Coding Governance and Policy Verified
- 2. Developer Competency and Security Training Confirmed
- 3. Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Integration Validated
- 4. Third-Party Library and Dependency Vetting Confirmed
- 5. Secure Handling of Sensitive Data in Code Verified
- 6. Peer Code Review Security Focus Validated
- 7. Use of Proven Cryptographic Libraries Confirmed
- 8. Application Error Handling and Information Leakage Verified
- 9. Developer Local Environment Security Validated
- 10. Periodic In-Depth Penetration Testing Recorded
ISO 27001 Annex A 8.28 Secure Coding Audit Checklist
Auditing ISO 27001 Annex A 8.28 Secure Coding is the technical verification of security principles embedded within the software development lifecycle. The Primary Implementation Requirement mandates SAST/SCA integration and peer reviews, providing the Business Benefit of mitigating OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities and ensuring software integrity throughout the build.
This technical verification tool is designed for lead auditors to establish the efficacy of security controls within the software development process. Use this checklist to validate compliance with ISO 27001 Annex A 8.28.
1. Secure Coding Governance and Policy Verified
Verification Criteria: A formalised secure coding policy exists that mandates the use of specific security standards (e.g., OWASP, CERT, or MISRA) across all development projects.
Required Evidence: Approved Secure Coding Policy or Developer Handbook with explicit version control and management authorisation.
Pass/Fail Test: If the organisation cannot produce a documented standard defining mandatory secure coding practices for its technology stack, mark as Non-Compliant.
2. Developer Competency and Security Training Confirmed
Verification Criteria: All personnel involved in writing or reviewing code have received documented training on secure coding techniques and the identification of common vulnerabilities.
Required Evidence: Training completion logs, certificates, or workshop attendance records dated within the last 12 months.
Pass/Fail Test: If active developers have not undergone secure coding training relative to their specific language (e.g., Java, Python, C#), mark as Non-Compliant.
3. Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Integration Validated
Verification Criteria: Automated SAST tools are integrated into the development lifecycle to scan source code for vulnerabilities prior to compilation or deployment.
Required Evidence: Scan reports from tools like SonarQube, Snyk, or Checkmarx showing identified flaws and remediation status.
Pass/Fail Test: If source code is promoted to a production-ready branch without an automated SAST scan being executed, mark as Non-Compliant.
