ISO 27001 A.7.2: getting into the building, explained for startups

A.7.2 Physical entry

Only authorized people can get into your offices, and visitors are logged. What proves it: how entry is controlled, and a recent entry or visitor log.

A certification auditor samples entry and visitor logs. A file that usually does the job: a badge system access report and a visitor sign in log.

This control applies only where you have an office or other premises. A fully remote company can exclude it in its Statement of Applicability, with the reason written down.

How to put it in place

Each step leaves a record, and the record is what the auditor samples rather than the step itself. Inside Polara, the control card for A.7.2 walks you through it in this order.

1. Use badges or keys tied to named people and keep the list current.
2. Sign in and escort visitors.
3. Review who has access every quarter.

The free ISO 27001 readiness assessment asks 2 questions that evidence it:

• How is entry to your offices controlled?
• Are visitors escorted and logged?

Policies, connectors and the SOC 2 overlap

In the ISO 27001 policy pack, the Physical and Environmental Security Policy covers A.7.2. An auditor reads the policy for the rule, then samples the records to see the rule was followed.

The same evidence counts toward SOC 2. The Trust Services criterion that cover this ground: CC6.4, physical access.

Physical controls

A.7.2 is one of the 14 physical controls in Annex A. Buildings, rooms, equipment and media. A remote company with no office can exclude several of these in its Statement of Applicability, with the reason written down, and covers the rest through laptop rules and its cloud provider.

Nearby controls in the same theme:

• A.7.1, physical perimeters
• A.7.3, securing offices and rooms
• A.7.4, physical monitoring
• A.7.5, environmental threats

Before it: A.7.1, physical perimeters. After it: A.7.3, securing offices and rooms. Every control, by theme, is on the Annex A controls page.