A.7.11 Supporting Utilities would include:
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Inventory of Supporting Utilities: Documentation of all supporting utilities used within the organization's information systems, including their purpose, version, and vendor information.
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Authorization and Approval: Evidence that the acquisition and use of supporting utilities are authorized and approved by appropriate personnel, and that any changes or updates to these utilities follow the organization's change management process.
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Vendor Security Assessments: Records of security assessments conducted on supporting utility vendors to ensure they meet the organization's security requirements and standards.
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Vulnerability Management: Evidence of procedures for identifying and addressing vulnerabilities in supporting utilities, such as regular patching and updates to mitigate security risks.
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Secure Configuration: Documentation of secure configuration standards for supporting utilities to prevent unauthorized access and ensure they operate in a secure manner.
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Access Controls: Proof that access to supporting utilities is restricted to authorized personnel based on the principle of least privilege, and that access rights are regularly reviewed and updated.
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Logging and Monitoring: Records of logging and monitoring practices for supporting utilities to detect and respond to any suspicious or malicious activities.
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Secure Deployment: Evidence that supporting utilities are deployed securely, following established security guidelines, and that the deployment process is regularly reviewed for security risks.
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Encryption and Data Protection: Documentation of encryption or other protective measures implemented to safeguard sensitive data processed or transmitted by supporting utilities.
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Data Privacy Compliance: Assurance that supporting utilities comply with data privacy regulations and do not compromise the confidentiality and privacy of personal or sensitive information.
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Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity: Proof of disaster recovery and business continuity plans that include provisions for supporting utilities to ensure their availability and functionality during disruptions or emergencies.
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Testing and Verification: Evidence of testing and verification processes to ensure the reliability, integrity, and accuracy of supporting utilities.
By examining these pieces of evidence, an auditor can evaluate whether the organization has implemented appropriate controls and measures to ensure the security and reliability of supporting utilities used in its information systems, minimizing the risk of potential security incidents and data breaches.
