System Guides

A.8.4 Access to Source Code would include:

1. Source Code Access Control Policies: Documentation of formal policies and procedures that govern access to source code. These policies should define who is authorized to access the source code, the process for requesting access, and the approval process.

2. Access Control Mechanisms: Evidence of access control mechanisms implemented to restrict access to the source code. This may include role-based access control (RBAC), least privilege principles, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for privileged access.

3. Source Code Version Control: Proof of source code version control systems used to track changes made to the code and ensure that only authorized changes are accepted.

4. Source Code Review Process: Documentation of the process for reviewing source code changes before they are committed to the codebase. This should include peer code reviews and security code reviews to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

5. Change Management Process: Evidence of a change management process that governs the modification of source code. This process should include testing and validation procedures to ensure that changes do not introduce security flaws.

6. Source Code Security Testing: Records of security testing conducted on the source code, such as static code analysis and dynamic application security testing (DAST), to identify and remediate security weaknesses.

7. Logging and Monitoring: Documentation of logging and monitoring mechanisms used to track access to the source code and detect any unauthorized access attempts.

8. Source Code Encryption: Proof of encryption mechanisms used to protect the confidentiality of the source code when stored or transmitted.

9. Non-Disclosure Agreements: Documentation of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) or confidentiality agreements signed by individuals with access to the source code.

10. Third-Party Source Code Review: Evidence of third-party security reviews or audits of the source code to ensure the application's security and integrity.

11. Incident Response Procedures: Documentation of incident response procedures specific to source code-related incidents, outlining escalation paths and mitigation strategies.

12. Compliance with Standards and Regulations: Evidence of compliance with relevant security standards and regulations that address source code access and protection requirements, such as ISO/IEC 27001 and industry-specific guidelines.

As an auditor, I would review these pieces of evidence to assess the organization's implementation of controls related to source code access and protection. The goal is to ensure that access to source code is adequately controlled, and proper measures are in place to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the source code to prevent unauthorized access, tampering, or leakage of sensitive information.

A.8.5 Secure Authentication would include:

1. Authentication Policies and Procedures: Documentation of formal authentication policies and procedures that define the organization's approach to secure authentication, including password complexity requirements, multi-factor authentication (MFA) usage, and account lockout policies.

2. User Account Management: Evidence of effective user account management practices, including user account creation, modification, and removal processes. This should include periodic review and removal of inactive or unnecessary accounts.

3. Password Management: Documentation of password management practices, such as password hashing and encryption, and controls in place to prevent password-related vulnerabilities, such as password reuse and storage in plain text.

4. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Proof of implementation and usage of MFA or two-factor authentication (2FA) for accessing critical systems, applications, and sensitive data.

5. Access Control Mechanisms: Evidence of access control mechanisms implemented, such as role-based access control (RBAC), to ensure users have appropriate permissions based on their roles and responsibilities.

6. Strong Authentication Protocols: Documentation of the use of secure authentication protocols, such as OAuth, OpenID Connect, or SAML, to enable secure authentication and authorization across systems and applications.

7. Authentication Logs and Monitoring: Records of authentication logs and monitoring mechanisms used to track and detect suspicious or unauthorized access attempts.

8. User Training and Awareness: Evidence of user training and awareness programs that educate employees about secure authentication practices, password hygiene, and recognizing phishing attempts.

9. Incident Response Procedures: Documentation of incident response procedures specific to authentication-related incidents, outlining escalation paths and mitigation strategies.

10. Compliance with Standards and Regulations: Evidence of compliance with relevant security standards and regulations that address secure authentication requirements, such as ISO/IEC 27001 and industry-specific guidelines.

11. Third-Party Authentication Providers: Evidence of secure authentication practices when using third-party authentication providers or identity providers.

12. Regular Security Assessments: Documentation of periodic security assessments, including penetration testing and vulnerability assessments, to identify and address authentication-related vulnerabilities.

As an auditor, I would review these pieces of evidence to assess the organization's implementation of secure authentication practices. The goal is to ensure that the organization has robust authentication mechanisms in place to protect sensitive information, prevent unauthorized access, and minimize the risk of security breaches resulting from weak or compromised authentication methods.