Edge Register

Contractor and third-party device

A laptop the organisation does not own or manage, reaching its systems through a browser or a remote desktop, from wherever the contractor works.

How the register reads it

Also calledBYOD, own devices, third-party laptops
FamilyHome and remote worker
Exposure by defaultAttended: the contractor is there; the device, the household and the other clients it serves are unknown. A line that says attended, unattended, public or hostile (outdoors, in transit, at sea) overrides it.
Link by defaultAlways: whatever the contractor has, from wherever they are. A line that names the link (fibre, 4G, satellite, radio, offline) overrides it.
Regulated data by defaultPersonal; a line that names the data overrides it.
Runs plantNot by default; a line that names PLCs, SCADA, RTUs or HMIs adds it.
What a loss costsA contractor device offline is the contractor's problem; a contractor device compromised is a session into the organisation's systems with a stranger's posture.
Contract focusAccess conditions for unmanaged devices, session download restrictions, posture checks, access removal at contract end.

What each regime attaches

24 clauses across 7 regimes, on the class defaults

Shown on a register for the regimes you tick, by the exposure, link, data and plant the line states; with none ticked, the ISO 27001 rows are the default. Requirement text drawn from the compliance.theartofservice.com corpus, read against the held text of each standard: the corpus statement of each clause, not the instrument verbatim.

ISO/IEC 27001:2022, with the 27002:2022 guidance beside it

Attaches to every site: the off-premises, equipment, media, endpoint, backup, redundancy, network and continuity controls of Annex A, by the site's exposure, link, data and plant. With nothing ticked these rows render as the default.

ISO 27001 5.14 Information transfer

Put rules, procedures or agreements in place for every way information moves, inside and outside the organization.

ISO 27002 5.14 guidance: Requires transfer rules, procedures or agreements to be in place for every type of transfer facility, covering transfers within the organisation and between the organisation and outside parties.

Evidence an auditor accepts: transfer_policy; transfer_agreements; transfer_procedures
Common gap: Reliance on informal verbal agreements
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 6.7 Remote working

Apply security measures when people access, process or store information outside the organization's premises.

ISO 27002 6.7 guidance: Requires security measures to be implemented when personnel work remotely, protecting information that is accessed, processed or stored outside the organisation's premises.

Evidence an auditor accepts: remote_access_policy; secure_connection_mechanisms; endpoint_security
Common gap: Missing MFA for remote access
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 7.9 Security of assets off-premises

Protect assets used or held off-site.

ISO 27002 7.9 guidance: Requires assets located away from the organisation's premises to be protected.

Evidence an auditor accepts: offsite_asset_inventory; transport_security_procedures; third_party_agreements
Common gap: Missing offsite asset register
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 7.10 Storage media

Manage storage media across acquisition, use, transport and disposal per classification and handling rules.

ISO 27002 7.10 guidance: Requires storage media to be managed across their whole life cycle, covering acquisition, use, transportation and disposal, in accordance with the organisation's classification scheme and handling requirements. Older source material adds that disposal should follow formal procedures scaled to the sensitivity of the information held, and that media in transit needs protection against unauthorised access, misuse and corruption.

Evidence an auditor accepts: media_inventory; media_handling_procedures; media_transport_logs
Common gap: No documented classification for media
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 7.13 Equipment maintenance

Maintain equipment correctly to preserve availability, integrity and confidentiality.

ISO 27002 7.13 guidance: Requires equipment to be maintained correctly, so that information stays available, intact and confidential.

Evidence an auditor accepts: maintenance_schedule; maintenance_logs; calibration_records
Common gap: no documented maintenance schedule
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 8.1 User end point devices

Protect information stored on, processed by or reachable through user endpoints.

ISO 27002 8.1 guidance: Requires information stored on, processed by or accessible through user endpoint devices to be protected.

Evidence an auditor accepts: device_inventory; endpoint_security_settings; encryption_and_data_protection
Common gap: Incomplete device inventory
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 8.7 Protection against malware

Implement malware protection backed by user awareness.

ISO 27002 8.7 guidance: Requires malware protection to be put in place and reinforced by suitable awareness among users.

Evidence an auditor accepts: anti_malware_policy; endpoint_protection; user_awareness_program
Common gap: Outdated malware signatures not regularly updated
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 8.9 Configuration management

Establish, document, implement, monitor and review secure configurations for hardware, software, services and networks.

ISO 27002 8.9 guidance: Requires configurations of hardware, software, services and networks, including their security configurations, to be established, documented, implemented, monitored and reviewed. Supporting material frames this as a standing process that keeps systems configured securely and consistently.

Evidence an auditor accepts: baseline_configurations; change_control_records; configuration_audit_reports
Common gap: outdated baselines
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO 27001 8.24 Use of cryptography

Define and implement rules for effective use of cryptography and key management.

ISO 27002 8.24 guidance: Requires defined and implemented rules on using cryptography effectively, including how cryptographic keys are managed.

Evidence an auditor accepts: encryption_policy; key_management_procedures; algorithm_inventory
Common gap: Missing documented key lifecycle
Source framework: ISO/IEC 27001:2022

NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Attaches to every site: the PE family for the premises and the alternate work site, MP for the media, AC-17, AC-19 and AC-20 for remote access, mobile devices and external systems, the CP family for the sites that lose their link, SC-7 for the boundary and SI-7 and CM-8 for what runs there.

SP 800-53 AC-17 Remote access

Requires each type of remote access to the system to be governed by documented usage restrictions, connection and configuration requirements and implementation guidance, and to be explicitly authorized before any remote connection is permitted.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Remote access standard listing each permitted access type and its restrictions; Authorization records approving each remote access method before use; VPN or remote gateway configuration showing the required settings in force
Common gap: Vendor support tools provide a remote path that was never authorized as a remote access type
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
SP 800-53 AC-19 Access control for mobile devices

Requires documented configuration settings, connection rules and implementation guidance for mobile devices the organization controls, including their use away from controlled areas, and explicit authorization before any such device connects to an organizational system.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Mobile device standard covering encryption, lock, patching and off-site use; Mobile device management enrolment report reconciled to the device inventory; Authorization records for mobile device connection to each in scope system
Common gap: Personally owned devices reach corporate mail with no enrolment or authorization
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
SP 800-53 CM-8 System component inventory

Requires an accurate inventory of system components that covers every component, avoids duplicate or cross system accounting, is held at the granularity needed for tracking and reporting, carries the information the organization has defined for accountability, and is reviewed and updated on a defined frequency.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Component inventory with the defined accountability fields populated; Reconciliation of the inventory against a discovery scan or cloud asset listing; Defined review frequency and evidence of review at that cadence
Common gap: Cloud and container assets absent because inventory is built from a fixed asset register
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
SP 800-53 MP-4 Media storage

Requires organization-defined media types to be physically controlled and securely stored within organization-defined controlled areas, and requires that protection to continue until the media is destroyed or sanitised using approved equipment, techniques and procedures.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Defined controlled areas and the media types stored in each; Physical security evidence for the storage locations; Inventory or custody records for stored media
Common gap: Media awaiting destruction accumulates in unsecured areas for months
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
SP 800-53 MP-5 Media transport

Requires organization-defined media types to be protected and controlled by defined controls while in transit outside controlled areas, accountability for the media to be maintained throughout, transport activity to be documented, and transport to be carried out only by authorized personnel.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Defined media types in scope for transport and the controls applied, such as encryption or tamper evident containers; Chain of custody records for each transport movement; List of personnel authorized to transport media
Common gap: Backup media couriered with a signature on collection but no custody record in between
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
SP 800-53 PE-3 Physical access control

Requires physical access authorizations to be enforced at defined entry and exit points by verifying authorization before entry and controlling ingress and egress with defined mechanisms or guards, physical access audit logs to be kept, publicly accessible areas to be controlled, visitors to be escorted and their activity controlled in defined circumstances,...

Evidence an auditor accepts: Entry and exit point register showing the enforcement mechanism at each; Physical access audit logs from badge or guard systems; Visitor escort procedure and completed visitor logs
Common gap: Tailgating unaddressed, so an authorization check happens for only the first person through
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
SP 800-53 PE-17 Alternate work site

Requires the alternate work sites permitted for employees to be identified and documented, organization-defined controls to be applied at those sites, the effectiveness of those controls to be assessed, and a means to be provided for employees there to contact information security and privacy personnel about incidents.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Documented list of permitted alternate work site types and the controls required at each; Assessment records evaluating control effectiveness at alternate sites; Published contact route for security and privacy incidents from remote locations
Common gap: Home working permitted in practice with no documented control expectations
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
SP 800-53 SI-7 Software, firmware, and information integrity

Requires integrity verification tools to be employed to detect unauthorized changes to organization-defined software, firmware and information, and requires organization-defined actions to be taken when such unauthorized changes are detected.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Defined list of software, firmware and information subject to integrity verification; Integrity monitoring tool configuration and coverage report; Alerts generated by integrity checks and the response records
Common gap: Integrity monitoring produces constant noise from routine change and is therefore ignored
Source framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

CIS Controls v8

Attaches to every site: the asset inventory on all of them, anti-malware on the unattended and public ones and on plant, automated and isolated backups where the link is intermittent or absent, remote wipe and the VPN on portable and remote devices.

CIS v8 CIS-1.1 Establish and Maintain Detailed Enterprise Asset Inventory

Establish and maintain an accurate, detailed, and up-to-date inventory of all enterprise assets with the potential to store or process data, to include: end-user devices (including portable and mobile), network devices, non-computing/IoT devices, and servers. Ensure the inventory records the network address (if static), hardware address, machine name, enterp...

Evidence an auditor accepts: Evidence the safeguard is implemented: Establish and Maintain Detailed Enterprise Asset Inventory; Policy/standard covering CIS Control 1 (Inventory and Control of Enterprise Assets); Configuration / tooling output demonstrating the safeguard
Common gap: Safeguard implemented for some assets but not all in scope
Source framework: CIS Controls v8
CIS v8 CIS-4.11 Enforce Remote Wipe Capability on Portable End-User Devices

Remotely wipe enterprise data from enterprise-owned portable end-user devices when deemed appropriate such as lost or stolen devices, or when an individual no longer supports the enterprise.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Evidence the safeguard is implemented: Enforce Remote Wipe Capability on Portable End-User Devices; Policy/standard covering CIS Control 4 (Secure Configuration of Enterprise Assets and Software); Configuration / tooling output demonstrating the safeguard
Common gap: Safeguard implemented for some assets but not all in scope
Source framework: CIS Controls v8
CIS v8 CIS-12.7 Ensure Remote Devices Utilize a VPN and are Connecting to an Enterprise’s AAA Infrastructure

Require users to authenticate to enterprise-managed VPN and authentication services prior to accessing enterprise resources on end-user devices.

Evidence an auditor accepts: Evidence the safeguard is implemented: Ensure Remote Devices Utilize a VPN and are Connecting to an Enterpris; Policy/standard covering CIS Control 12 (Network Infrastructure Management); Configuration / tooling output demonstrating the safeguard
Common gap: Safeguard implemented for some assets but not all in scope
Source framework: CIS Controls v8

ISO 22301:2019

Attaches the business continuity plans and procedures to every site, and the plan content and recovery clauses to the sites whose link is intermittent or absent.

ISO 22301 8.4.1 General

Implement and maintain a response structure enabling timely warning and communication to relevant interested parties, with plans and procedures to manage the organization through a disruption and to activate continuity solutions, identified and documented from the output of the selected strategies and solutions, and with procedures that are specific about im...

Evidence an auditor accepts: Documented response structure; Procedures stating immediate steps and the roles that take them; Traceability from selected strategies and solutions to the documented plans
Common gap: Procedures written for one rehearsed scenario, brittle against anything else
Source framework: ISO 22301:2019

The GDPR, Chapter V transfers and Article 32

Attaches Article 32 to every site that holds personal or health data, and Articles 44 to 46 to a site outside the EEA and the United Kingdom that handles personal data of EU or UK persons, read from the home jurisdiction in the preamble and the site's country.

GDPR Art. 32 Security of processing

Implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk, taking into account the state of the art, the costs of implementation, the nature, scope, context and purposes of processing, and the risk of varying likelihood and severity for the rights and freedoms of natural persons. Those measures include,...

Evidence an auditor accepts: The security risk assessment per processing activity, expressed as risk to the rights and freedoms of individuals rather than only as risk to the organisation; Encryption and pseudonymisation coverage at rest, in transit and in backup, with the decision recorded where either was judged not appropriate; Restoration testing results showing personal data was actually recovered inside the intended timeframe, with the date and outcome
Common gap: Risk assessed as impact to the business, so processing that is low risk to the organisation and high risk to individuals attracts weak measures
Source framework: GDPR (Regulation (EU) 2016/679)

DORA, the Digital Operational Resilience Act

Attaches Article 11 (response and recovery) to every site of a financial entity and Article 12 (backup, restoration and recovery) to the sites whose link is intermittent or absent; a site with no recovery objective is a finding.

DORA Art. 11 Response and recovery

Financial entities shall put in place an ICT business continuity policy and ICT response and recovery plans (including measures, procedures and arrangements) to ensure continuity of critical or important functions, quickly contain damage, resume activities and recover, subject to regular testing.

Evidence an auditor accepts: ICT business continuity policy + response/recovery plans; Records of plan testing
Common gap: No ICT continuity/response/recovery plans
Source framework: DORA (Regulation (EU) 2022/2554)

NIST SP 800-207, zero trust architecture

Attaches the satellite-facility deployment scenario to every site and the two design tenets (every communication secured, every asset's posture monitored) to the sites where remote access is named. No regime page: it renders on the remote-access rows and the finding.

SP 800-207 SC-SATELLITE Deployment Scenario: Enterprise with Satellite Facilities

Applies ZTA to an organization with a headquarters plus geographically dispersed locations and remote workers that have no full enterprise-owned network.

Evidence an auditor accepts: ZTA design for remote workers and satellite sites; Policy coverage for off-network access
Common gap: VPN-only model treated as zero trust
Source framework: NIST SP 800-207

Questions for the hardware vendor

six, and one for the class

For the contractors' own laptops and the remote desktop or browser session they use, over the fixed link:

  1. Can you show measured boot or firmware attestation on the equipment, and how a failed check reports back over the fixed link?
  2. How does the equipment take an update unattended over the fixed link, and how does it roll back on its own when the update fails part way?
  3. Can a lost or stolen unit be wiped remotely, and what happens to the wipe command while the unit is offline?
  4. Is local storage on the equipment encrypted at rest with the key held off the device, and can that be verified from the fleet console?
  5. Can the equipment be recovered to a known state by a non-technical person on site, without a technician's visit?
  6. What spares, lead times and end-of-support dates apply to the equipment, and who holds the spares nearest the site?

For this class: What can the session download to the contractor's own device, and what does the organisation know about that device's state before it connects?

Findings this class can raise

Do this for every site on your list

Paste the list and get this reading for every site at once, with the link, the exposure, the data held, the findings and the duty rows per regime. Eight sites free, no account.

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