Introduction:
Physical media transfer is a crucial aspect of information security management.
The A.8.3.3 control objective in the ISO/IEC 27001:2013 standard provides guidelines for the control of physical media transfer.
Organizations must ensure that they have adequate controls in place to protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information during media transfer.
This article provides a checklist of critical factors that organizations should consider when transferring physical media.
Sample Checklist:
Policy and Procedure
- Check that the policy and procedure for control A.8.3.1 is followed for physical media transfer.
- Ensure that a reliable transport or courier is being used for the purpose of transferring media to other locations (e.g. backups stored offsite).
Qualified Individual
- Check that a qualified individual identifies the contents of media prior to transfer and verifies whether the contents are encrypted or not.
- Ensure that the qualified individual follows the proper procedure for handling sensitive information during the transfer process.
Recording and Protection
- Check that the transfer is recorded at every stage, including handover to transit custodians, leaving the initial facility/data center, arriving at the destination, and placing it in storage.
- Ensure that the media is transported as per manufacturer’s specifications, with appropriate protection applied during the transfer process.
- Record the times of transfr and receipt at the destination to maintain a reliable chain of custody.
Conclusion:
Physical media transfer is a critical aspect of information security management.
Organizations must ensure that they have adequate controls in place to protect sensitive information during the transfer process.
The checklist provided in this article covers critical factors that organizations should consider when transferring physical media.
By following these guidelines, organizations can minimize the potential risks associated with physical media transfer and protect their valuable information assets.
