The ISO/IEC 27001 standard provides organizations of any size and any sector guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and continually improving an information security management system. The official document is available for purchase on the ISO.org website.
Since the recommendations are general, there is some room for interpretation. Below is our understanding of the minimum requirements for the certification and additional recommendations based on other compliances to improve security further.
Access Control
To comply with ISO 27001, an organization must ensure proper access control measures on Mac devices:
- Access control: Implement and enforce rules to control both physical and logical access to Mac devices and stored information.
- Identity management: Ensure the complete lifecycle of user identities is managed, including provisioning, authentication, and deactivation.
- Access rights: Regularly review and adjust access rights in accordance with organization policies.
Besides device requirements, your organization will also need policies and processes to comply with ISO’s access control.
Mac device compliance checks for access control:
- Automatic Login is off
- No unused user accounts are present
- Password required after inactivity
- Screen Saver shows after 20 min
Device Security
Mac devices used for remote work must have robust security measures to protect off-premise assets:
- Remote working: Implement security protocols to ensure that information accessed or stored remotely is safeguarded.
- Security of assets off-premise: Enforce policies to protect Mac devices that are used outside the organization’s physical locations.
Mac compliance checks for device security:
Technological Controls
Mac devices must be equipped with technological safeguards to protect stored, processed, and transmitted data:
- User endpoint security: Ensure all Mac endpoints are properly secured.
- Protection against malware: Implement antivirus and anti-malware protections.
- Information backup: Maintain regular, encrypted backups to protect against data loss.
- Configuration management: Enforce security configurations and monitor changes.
- Logging: Maintain detailed logs of activities and security events.
- Software installation management: Control software installations to prevent unauthorized applications.
- Use of cryptography: Define and implement encryption policies.
Mac compliance checks for technological controls:
- App Store updates are automatic
- Application updates are enabled
- Boot is secure
- Gatekeeper is on
- macOS updates are automatic
- Time Machine is on and encrypted
Additional Recommendations
These are our recommendations to further enhance security and reduce potential vulnerabilities:
Disable All Sharing/Remote Access:
Disabling sharing and remote access features minimizes the risk of unauthorized access to your device and sensitive data. These settings prevent potential attackers from exploiting network vulnerabilities and ensure that only trusted connections are established. Keeping these features off enhances security, particularly in corporate environments or when working remotely.
- File Sharing is off
- Internet Sharing is off
- Media Sharing is off
- Printer Sharing is off
- Remote Login is off
- Remote Management is off
Disable When Not in Use:
Disabling certain features when they are not actively needed helps reduce the attack surface and prevent unauthorized access. Features like AirDrop and AirPlay can be exploited if left on, potentially allowing unauthorized connections or data transfers. By keeping these features off when not in use, you ensure that your device remains secure while maintaining full control over its connectivity.
Use of Password Managers:
Using a password manager is the best way to ensure secure password management and storage organization-wide. A good password manager generates strong and unique passwords, supports multi-factor authentication, and allows for secure sharing of passwords inside and outside the organization.
We recommend using popular password managers such as 1Password, Bitwarden, or Dashlane.
Easy device compliance with Pareto Security
Pareto Security offers non-invasive device monitoring that continuously assesses system configurations for compliance with security standards. With real-time monitoring, instant alerts, and audit-ready compliance reports, it simplifies adherence to frameworks like ISO 27001.
Designed to respect user privacy, Pareto Security ensures minimal impact on system performance while providing comprehensive security oversight. Learn more about how Pareto Security can enhance your organization’s security posture on our homepage.
What is ISO 27001?
ISO/IEC 27001 is an internationally recognized standard that helps organizations establish, implement, maintain, and improve their information security management system (ISMS). It provides a structured approach to managing sensitive information, ensuring its confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The standard takes a risk-based approach, requiring organizations to assess potential security threats, implement protective measures, and continually monitor and improve security processes. Compliance with ISO 27001 demonstrates a commitment to strong information security practices, increasing trust among customers, partners, and stakeholders.
Conclusion
For organizations pursuing ISO 27001 certification, Mac devices must adhere to stringent security measures. By implementing these checks, organizations can ensure compliance with the standard’s requirements and maintain a secure IT environment.
A structured approach to security—covering access control, device security, and technological controls – will help meet certification requirements and strengthen the organization’s overall security posture.
