ISO 27001 Control 5.9: Inventory of Information and Other Associated Assets
Control 5.9 requires organizations to create and maintain a comprehensive inventory of all information assets and their owners. Without clear visibility into what you're protecting and who owns it, your data security strategy lacks a foundation. This control ensures you know exactly what information exists, where it's stored, and who's responsible for keeping it secure.
What this means
An information asset inventory is a documented record of all organizational assets that require protection—including data, systems, hardware, and software. Each asset must have a designated owner responsible for its security and appropriate handling. This inventory becomes the baseline for risk assessment, access control decisions, and compliance monitoring. Maintaining it means regularly updating it as new assets are acquired, retired, or transferred.
How to comply
- 1.Identify and catalog all information assets across your organization, including databases, files, applications, hardware, and cloud services
- 2.Assign a responsible owner to each asset who understands its value and classification level
- 3.Document asset details: location, type, data sensitivity, retention requirements, and access controls
- 4.Classify assets by sensitivity level to determine appropriate protection measures
- 5.Establish a review and update schedule to keep the inventory current as systems and data change
- 6.Define handling procedures based on asset classification and regulatory requirements
Evidence auditors look for
- Documented asset inventory spreadsheet or database with owner assignments
- Asset classification framework mapping information types to protection levels
- Regular inventory audit reports showing additions, removals, and updates
- Owner sign-off records confirming accountability for assigned assets
- Data flow diagrams identifying asset locations and interconnections
- Retention schedules and disposal procedures by asset type
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
GRCWatch automatically discovers and catalogs your information assets across cloud, on-premise, and hybrid environments, then assigns ownership and classification in a unified dashboard—eliminating manual spreadsheet updates and keeping your ISO 27001 5.9 inventory audit-ready.
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