ISO 27001 Control 8.30: Outsourced Development
When you outsource system development, security responsibility doesn't disappear—it multiplies. ISO 27001 8.30 requires you to actively supervise and monitor third-party developers to ensure they meet your organization's security requirements. Without proper oversight, outsourced code becomes your compliance risk.
What this means
Control 8.30 mandates that organizations establish formal oversight mechanisms for any system development work performed by external vendors or contractors. This means defining clear security requirements upfront, monitoring development activities throughout the project lifecycle, and verifying that third parties implement the same security standards your organization maintains. The control recognizes that outsourcing development doesn't transfer security accountability—it requires heightened vigilance to ensure third-party code and processes don't introduce vulnerabilities into your systems.
How to comply
- 1.Document security requirements for all outsourced development projects in vendor contracts and SLAs
- 2.Establish a vendor vetting process that assesses third-party security capabilities and certifications
- 3.Define monitoring checkpoints at project phases (design review, code review, testing, deployment)
- 4.Conduct security code reviews or require vendors to perform them before delivery
- 5.Implement secure development practices like secure SDLC requirements in contracts
- 6.Schedule regular audits or security assessments of outsourced development work
- 7.Create an escalation process for security issues discovered during vendor oversight
- 8.Maintain documentation of all monitoring activities and vendor security compliance evidence
Evidence auditors look for
- Signed vendor agreements with embedded security requirements and monitoring clauses
- Security requirements documents tailored for outsourced development projects
- Code review checklists and records of security reviews performed on vendor deliverables
- Vendor assessment questionnaires and security audit reports
- Project monitoring logs showing compliance checks at key development phases
- Test reports verifying security testing was performed on outsourced code
- Communication records documenting escalation and resolution of security findings
- Vendor compliance attestations or certifications (ISO 27001, SOC 2, etc.)
- Update logs showing patches or security fixes applied to third-party developed systems
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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