Annex A 7.3: Securing Offices Rooms Facilities

Physical security is an information security control, not a facilities-only concern. ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A 7.3 expects you to secure offices, rooms, and facilities so unauthorized people cannot gain physical access to systems, records, or work areas that could expose information. In practice, this control is where many audits turn from policy review into “show me” mode: auditors walk the site, test a door, ask how visitors are handled, and request proof that access is granted, reviewed, and removed consistently.

This page is written for a Compliance Officer, CCO, or GRC lead who needs to implement the annex a 7.3: securing offices rooms facilities requirement fast and defensibly. The goal is to translate a high-level Annex A expectation into a small set of operational decisions: which areas are sensitive, who can enter, how entry is controlled, and how you prove it works over time. Where you outsource building security or use co-working space, you still own the control outcome and must manage third parties accordingly.

Sources for this requirement overview include the ISO/IEC 27001 overview and a public Annex A control index summary. ¹

Regulatory text

Control statement (provided excerpt): “ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A control 7.3 implementation expectation (Securing Offices Rooms Facilities).” ¹

Operator interpretation: You must secure the physical areas where information processing happens (people, paper, and technology). That includes offices, server/network rooms, storage rooms, receiving areas, and any facility zones where unauthorized access could lead to disclosure, theft, tampering, or disruption. Your implementation must be consistent, risk-based, assigned to owners, and supported by recurring evidence capture (the most common gap is having controls “in place” without audit-ready proof). ¹

Plain-English interpretation (what the control is really asking)

Annex A 7.3 expects you to answer four questions and operate them continuously:

1. What physical spaces are in scope? List sites and rooms where sensitive information exists (including paper records, endpoints, and infrastructure).
2. Who is allowed in each space, and why? Define roles and authorization criteria.
3. How do you prevent unauthorized entry? Apply layered physical controls appropriate to the risk of the area.
4. How do you know the controls keep working? Review access, handle exceptions, and retain evidence.

This is not limited to “data centers.” A finance file room, HR records closet, engineering lab, and even an open-plan office with whiteboards can be in scope depending on your information and threat model.

Who it applies to (entity and operational context)

This requirement applies to organizations implementing ISO/IEC 27001 where information is processed, stored, or accessed in physical locations, including service organizations. ²

Typical in-scope contexts:

• Corporate offices and leased floors (front doors, suites, shared lobbies)
• Server rooms / network closets / MDF-IDF rooms
• Records storage (contracts, customer files, HR files, backups on media)
• Operations areas (call centers, fulfillment floors, R&D labs)
• Remote and hybrid realities (home offices are usually treated under separate guidance, but your corporate spaces still need controls)
• Co-working and shared buildings where base building security is a third-party dependency you must govern

What you actually need to do (step-by-step)

Use this as an implementation runbook. Keep the scope tight: secure the areas with meaningful risk first, then expand.

Step 1: Build a physical area register (site + room inventory)

Create a register with:

• Site name/address
• Area/room name (e.g., “Suite entry,” “Server room,” “File storage,” “Shipping/receiving”)
• Information/assets present (systems, paper records, media)
• Classification or sensitivity tag (your scheme)
• Primary owner (Facilities/Security/IT) and control owner (GRC-aligned)

Execution tip: Don’t aim for architectural perfection. Aim for an auditable list you can maintain.

Step 2: Define “zones” and minimum controls per zone

Create 3–4 zone tiers that map to your risk tolerance, for example:

• Public/Reception zone: escorted access beyond reception
• Office zone: badge access or equivalent building controls
• Restricted zone: role-based access, logging, visitor escort
• High-restriction zone (e.g., server room): strong access control, logging, tighter review, monitored entry

Document minimum control expectations per zone, including:

• Door/entry controls (keys, badges, codes)
• Visitor handling rules
• Requirements for locked storage and clean desk where relevant
• Monitoring expectations (e.g., guard rounds, CCTV where appropriate)
• After-hours access rules

Step 3: Implement and document access authorization and removal

For each restricted/high-restriction area:

• Define approval workflow (who approves, what criteria)
• Maintain an authorized access list (badge groups, key holders, contractors)
• Establish deprovisioning triggers (termination, role change, end of contract)
• Define temporary access rules for maintenance and incidents

Third party handling: If cleaning crews, building engineers, or MSP techs need entry, treat them as third parties with explicit authorization, defined time windows, escort rules, and a record of access when feasible.

Step 4: Put visitor controls into “muscle memory”

Visitor handling is a common audit walkthrough item. Implement:

• Sign-in process (paper log or digital)
• Identity verification appropriate to your environment
• Visitor badges that are visually distinct
• Escort requirements for restricted/high-restriction zones
• End-of-visit badge return process

Write the procedure so reception, office managers, and security can follow it without interpretation.

Step 5: Secure the “weak seams”

These are the failure points auditors and attackers probe:

• Propped doors, shared access codes, tailgating through turnstiles
• Unlocked network closets or file rooms
• After-hours access without justification
• Receiving docks and side entrances
• Shared building access where your suite door is the only real boundary

Add compensating controls where you cannot change the building (for example, strengthen suite-level controls and internal restricted rooms).

Step 6: Operational checks and recurring evidence capture

The verified risk factor for this control is missing implementation evidence. ¹ Make evidence collection part of operations:

• Periodic access review for restricted areas (confirm who has access and why)
• Physical walkthrough inspections (doors, locks, signage, sensitive rooms)
• Visitor log spot checks (completeness, escort adherence)
• Exception tracking (lost badges/keys, forced entries, door faults) with corrective actions

Daydream fit (earned mention): Teams commonly implement physical controls but fail at recurring evidence. Daydream can track Annex A 7.3 control ownership, schedule access reviews and walkthrough attestations, and centralize artifacts so you can answer audits without hunting through Facilities inboxes.

Required evidence and artifacts to retain

Auditors typically expect to see both design evidence (what you intended) and operating evidence (what happened). Maintain:

Design / governance

• Physical security policy or standard section covering office/room/facility security
• Physical area register (sites/rooms/zones) with owners
• Zone standard (minimum controls per zone)
• Visitor management procedure
• Access provisioning/deprovisioning procedure for physical access

Operating evidence

• Current authorized access lists (by restricted area)
• Access request/approval records (tickets or forms)
• Termination/role-change access removal records (or linkage to HR offboarding)
• Visitor logs (sign-in/out, badges issued, escort notes if required)
• Walkthrough/inspection records and remediation tickets
• Incident records for physical security events (lost key/badge, door forced, unauthorized entry)

Third-party artifacts (if applicable)

• Contracts or building security terms relevant to access control where you rely on a landlord/co-working operator
• Third-party access rosters for onsite contractors and maintenance

Common exam/audit questions and hangups

Expect these lines of questioning during ISO 27001 audits and internal reviews:

1. “Show me your secure areas.” Can you produce a current list of restricted rooms and explain why they are restricted?
2. “Who has access to the server room today?” Can you produce an access list and the approval trail?
3. “How do you handle visitors and contractors?” Can reception explain it, and do logs match the procedure?
4. “How do you remove access quickly?” Is offboarding tied to physical access removal, or is it manual and inconsistent?
5. “What evidence proves ongoing operation?” Do you have reviews/inspections, or only a one-time install of locks?

Hangup to avoid: treating Facilities controls as “out of scope” for ISMS evidence. You still need artifacts and accountability.

Frequent implementation mistakes (and how to avoid them)

• Mistake: No zoning model, only ad hoc locks.
  Fix: Define zones and minimum controls, then map each room to a zone.

• Mistake: Shared door codes and untracked keys.
  Fix: Assign credentials to individuals or controlled groups; track issuance and retrieval.

• Mistake: Visitor logs exist but are incomplete or not retained.
  Fix: Standardize sign-in/out fields, train reception, and set retention rules consistent with your ISMS.

• Mistake: Offboarding removes system access but not physical access.
  Fix: Add physical access removal as an explicit offboarding step with evidence (ticket closure, badge deactivation record).

• Mistake: Relying on a landlord/co-working provider without documenting dependency.
  Fix: Record what the third party provides (lobby security, cameras, guards) and what you control (suite access, internal restricted rooms). Keep the agreement or confirmation on file.

Enforcement context and risk implications

No public enforcement cases were provided in the source catalog for this control, so this page does not cite enforcement actions.

Operational risk is straightforward:

• Unauthorized physical access can enable device theft, tampering, credential compromise, and data exposure.
• Weak visitor controls and unsecured internal rooms increase the chance of unnoticed entry.
• The most common assurance failure is evidence: inability to prove access is controlled and reviewed over time. ¹

Practical 30/60/90-day execution plan

Use a staged plan without claiming fixed implementation duration.

First 30 days (Immediate stabilization)

• Assign control owner and facilities/physical security point of contact.
• Build the physical area register for all sites and identify restricted/high-restriction areas first.
• Publish a simple zoning standard (minimum controls per zone) and a visitor procedure.
• Start evidence capture now: begin visitor log retention and create an access list export process for restricted areas.

By 60 days (Control operation and consistency)

• Align access approval workflows for restricted areas (ticketing or formal approvals).
• Implement offboarding linkage for physical access removal (HR trigger + facilities/security execution).
• Run your first access review for restricted/high-restriction areas; document results and remediation actions.
• Conduct a walkthrough inspection and remediate obvious gaps (unlocked closets, missing signage, broken locks).

By 90 days (Audit-ready and repeatable)

• Expand zoning and controls to remaining offices/rooms based on risk.
• Formalize recurring review cadence (access reviews, walkthroughs, visitor log checks) and assign owners.
• Centralize artifacts (register, procedures, access lists, reviews, exceptions) in your GRC repository.
• Test the control: perform a mini internal audit walkthrough and confirm evidence is complete.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Annex A 7.3 apply if we don’t have a data center?

Yes. The control covers offices, rooms, and facilities where information is processed or stored, including paper records and endpoints. Treat server rooms as one case, but also evaluate file storage, network closets, and sensitive team areas.

We’re in a shared building with lobby security. Is that enough?

Lobby security helps, but you still need controls for your suite and any internal restricted rooms. Document what the building provides and what you enforce inside your perimeter, then retain evidence that your access rules operate.

What’s the minimum evidence an auditor will ask for?

Expect to show a list of restricted areas, who has access, how access is approved/removed, and proof of ongoing operation (reviews, logs, walkthroughs). The recurring evidence is where many teams get stuck. ¹

How do we handle contractors like cleaning crews or IT repair techs?

Treat them as third parties with explicit authorization and clear boundaries. Use time-bound access where possible, require escort for restricted zones, and retain a record of access through visitor logs or access requests.

Do we need cameras to satisfy Annex A 7.3?

ISO 27001 does not mandate a specific technology in the provided excerpt. Choose controls that match your risk and environment; many organizations meet the requirement through zoning, controlled entry, visitor procedures, and reviewable access records. ¹

How can GRC teams reduce back-and-forth with Facilities during audits?

Put ownership, procedures, and evidence capture on a calendar and store artifacts centrally. Tools like Daydream help by assigning control tasks, collecting attestations, and keeping proof organized for ISO assessments.

Footnotes

1. ISO/IEC 27001 overview; ISMS.online Annex A control index

2. ISO/IEC 27001 overview