Information Security Management
ISO 27001 Technological Controls Explored
Technological controls protect the systems, software, and data that power your organisation.
They address how technology is configured, monitored, and maintained to reduce cyber risk and support compliance.
Select a control family to explore it in more detail
What Are Technological Controls in ISO 27001?
Technological controls are the digital safeguards in Annex A.
They cover how you secure applications, networks, databases, and endpoints — from access management to backup and monitoring.
They’re typically the most visible part of your ISMS, connecting risk management to real-world technical defences.
How ISO 27001 Technological Controls Fit into Annex A
ISO 27001:2022 defines 34 Technological Controls (A.8.1 to A.8.34).
These complement:
- Organisational controls (A.5) – governance and process management
- People controls (A.6) – staff behaviour and awareness
- Physical controls (A.7) – buildings and equipment
Together they complete the four-theme structure of Annex A — ensuring your security covers people, process, and technology.
The specific controls you apply — and how — are documented in your Statement of Applicability.
Control List (8.1 – 8.34)
Below is a complete list of the Technological controls, each linking to its own detailed explanation and examples.
I’ve grouped them into themes to help organise them, but these are not ISO 27001 formal groupings.
Defines and protects secure areas to prevent unauthorised entry or tampering.
Protect the underlying systems, networks and hardware.
Preserve confidentiality and integrity of stored and transmitted data.
Detect abnormal activity and maintain accurate audit trails.
Manage software and operational environments securely.
Integrate security throughout the development lifecycle.
The Importance of Technological Controls in 27001
So, why have this group of controls? Well, the benefits include;
- They turn policies and risk plans into practical defence.
- They underpin compliance with privacy and cyber regulations.
- They demonstrate proactive security management to clients and auditors.
- They reduce impact from attacks and system failures.
The technological controls of ISO 27001 ask people to consider how they deal with cyber-security; and the risks to your applications, networks, databases and endpoints – from access management to backups and monitoring.
If you don’t have them, you are going to unravel very quickly in the modern age, and while ISO 27001 isn’t very prescriptive, unlike something like the NIST 800-53 control set, it’s a great, flexible place for businesses to start, and tailor it to their needs.
ISO 27001 Full Document Toolkit
Every document your auditor
expects to see.
130 Word & Excel templates, ready to edit. Policies, risk register, Statement of Applicability, audit pack, staff communications — all updated for ISO 27001:2022.
130 templates
Instant download
Written by practising consultant
ISO 27001:2022
Next Steps and Related Topics
Check out some of the other control families here;
FAQ: Physical Controls
Are these controls mandatory for cloud-only businesses?
Yes – you must still implement and evidence appropriate technical controls for systems you own or manage.
Which controls map to common frameworks like NIST or CIS?
Most A.8 controls align directly with CIS Safeguards and NIST CSF categories (Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover).
How do these differ from Organisational controls?
Organisational controls set policy and process; Technological controls apply those rules in software and systems.
Do I need specialised tools for every control?
Not necessarily — many can be handled through good configuration and process discipline.
Includes all the mandatory document templates — free, no commitment