ISO 27001 Annex A 8.31 Separate environments Explained Really Simply - Beginner's Guide

In this beginner's guide to ISO 27001 Annex A 8.31 Separate Environments, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Stuart Barker and his team talk you through what it is, how to implement in and how to pass the audit. Free ISO 27001 training.

✅ Stuart is author the Ultimate ISO 27001 Toolkit, the auditor-approved ISO 27001 toolkit for DIY ISO 27001 Certification: https://hightable.io/product/iso-2700...

Read the full article: ISO 27001:2022 Annex A 8.31 Separation of Development, Test and Production Environments Explained - https://hightable.io/iso27001-annex-a...

ISO 27001: Why You Must Separate Development and Live Systems

In software work, there is a fine line between order and chaos. Today, we will look at how to separate your work, test, and live systems.

This might sound hard, but it is vital for safety. It is one of the best things you can do to keep your organisation secure.

Is Your Data Safe?

Let’s start with a big question. Think about this. Is your most important live data safe? Can the team building your new features access it?

If there are no walls between these areas, the answer is likely ‘no’.

The Risk of Digital Mixing

The problem is "digital contamination". This happens when the lines between your work, test, and live areas get blurry. This can lead to disaster.

Picture this:

A coder tests new work. By mistake, they link to the live database. They delete real customer files.

A test system has a weak spot. A hacker finds it. They use it to get into your live network.

These are not just stories. They happen often. Separation is not just about being tidy. It is about keeping your best assets safe.

The Rule: ISO 27001 Annex A 8.31

We do not need to guess how to fix this. There is a clear global standard to help us. It is called ISO 27001.

The rule is Annex A 8.31. It is very clear: "Dev, test, and live environments must be separated."

There is no grey area here. Ideally, this acts as a shield. It stops risks from testing hurting your live business. It stops problems before they start.

The 4 Pillars of Control

How do you do this in real life? You can break it down into four parts, or "pillars". If you get these right, you will be safe.

1. Separate the Systems

First, you need real distance.

Physical: Use different servers.

Logical: Use network rules to build virtual walls.

The line must be clear. In the past, this was costly. Now, cloud tools make it cheap and easy. Tools can set this up for you, so you make fewer mistakes.

2. Isolate Your Data

This is key. Just because servers are apart, do not copy live data to a test area. That is a huge risk.

The Rule: Never use real, sensitive data for tests.

Instead, mix up the data. You can scramble names or numbers. This is called "masking". It keeps the data safe but still lets you test.

3. Manage Change Safely

You have separate systems and safe data. Good. Now, how do you move new code to the live area?

You need a process. If it is too strict, work slows down. If there is no process, it is chaos.

The modern way is a CI/CD pipeline. This stands for Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery. It does the hard work for you. It builds, tests, and moves the code. It checks every change before it goes live.

4. Watch and Log Everything

How do you know your walls are working? You need to watch them.

You cannot protect what you cannot see. Checking logs from many places is hard work. It is too much data.

You can use a tool like a SIEM. This tool pulls all logs into one place. It helps you find real threats in the noise. It also proves to auditors that your rules work.

Think Like an Auditor

It is one thing to build these walls. It is another to prove it. An ISO 27001 auditor will ask for proof.

They will not just trust your word. They will ask:

"Show me the network map."

"Show me who can log in."

"Show me that a coder cannot open the live server."

Then, they will check your data. They want to see how you mask data. They want to be sure no live data is in the test area.

Finally, they check your process. They will look at a recent code update. They want to see the paper trail. Who checked it? Who said yes? You need proof for everything.

The Easy Way to Get Certified

The challenge is not just the tech. It is the paperwork. This is where many good teams get stuck.

You need policies and records. If you cannot show it, it does not exist.

This is where the HighTable ISO 27001 toolkit helps. A lead auditor made it. It gives you the policies and templates you need. It is not just theory. It gives you a clear path to meet the rules and show the right proof.

#iso27001 #iso27001certification