ISO 27001 Controls List (Annexe A)
In today’s business world, every company that manages data is also managing risk. The ISO 27001 controls list (Annexe A) provides a globally recognised framework that helps organisations protect sensitive information, maintain trust, and meet growing compliance expectations. In 2025, U.S. companies—especially SaaS platforms, fintech firms, and enterprise IT teams—need robust information security management systems (ISMS) to survive in a threat-filled digital environment.
Understanding and implementing Annexe A controls not only helps businesses achieve ISO 27001 certification but also strengthens long-term security resilience. This article breaks down each key component, giving you a clear, actionable overview to stay ahead in compliance and governance.
The main aim of ISO 27001 Controls (Annexe A) is to provide organisations with a structured and actionable framework for managing information security risks effectively. Annexe A defines clear control objectives and provides 93 specific controls covering organisational, people, physical, and technological domains.
These controls help companies safeguard sensitive data, prevent security breaches, and address vulnerabilities systematically. By implementing Annexe A controls, businesses can align with international standards, simplify compliance audits, and demonstrate a strong commitment to data protection.
Key Insights or Definitions
ISO 27001 is an international standard that defines how to create, implement, maintain, and improve an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It provides organisations with a systematic approach to managing confidential information and mitigating risks.
The core of ISO 27001 lies in Annexe A, which includes 93 controls categorised into four main areas:
Organizational Controls
People Controls
Physical Controls
Technological Controls
These Annexe A controls serve as guidelines to address risks and align with control objectives—the specific goals each control is meant to achieve.
Benefits or Importance for Businesses
The ISO 27001 controls list (Annexe A) offers more than just compliance—it’s a pathway to building trust and operational excellence.
Key Benefits Include:
Improved Data Security: Strengthens defences against data breaches and insider threats.
Regulatory Readiness: Ensures smoother alignment with GDPR, HIPAA, SOC 2, and other data protection frameworks.
Operational Efficiency: Automates risk management processes and reduces human error.
Customer Confidence: Demonstrates that your company takes data protection seriously.
Competitive Advantage: Businesses with ISO 27001 certification often win more contracts due to proven reliability.
By embedding Annexe A controls into daily operations, companies not only meet compliance but also establish long-term credibility with partners and customers.
Common Challenges or Mistakes
Many organizations encounter hurdles while implementing ISO 27001 controls, particularly when relying on manual methods.
Common Challenges Include:
Incomplete Control Mapping: Many teams fail to fully align all 93 Annexe A controls with existing processes.
Manual Tracking: Using spreadsheets for evidence collection slows down audits and increases risk.
Lack of Ownership: Without defined responsibilities, controls often go unmonitored.
Ignoring Updates: The 2022 revision of ISO 27001 updated several controls, which some companies haven’t yet integrated.
Disjointed Systems: Isolated tools make it difficult to ensure continuous compliance.
Overcoming these challenges requires automation, visibility, and ongoing control validation.
How Controllo.ai Helps Simplify This
Controllo.ai provides an intelligent, AI-powered solution that automates and simplifies ISO 27001 compliance. By integrating automation into your compliance workflow, Controllo.ai eliminates manual tasks and ensures consistent monitoring of every control across your organisation. With Controllo.ai, You Can:
Automate ISO 27001 Control Mapping: Instantly connect your systems to the Annexe A controls list.
Monitor Compliance in Real-Time: Track each control’s performance using dynamic dashboards.
Reduce Audit Preparation Time: Generate audit-ready reports and evidence automatically.
Improve Accuracy: Eliminate errors caused by manual documentation.
Scale Securely: Maintain continuous compliance even as your business grows.
By combining AI, automation, and data security intelligence, Controllo.ai helps businesses move beyond checklists—building smarter, stronger, and faster compliance ecosystems.
Quick Steps to Get Started
Achieving ISO 27001 certification can seem complex, but with the right structure and tools, the process becomes straightforward.
Follow These Simple Steps:
Assess Your Current Controls: Identify which of the 93 Annex A controls are already implemented.
Automate Compliance: Use Controllo.ai to perform real-time ISO 27001 control mapping and detect any missing controls.
Fix the Gaps: Address weak areas using automated remediation guidance.
Generate Documentation: Instantly produce detailed compliance reports and evidence logs.
Stay Compliant Continuously: Set up ongoing monitoring for proactive security management.
These steps not only speed up certification but also ensure that your organization remains secure and audit-ready all year round.
ISO 27001: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1.What are ISO 27001 controls?
Q2.How many controls are in ISO 27001 Annex A?
Q3.What is an example of a control objective?
Q4.How does Controllo.ai help with ISO 27001 compliance?
Q5.Can ISO 27001 controls be automated?
Controllo.ai has 20+ frameworks and 6000+ controls. It also has 20+ compliance experience. Controllo.ai is the sister company of Accerdere, founded in 2022. controllo.ai helps in securing the future of customers.
Similar post : ISO 27001 Gap Analysis Template
Internal Links: ISO 27001
External Links: IEC 27001:2022
