Door Held Open Alert

What is a Door Held Open Alert?

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A door held open alert is a security system that sends a warning when a door is left open for longer than a programmed time, even if it was opened legitimately. It is a component of access control systems designed to prevent security risks, such as unauthorized entry or the risk of intrusion in sensitive areas like server rooms, by notifying designated personnel. Integrating with a video system to capture an image or video clip of the event.

Even if your employees use the correct credentials to gain access to restricted areas, holding or propping the door open can create a security risk. This is why Door Held Open Alerts were created. This feature is part of an advanced physical access control system.

With this feature, when a door is held open longer than a preset time, an alert will be sent to either a designated responsible party or a monitoring center which will alert a list of contacts.

With integration into a video surveillance system, a Door Held Open Alert can also automatically send an image or video clip from the security cameras nearest the door that caused the alert.  It combines a physical access control sensor with cameras, so if someone props a door open, an alert is sent to security personnel, and the system automatically records the incident for later review. 

How it works

·        Sensing the door state: A sensor, often a magnetic contact sensor, is used to detect when the door is open or closed.

·        Timing the duration: The system is programmed with a specific "held open" time. When the door is opened, the timer starts.

·        Triggering the alert: If the door remains open past the preset time limit, the system triggers an alert.

·        Sending the notification: The alert can be a siren, a chime, a light, or a notification sent to a security team or a monitoring center.

·        Integrated security: For enhanced security, the alert can also trigger the capture of a video clip from a nearby camera to provide a visual record of the event.

·        Integration with video: When the alarm is triggered, the connected video surveillance system automatically records or takes a snapshot from the camera nearest the door.

·        Notification: The alert, along with the associated video evidence, is sent to a security monitoring center, a designated responsible party, or a list of contacts.

What happens when an alert is triggered

·        An alert is sent to a designated party, such as security personnel or a monitoring center.

·        The alert can be a visual cue, an audible alarm, or a notification sent to a smartphone.

·        The system can be configured to automatically send a video clip from nearby cameras along with the alert.

·        The alert can be reset once the door is properly closed.

Why it is important

·        Prevents unauthorized access: It stops people from propping a door open after they've used their credential to enter a secure area.

·        Enhances security: It helps monitor critical areas like server rooms or security offices to prevent intrusion.

·        Can be integrated with other systems: It can be combined with video surveillance for a more comprehensive security response. 

Why it's used

·        Preventing security breaches: It stops people from propping doors open for unauthorized access, which is a common security risk.

·        Monitoring critical areas: It is particularly useful for securing sensitive areas like server rooms, labs, or restricted zones, where unauthorized access is a major concern.

·        Providing evidence: The video recording serves as evidence for security investigations.

·        Automating security: It automates the process of monitoring and responding to a potential security issue, reducing the need for constant manual surveillance. 

Door Open Too Long Alarm

A "door open too long alarm" is a system that alerts you if a door is left ajar for a set period, and it can be implemented with simple magnetic sensors for home use or more advanced systems for commercial applications. These alarms can be wireless, battery-powered, or wired, and some offer features like app notifications, different alarm modes, and adjustable time delays. 

Types of door open too long alarms:

·        Simple magnetic sensors: These are often battery-powered and easy to install with adhesive. They trigger an alarm when the two magnetic parts of the sensor are separated for too long. 

·        Wired alarms: These are typically used for commercial and industrial applications and are connected to a power source and control panel. 

·        Smart/Wi-Fi alarms: These connect to your home network and can send real-time alerts to your smartphone via an app. Some are hub-less and compatible with both Android and iOS devices.

Features and functions:

·        Adjustable time delay: Many alarms allow you to set how long the door must be open before the alarm triggers, with some adjustable from seconds to minutes. 

·        Multiple alarm modes: Some systems have different settings, such as a simple alarm that stops when the door closes, a doorbell mode, or a door closing reminder. 

·        App and remote notifications: Smart alarms can provide instant alerts to your phone, which is useful for monitoring doors remotely. 

·        High-decibel sirens: Many alarms include a loud siren to deter intruders or to get the attention of people in the building. 

·        Indicator lights: Some commercial systems may include a visual indicator, such as a flashing red LED strobe, in addition to an audible buzzer. 

Applications:

·        Home security: Prevents doors from being left open for extended periods, which can be useful for security, child safety, or keeping pets from sneaking out. 

·        Commercial security: Monitors critical areas like server rooms, conference rooms, or storage areas, and can be integrated with card reader systems. 

·        Industrial settings: Wired alarms are often used for industrial doors and are designed to withstand harsh environments. 

·        Refrigerator alarms: Small, battery-powered alarms with a short delay can be used to remind you to close the refrigerator door.

How to choose an alarm:

·        The environment: A simple magnetic sensor might be enough for a home, while a wired or commercial system may be better for a business. 

·        Connectivity: Choose between a simple standalone alarm or a smart alarm that connects to Wi-Fi and sends app notifications. 

·        Features: Decide if you need adjustable delays, multiple modes, or a specific decibel level. 

Purpose of Door Alarm Monitoring

Most businesses and organizations use some form of card access control system to control entry into their buildings and other facilities. These systems allow authorized employees to conveniently enter through secured doors without needing to use a key.

In addition to controlling access, most card access control systems also provide a door alarm monitoring feature. The purpose of door alarm monitoring is to detect improper use of the card access controlled door. Two types of door monitoring are commonly provided:

"Door-Forced-Open" Monitoring

In the event that any card reader door is opened from outside without the use of a valid access card, the system will cause a "Door-Forced-Open" (DFO) condition to occur. For example, if an intruder were to pry the door open from the outside, this would cause a DFO condition to occur.

"Door-Open-Too-Long" Monitoring

In the event that any card reader door is propped or held open, the system will cause a "Door-Open-Too-Long" (OTL) condition to occur. For example, if an employee were to wedge a door open, this would cause a OTL condition to occur.

In most cases, the access control system is designed so that a security monitoring center is notified whenever a DFO or OTL condition occurs, allowing an appropriate security response to be made. In some cases this may involve dispatching a security officer to the door to investigate; in other cases, an employee working near the door may be called and asked to see what is going on at the door. If the facility has a video surveillance system, the monitoring center may also use a video camera to observe activity at the door.

The Problem

Unfortunately, the door alarm monitoring feature is a major source of of grief at many facilities. The problem: false DFO alarms. In most cases, these false alarms occur even though employees have done nothing wrong; they simply used the access controlled door in normal manner, yet the system triggered a false DFO alarm. In larger facilities, this can occur hundreds or even thousands of times per day. These alarms can flood the security monitoring center, overwhelming the monitoring staff.

Eventually, monitoring staff may become complacent about DFO alarms, or choose to ignore them completely. At some facilities, false DFO alarms can be such a problem that management becomes frustrated, and chooses to permanently disable the door alarm monitoring feature. Neither of these responses is appropriate as they decrease the overall level of security at the facility and turn the access control system into just an electronic locking system.

Is There a Solution?

Many end-users (and even security systems integrators) have come to accept the false DFO problem as unsolvable. These people have given up on trying to find a solution and consider false DFO alarms to be a fact of life when using a access control system.

Is there a solution? Yes! While false DFO alarms can never be entirely eliminated, Silva Consultants believes that they can be reduced by 95% or more through effective system design.

At facilities that already have systems installed, modifications can be made to existing equipment that will eliminate most false DFO alarms. Fixing false DFO problems on existing systems requires work, but can be done with some knowledge of basic design principles and a little patience.

How Door Monitoring Works

Before discussing specific solutions to the false DFO problem, it is helpful to understand how the door monitoring feature works on the typical access control system.

The typical access controlled door has the following devices:

·        Card reader on outside (non-secured) side of door. Common types of card readers include proximity readers, smartcard readers, and magnetic stripe readers.

·        Request-to-exit (REX) / Egress Switch device on inside (secured) side of door. Common types of REX devices include REX motion detectors, REX switches in lock hardware, and manual REX buttons.

·        Electric lock hardware. Common types of electric lock hardware include electric strikes, electric locks, and electromagnetic locks.

·        Door position switch. The most common type of door position switch is the magnetic contact switch.

All of the devices at the door are connected to the access control system, usually through some type of intelligent control panel which may be located at the door, or in a nearby electrical closet.

Here is how the access control system door monitoring feature works:

Entering through the door from the outside:

When a user presents his or her card at the card reader, the reader sends a signal to the access control system. If the card is valid, the access control systems sends a signal back to the electric lock hardware, causing the door to unlock. As the user opens the door, the door position switch sends a signal to the access control system, but because a valid card has just been used at the reader, the access control system does not cause a DFO alarm to occur.

Exiting through the door from the inside:

When a user approaches the door to exit, he or she activates the REX device. In the case of a REX motion detector, this occurs when the user steps into the detector's coverage area. In the case of a REX switch inside of hardware, this occurs when the user turns the door handle or presses the exit bar. When using a manual REX button, this occurs when the user presses the button to leave. As the user opens the door, the door position switch sends a signal to the access control system, but because a REX device was just activated, the access control system does not cause a DFO alarm to occur.

If an access controlled door is opened without either the use of a valid access card or the activation of a REX device, a door-forced-open (DFO) alarm will occur. This occurs because the access control system has received a signal from the door position switch telling it that the door has been opened, and without having received a previous signal from either the card reader or REX device, it assumes that the door is being forced open.

So, in summary, if a door is opened without using either the card reader or activating a REX device, a DFO alarm will occur.

Common Causes of False DFO Alarms

The following are some common causes of false DFO alarms:

Improper REX Motion Detector Coverage

REX motion detectors need to detect people just as they are ready to open the door. Too often, REX motion detectors are placed where they detect people approaching the door rather than at the door itself. This is sometimes done with good intentions ("I will detect them long before they get to the door") but can create a "blind spot" in front of the door itself. (See Figure #1 below).

Users can pass through the detector's coverage area and pause before opening the door, often long enough to allow the REX detector to reset. The user then opens the door, causing a DFO alarm to occur.

The solution: Carefully test each REX motion detector to determine its coverage area. Ideally, motion detectors should be pointed at the door knob or handle and provide detection before a person can open the door (See Figure #2 below). Relocate and/or readjust detector to provide positive coverage at the door and to avoid unwanted coverage elsewhere.

Improper REX Motion Detector Settings

Different brands of access control systems process door position switch and REX device inputs differently. Some systems require that the REX input signal be reset after each opening and closing of the door. Often, the time delay settings on REX motion detectors are set for too long a period. This allows the door to be closed and then reopened again before the detector has had a chance to reset. This causes a DFO alarm to occur when the door is opened the second time.

The solution: Learn specifically how your access control system processes door position switch and REX input signals. Adjust the settings on your REX detectors so that they provide a signal of an appropriate duration. On many systems, the REX detector should be adjusted to reset as quickly as possible after each activation, so that the system receives a series of pulses rather than a continuous activation.

Improper Lock Hardware Function

When a door is controlled by an access control system, the lock hardware on that door should not allow it to be left in the unlocked position manually. Lock hardware that allows this can be be a source of DFO alarms when users open the door manually from the outside without using their access card.

The solution: Examine all doors and replace any lock hardware that allows a door to be left in a manually unlocked state. If a door must be left open during certain times of the day, this should be done through programming of the access control system - not by manual operation of the lock.

Door Doesn't Latch Properly

Doors that don't close and latch properly are a major source of DFO alarms. These occur when a user is able to pull a door open from the outside without using a card, or when a gust of wind blows the door open. Failure of a door to properly close and latch can be caused by many things, including defective doors and frames, defective door lock hardware, defective door closer, improper HVAC system air balancing, and obstructions at the doorway.

The solution: Carefully inspect all doors to make sure that they close and lock perfectly. Doors that must be "given a shove" to close won't work well with a card access control system. Identify sources of problems and take corrective action. Check doors at various times throughout the day and year as certain problems (such as air balancing issues) may only happen at certain times.

Users are Using Brass Key Instead of Access Card

Most access controlled doors are equipped with lock cylinders that allow the door to be opened using a key in the event that the access control system fails. This works fine if keys are used strictly during emergencies, but causes chronic DFO alarms if users routinely use their key rather than a card to open the door. This not only creates false alarms, but also defeats the accountability provided by the access control systems audit trail feature.

The solution: Brass keys should be used on card reader controlled doors only in the event of an emergency. All lock cylinders on card reader controlled doors should be keyed to a special "emergency key" that is not routinely carried by employees, but instead handed out only during emergencies. If necessary, a break-glass box containing emergency keys can be providing in an area where it is accessible by authorized employees during a true emergency. The emergency key should not be part of the facilities master key system.

Users Forget to Use Manual REX Button

At facilities which use manual REX buttons, users sometimes forget to press the button on their way out, causing a DFO alarm.

The solution: Manual REX buttons are counterintuitive and not very user-friendly. In our opinion, they should only be used as a last resort or as a backup to another REX device. Consider replacing existing manual REX buttons with REX motion detectors or REX switches in the door lock hardware.

Users are Taping or Jamming the Latch Open

Users of the door sometimes tape or otherwise jam open the door latch so they can re-enter the door without using an access card. In some cases, this is because the person needs to go in and out of the door frequently and doesn't want to have to use their access card each time. In other cases, the person has gained access to the inside of the door but doesn't have a card (or access privileges) that would allow them to re-enter. Each time the door is opened from the outside without the use of a card, it causes a DFO alarm to occur.

The solution: Provide ongoing security awareness training to all users of the system. Make sure that users have been assigned appropriate access privileges so that they can do their jobs. If doors must be left unlocked during certain times of the day, educate users on the right way of doing this (through programming of the access control system) versus the wrong way of doing this (taping the latch open). If necessary, provide signage at each door that reminds users of the proper procedures. Take disciplinary action against users who continue to violate policies despite repeated warnings.

Door is Not Interfaced with Automatic Door Opener

When a card reader door is also equipped with an automatic door opener, there is a potential for DFO alarms to occur when the opener opens the door before a REX device is activated. There are two ways in which this can occur:

·        The inside door opener actuator button is located beyond the range of the REX motion detector at the door. When the user presses the actuator button, it opens the door, but since the user has not yet activated the REX detector, it causes a DFO alarm. (See Figure #3 below)

 ·        The door opener's motion detector has a greater range than the REX motion detector. When a user approaches the door, he activates the door opener's detector prior to activating the REX detector, causing a DFO alarm. (See Figure #4 below)

The solution: Provide an interface between automatic door opener devices and the access control system. Outputs from door opener actuator buttons and door opener motion detectors should be connected as REX inputs to the access control system. This can be done by using devices that have double-pole switch contacts (one pole for the opener and one pole for the access control system), or by providing an external relay that provides double-pole contacts.

Tips for Solving False DFO Alarm Problems

·        Troubleshooting of DFO alarms should be done carefully and methodically. At most facilities, you will find that 20% of your doors will be responsible for 80% of your DFO alarms. Run a report that shows all DFO alarms for a 24 hour period to identify those doors with the most problems. Begin attacking the problem by fixing the doors with the most false alarms first, then move on to the other doors.

·        The most reliable type of REX device is a REX switch built into the lock hardware. This switch provides a positive indication when someone is exiting and is the least prone to problems. When installing hardware on a new door, this should be your first choice when the option is available. Also consider retrofitting existing hardware with REX switches, especially at doors that have been particularly troublesome in terms of false alarms.

·        Sometimes, more than one REX device will be required at a door. For example, obstructions may prevent a single REX detector from detecting people approaching the door from different directions. Adding a second REX detector may be able to solve this.

·        If you are pulling your hair out trying to solve false alarm problems at a particular door, consider temporarily installing a camera and video recorder specifically for the purposes of troubleshooting. This camera should be pointed at the inside of the door and allow you to observe activity coming and going. For improved diagnostics, provide indicator lights visible by the camera connected to the door position switch and REX device. These lights should illuminate when each device is activated, allowing you to observe the sequence of events as people pass through the door.

If you have questions about the false DFO alarm problem, or need help in reducing DFO alarms at your facility, please contact us.

How ISO Support to Secure Your Business Video Footage Data

How ISO Support to Secure Your Business Video Footage Data 

In today’s digital-first world, cybersecurity threats are at an all-time high. Data breaches, ransomware attacks, and insider threats put businesses at risk of financial losses, legal penalties, and reputational damage.

To combat these risks, companies need a structured approach to information security—and that’s where ISO/IEC 27001 comes in.

ISO 27001 is a widely acknowledged ISO standard that defines best practices for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), providing a comprehensive framework to protect business data, manage cyber risks, and ensure compliance with global security regulations.

An ISO 27001 audit of video footage involves verifying the implementation and effectiveness of Annex A.7.4 Physical security monitoring controls, which require organizations to monitor restricted areas using tools like CCTV and alarms to detect and deter unauthorized access. Auditors will review policies, check footage, inspect systems, and interview staff to ensure the organization meets the standard's requirements for protecting information assets.

What ISO 27001 is

·        An international standard for information security management systems (ISMS). 

·        A framework for an ISMS that uses a systematic approach to manage and protect an organization's sensitive data. 

·        A standard that focuses on the "CIA triad": confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information. 

·        A way for organizations to demonstrate to customers and regulators that they take information security seriously. 

But how does ISO 27001 help secure your business, and why is it essential in 2025? Let’s explore.

1. Why Cybersecurity is a Top Priority for Businesses

Cyberattacks are becoming more frequent, sophisticated, and costly. Businesses face risks such as:

🔹 Ransomware attacks – Hackers encrypt business data and demand payment.

🔹 Phishing scams – Employees unknowingly share sensitive information.

🔹 Data breaches – Exposing customer and financial data.

🔹 Insider threats – Employees or partners mishandle or leak confidential information.

🔹 Regulatory penalties – Non-compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, and CCPA leads to legal fines.

ISO 27001 provides a proactive defense against these threats, ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

2. What is ISO 27001?

ISO 27001 is an international cybersecurity standard that helps organizations:

✅ Protect sensitive business and customer data from cyber threats.

✅ Identify and manage security risks before they lead to breaches.

✅ Comply with global regulations (GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, SOC 2, etc.).

✅ Implement strong access controls and encryption methods.

✅ Ensure business continuity and disaster recovery planning.

Unlike traditional cybersecurity measures, ISO 27001 is a risk-based framework that focuses on continuous monitoring and improvement of security policies.

3. Key aspects of the standard

·        Scope: 

It applies to all types of information, including digital, paper-based, and cloud-stored data. 

·        Risk management: 

It requires organizations to identify, assess, and treat information security risks in a systematic and cost-effective way. 

·        Compliance: 

It helps organizations comply with legal and regulatory requirements, such as GDPR. 

·        Certification: 

An organization can get certified by undergoing an independent audit to prove its compliance. 

·        Flexibility: 

The standard is technology-neutral and allows organizations to choose controls that are applicable to them from the Annex A controls, which provides a catalog of safeguards. 

4. How ISO 27001 Secures Your Business Data

a) Risk Assessment & Threat Identification

ISO 27001 requires businesses to analyze risks, such as:

🔹 External cyberattacks (hacking, malware, phishing).

🔹 Internal vulnerabilities (employee errors, weak passwords, unauthorized access).

🔹 Third-party risks (vendors, cloud providers, remote access).

Businesses must document, evaluate, and address security threats proactively.

b) Strong Data Protection Policies

ISO 27001 ensures businesses implement:

✔ Access control measures – Restricting sensitive data access to authorized users.

✔ Encryption & data masking – Securing data both in transit and at rest.

✔ Multi-factor authentication (MFA) – Preventing unauthorized logins.

c) Compliance with Global Cybersecurity Regulations

ISO 27001 helps organizations align with key security laws:

📌 GDPR (Europe) – Protects personal data and privacy.

📌 CCPA (California, USA) – Regulates consumer data protection.

📌 HIPAA (Healthcare) – Ensures security of patient records.

📌 PCI-DSS (Payments) – Secures credit card transactions.

By complying with ISO 27001, businesses avoid fines, lawsuits, and data breaches.

d) Employee Cybersecurity Training & Awareness

ISO 27001 requires businesses to:

✔ Train employees on phishing, social engineering, and password security.

✔ Conduct cybersecurity drills and simulated attacks to test readiness.

✔ Establish a culture of security awareness across departments.

e) Incident Response & Business Continuity Planning

ISO 27001 ensures businesses have:

✅ Incident response plans – Quick action against cyberattacks.

✅ Backup & disaster recovery solutions – Avoiding data loss.

✅ Regular cybersecurity audits & vulnerability testing – Preventing security gaps.

By implementing these, businesses can recover quickly from cyber incidents.

5. How to Implement ISO 27001 for Maximum Cybersecurity

Step 1: Conduct a Cyber Risk Assessment

🔍 Identify potential cyber threats and data vulnerabilities.

🔍 Assess network security, cloud storage, and endpoint protection.

Step 2: Develop an Information Security Policy (ISP)

📌 Establish guidelines for password policies, device security, and data sharing.

📌 Implement role-based access controls (RBAC) to limit data access.

Step 3: Secure IT Infrastructure & Cloud Systems

✅ Encrypt sensitive business and customer data.

✅ Use firewalls, intrusion detection, and VPNs for remote work security.

✅ Implement real-time security monitoring tools for threat detection.

Step 4: Train Employees & Conduct Cyber Drills

📚 Provide ongoing cybersecurity awareness training.

📚 Simulate phishing attacks to test employee response.

Step 5: Perform Regular Cybersecurity Audits & Updates

✔ Conduct internal and third-party security audits.

✔ Update security policies based on new cyber threats and trends.

Step 6: Achieve ISO 27001 Certification

📜 Work with an ISO-certified auditor to assess compliance.

📜 Obtain ISO 27001 certification to showcase cybersecurity commitment.

6. The Future of Cybersecurity & ISO 27001

As cyber threats evolve, businesses must stay ahead of hackers and data breaches. Future trends include:

🚀 AI-driven cybersecurity – Using machine learning to detect and stop threats in real-time.

🚀 Zero Trust Security Model – Businesses moving to never trust, always verify frameworks.

🚀 Integration of ISO 27001 with other security standards (ISO 27701 for privacy, SOC 2 for cloud security).

🚀 Cyber insurance becoming essential for risk management.

By adopting ISO 27001 now, businesses can future-proof their cybersecurity strategy.

7. Conclusion: Why ISO 27001 is a Must for Businesses

Cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue—it’s a business survival necessity. Companies that ignore data security risks face:

🚨 Financial losses from cyberattacks and data breaches.

🚨 Legal fines due to non-compliance with global security regulations.

🚨 Loss of customer trust and damage to brand reputation.

On the other hand, ISO 27001-certified businesses gain:

✅ Stronger cybersecurity defenses.

✅ Compliance with global regulations.

✅ A reputation as a trustworthy, security-conscious company.

💡 Ready to secure your business data? Contact us today to implement ISO 27001 and protect your organization from cyber threats! 🔐🚀

An ISO/IEC 27001 audit is a systematic review of an organization's Information Security Management System (ISMS) to ensure it complies with the ISO 27001 standard. This process involves various types of audits, including internal audits for self-assessment, external certification audits to achieve certification, and recurring surveillance audits to maintain it. The audits evaluate the effectiveness of security controls, risk management, and compliance with policies.

ISO/IEC 27001 audits are important because they verify an organization's compliance with international information security standards, build trust with clients and partners, help prevent costly data breaches, and drive continuous improvement of security practices. These audits are crucial for gaining or maintaining certification and demonstrating a robust, proactive approach to managing sensitive data and risks. 

Types of ISO/IEC 27001 audits

✅Internal Audit: 

A mandatory, self-conducted review to check if the ISMS is compliant with the standard and the organization's own requirements. This helps identify gaps and prepare for external audits. 

✅Certification Audit: 

An external audit performed by an accredited certification body to determine if the ISMS is ready for certification. This is a formal process that issues the ISO 27001 certificate if successful. 

✅Surveillance Audit: 

A periodic audit conducted by the certification body after certification to ensure the ISMS continues to function effectively and remains compliant. 

✅Recertification Audit: 

A full recertification audit that occurs every three years to renew the ISO 27001 certificate. 

What an audit involves

📌 Documentation Review: 

Reviewing policies, procedures, and other documentation to ensure they meet the standard. 

📌 Evidence-Based Assessment: 

Checking that the documented processes are being followed in practice and that there is evidence to prove it, such as risk logs and corrective actions. 

📌 Control Effectiveness: 

Evaluating the effectiveness of the security controls in place to protect information assets. 

📌 Risk Management: 

Assessing the organization's risk assessment and treatment processes to ensure they are properly identifying and mitigating risks. 

📌 Management Review: 

Ensuring that management is involved in reviewing the ISMS performance and taking appropriate action. 

Benefits of ISO/IEC 27001 audits

✅ Establishes trust and credibility: 

Certification through a successful audit shows that an organization has implemented best practices for protecting sensitive data, which builds trust with customers, partners, and stakeholders. 

✅ Improves the security framework: 

Audits help an organization systematically manage and reduce security risks by identifying vulnerabilities and ensuring that controls are effective. 

✅ Ensures compliance: 

Regular audits ensure ongoing compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, such as GDPR, which helps organizations avoid fines and penalties. 

✅ Drives business growth: 

Achieving certification can provide a competitive advantage, open up new markets, and fulfill contractual requirements that mandate ISO 27001 compliance for doing business. 

✅ Mitigates costs: 

By preventing security incidents, audits help reduce the costs associated with data breaches, business disruptions, and non-compliance fines. 

✅ Promotes continuous improvement: 

Audits assess the effectiveness of security controls and identify opportunities for improvement, ensuring the Information Security Management System (ISMS) remains strong and resilient over time. 

How to audit video footage for ISO 27001

✅ Review documentation: 

Check that the organization has a formal policy for video surveillance and has documented the restricted areas that are being monitored.

✅ Check surveillance tools: 

Verify that the surveillance tools, such as CCTV cameras, are properly installed and functioning.

✅ Inspect physical security controls: 

Look for and confirm the presence of detectors and alarms, and check that they are configured correctly.

✅ Confirm access controls: 

Ensure that video footage is only accessible to authorized personnel and is protected against unauthorized viewing or modification.

✅ Check retention policies: 

Review the organization's policies for retaining and securely disposing of video footage.

✅ Review internal processes: 

Examine how the organization handles incidents detected via video footage and review any logs or reports of such incidents. 

During the audit, an auditor will typically review:

✅ Physical security controls: 

The auditor will verify the effective implementation of controls for the CCTV system, which can include aspects like data handling, storage, access control, and monitoring. 

✅ Risk management: 

The auditor will assess if the risks associated with the CCTV system have been continuously reviewed and if the risk treatment plans are still relevant and effective. 

✅ Incident management: 

They will check if any security incidents involving the CCTV system have occurred and if the organization has followed its incident response procedures. 

✅ Compliance with ISO 27001 requirements: 

The auditor will ensure that the CCTV system is still compliant with the relevant clauses of the ISO 27001 standard, especially the physical security controls outlined in Annex A. 

✅ Documentation and procedures: 

The audit will include a review of the documentation related to the CCTV system, such as policies, procedures, and logs, to ensure they are up-to-date and reflect current practices. 

IMS Auditor Qualifications:

✅An educational background in IT or a related field, professional experience in information security, and specific training and certification, most commonly the ISO 27001 Lead Auditor certification. This certification proves your ability to plan, conduct, and report on ISMS audits, aligning with international standards like ISO 19011. If certification from QCI-IRCA will get extra value.

✅A minimum of 2-5 years of experience in Video information security, IT compliance, or risk management is often required. Experience with IT infrastructure or cybersecurity controls is highly advantageous.

✅You should have knowledge of the ISMS framework, including risk assessment, risk treatment, and the Statement of Applicability (SoA). You must also be familiar with auditing principles and techniques, as defined in ISO 19011.

About Author:

Dr. Arindam Bhadra is a Security consultant  & ISO Auditor based in Kolkata, India, with over 20 years of experience in Security systems. He’s currently founding director of SSA Integrate. He working on CCTV Security awareness, training, consultancy & Audit in same field. He is a Lead Auditor of ISO 27001. He is Member of FSAI, NFPA, Conformity Assessment Society (CAS) etc.

He Audit for

1. Risk Assessment Audit.
2. Information System Audit
3. Operational Audit
4. Compliance Audit
5. ISO 9001: 2015 QMS Audit
6. ISO 14001: 2015 EMS Audit
7. ISO 27001: 2022 ISMS Audit
8. Security & Cyber Security Assessment
9. CCTV Security Audit / Video Surveillance System Audit
10. Access Control System Audit
11. Intrusion Detection Alarm System Audit
12. BMS Audit.