ISO 27001 Control 5.32: Protecting Intellectual Property Rights
Control 5.32 requires organizations to establish robust procedures protecting software copyrights, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets from unauthorized use and disclosure. For SMBs, this means implementing systematic controls over your most valuable digital assets. Getting this right prevents costly IP theft and strengthens your overall information security posture.
What this means
Intellectual property encompasses creations of your organization—source code, proprietary software, patented processes, brand assets, and confidential business information. Control 5.32 mandates you implement documented procedures that govern how IP is created, stored, accessed, transferred, and ultimately disposed of. This includes technical safeguards (encryption, access controls), legal mechanisms (NDAs, IP agreements), and organizational practices that ensure only authorized personnel can access sensitive IP assets.
How to comply
- 1.Catalog all intellectual property assets your organization creates or uses, including software, documentation, designs, and trade secrets
- 2.Develop written IP protection policies defining ownership, classification levels, and handling requirements for each IP category
- 3.Implement access controls limiting IP access to authorized personnel with documented business justification
- 4.Establish confidentiality agreements with employees and third parties covering IP disclosure and use restrictions
- 5.Apply technical controls such as encryption, watermarking, and version control to protect digital IP assets
- 6.Define and enforce secure procedures for IP transfer, licensing, and disposal when systems are decommissioned
- 7.Conduct regular IP audits to verify compliance with protection procedures and identify gaps
- 8.Train staff on IP handling requirements and the importance of protecting organizational intellectual property
Evidence auditors look for
- IP asset inventory documenting software, patents, trademarks, and trade secrets with ownership and classification
- IP protection policy defining roles, responsibilities, and procedures for handling intellectual property
- Confidentiality and IP assignment agreements signed by employees and contractors
- Access control logs showing restricted access to source code repositories and trade secret storage locations
- Encryption configuration for databases and systems storing proprietary information
- Security labels and watermarks applied to sensitive IP documents
- Third-party IP licensing agreements with usage restrictions clearly defined
- Audit trail from version control systems showing IP changes and access history
- Incident reports documenting IP exposure incidents and remediation actions
- Staff training records covering IP protection procedures and confidentiality obligations
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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