Episode 40 — A.5.35–5.36 — Independent review; Compliance with policies/rules/standards
A.5.35 requires independent reviews of information security to verify that management arrangements and controls remain suitable and effective. “Independent” means objective and free from conflicts—often performed by internal audit, corporate risk, or qualified external assessors. For the exam, tie this to governance: scope definition, criteria selection, evidence-based conclusions, and reporting that informs leadership decisions. The intent is not duplication of Clause 9.2 internal audit, but reinforcement of impartial assurance across strategy, operations, and risk treatment outcomes. A.5.36 requires compliance with internal policies, organizational rules, and external standards to be demonstrably enforced, with consequences for noncompliance proportionate and consistent.
Operationalizing independence involves reviewer selection criteria, rotation policies, and documented safeguards against self-review. Programs maintain a review calendar risk-aligned to major changes, with outputs that include findings, recommendations, and verification of remediation. Compliance enforcement combines preventive controls—access policies, CI/CD guardrails, configuration baselines—with detective controls such as automated policy checks, code scanning, and periodic attestations. Pitfalls include superficial reviews focused on paperwork, tolerance of chronic exceptions, and inconsistent discipline that undermines culture. Strong organizations track completion of recommendations, exception aging, recurring violation rates, and the effectiveness of corrective actions, then integrate these signals into management review and resource planning. Candidates should be prepared to explain how independent assurance and compliance enforcement create a coherent second line of defense that supports certification durability and continual improvement by closing feedback loops with evidence and accountability. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
