What is ISO 27001?
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is an information security management system (ISMS) requirements standard published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). It is the most widely recognized information security certification standard worldwide.
ISO 27001 provides a management framework that enables organizations to systematically protect their information assets. The standard covers risk assessment, security controls, continuous improvement and regular audit processes.
ISO 27001 certificates issued by accredited certification bodies in any country are internationally recognized through the IAF (International Accreditation Forum) MLA (Multilateral Recognition Arrangement), ensuring mutual acceptance across 100+ countries.
This report explains how YesPDF supports ISO 27001 Annex A controls point by point.
ISO 27001:2022 Structure
The ISO 27001:2022 standard consists of two main parts:
Defines processes for organizational context, leadership, planning, support, operation, performance evaluation and improvement.
93 controls in 4 categories: Organizational (37), People (8), Physical (14) and Technological (34). Organizations select applicable controls based on risk assessment.
Relevant Annex A Controls and YesPDF Solutions
Below are the ISO 27001:2022 Annex A controls directly related to document management and how YesPDF supports them.
A.5.15 — Access Control
Rules to restrict physical and logical access to information and information processing facilities shall be established and implemented.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Granular authorization with administrator, editor, viewer and department-based roles.
- Least Privilege Principle: Users can only access documents required for their duties.
- LDAP/Active Directory Integration: Centralized access management through the organization's existing authentication infrastructure.
- IP Restriction: Document access can be restricted to specified network segments.
A.5.33 — Protection of Records
Records shall be protected from loss, destruction, falsification and unauthorized access in accordance with legal, regulatory, contractual and business requirements.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- AES-256 Encryption: All documents are encrypted during storage and transmission.
- Retention Policies: Automatic retention periods can be defined by document type.
- Retention Lock: Documents can be prevented from deletion before their retention period expires.
- Secure Destruction: Expired documents are securely deleted with destruction records maintained.
A.5.34 — Privacy and Protection of Personal Information
The organization shall ensure the privacy and protection of personal information in accordance with applicable legislation and regulations.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- On-Premise Architecture: Personal data never leaves institutional infrastructure — supports GDPR/KVKK compliance.
- Permanent Redaction: Personal information can be irreversibly removed from documents.
- Batch Redaction: Personal data can be redacted from multiple documents simultaneously.
- Data Minimization: YesPDF collects only data necessary for document management.
A.8.3 — Information Access Restriction
Access to information and application system functions shall be restricted in accordance with the access control policy.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Document-Level Permissions: Read, edit, download and print permissions can be defined separately for each document.
- Department-Based Access: Inter-department document access is controlled through policies.
- Automatic Session Timeout: Inactive sessions are terminated after a configured period.
- Unique User Identification: Shared account usage is prevented.
A.8.4 — Access to Source Code
Read and write access to source code, development tools and software libraries shall be appropriately managed.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- On-Premise Deployment: YesPDF runs on the organization's own server — no third-party access to source code.
- Admin Panel Restriction: System configuration and admin panel are accessible only to authorized administrators.
A.8.9 — Configuration Management
Security configurations of hardware, software, services and networks shall be established, documented, implemented, monitored and reviewed.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Centralized Configuration: All security settings are managed centrally through the admin panel.
- Configuration Change Logging: System setting changes are recorded in the audit log.
- Environment-Based Configuration: Sensitive configuration values (encryption key, database connection) are stored in secure configuration files.
A.8.10 — Information Deletion
Information stored in information systems, devices and other storage media shall be deleted when no longer required.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Automatic Retention Periods: Retention policies can be defined by document type.
- Secure Deletion: Expired documents are securely destroyed.
- Destruction Records: Deletion logs are maintained — providing evidence for audits.
- Batch Deletion: Documents past retention deadlines can be processed in bulk.
A.8.11 — Data Masking
Data masking shall be applied in accordance with the access control policy and business requirements.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Permanent Redaction: SSNs, addresses, health information and other sensitive data can be irreversibly removed from documents.
- Redaction Verification: Confirms redacted data is truly removed — no metadata leakage.
- Selective Redaction: Different redaction levels can be applied for different recipients.
- Redaction Templates: Templates can be created for recurring redaction operations.
A.8.12 — Data Leakage Prevention
Data leakage prevention measures shall be applied to systems, networks and other devices that process, store or transmit sensitive information.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Download/Print Restriction: Download and print operations can be blocked on a per-document basis.
- Watermark: Visible or invisible watermarks containing user information can be added to documents.
- PDF Permission Restrictions: Copy, edit and print permissions are controlled at the PDF level.
- Audit Tracking: All document download and sharing operations are logged.
A.8.15 — Logging
Logs recording activities, exceptions, faults and other relevant events shall be produced, stored, protected and analysed.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Comprehensive Audit Log: Every document access, edit, download, print and sharing operation is automatically recorded.
- Immutable Records: Audit logs cannot be modified or deleted.
- Detailed Tracking: User ID, timestamp, document name, operation type, IP address and device information are recorded.
- Reporting and Analysis: Access reports can be generated by user, document or time period.
A.8.24 — Use of Cryptography
Rules for the use of cryptography, including cryptographic key management, shall be defined and implemented.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- AES-256 Encryption: All documents are encrypted with AES-256 at rest.
- Centralized Key Management: Encryption keys are stored in secure configuration files and consistent across all servers.
- PDF Encryption: Individual PDF files can be additionally password-protected.
- Digital Signatures: Document integrity and source verification through digital signature support.
A.8.25 — Secure Development Life Cycle
Rules for the secure development of software and systems shall be established and applied.
✅ YesPDF Solution
- Secure Design: YesPDF is developed in accordance with OWASP security principles.
- Regular Security Updates: Security patches and updates are released regularly.
- Security Testing: Security tests (including penetration testing) are performed before each release.
International Recognition of ISO 27001
ISO 27001 certification is critical across industries worldwide:
Government agencies and public institutions increasingly require ISO 27001 compliance for IT systems handling citizen data.
Banking regulators worldwide mandate information security management systems for financial institutions.
Healthcare regulations require information security standards for the protection of patient data.
Telecom regulators require operators to implement information security controls.
ISO 27001 certification is often a mandatory procurement criterion for defense and critical infrastructure operators.
On-Premise vs. Cloud Comparison
Comparing on-premise and cloud solutions for ISO 27001 compliance:
| Criteria | YesPDF (On-Premise) | Cloud PDF Tools |
|---|---|---|
| Data Location (A.5.23) | Organization's own server — full control | Third-party data center — limited control |
| Supplier Risk (A.5.21) | Minimal — data never leaves premises | Supplier security audit required |
| Access Control (A.5.15) | Fully integrated with organization's ISMS policies | Dependent on provider policies |
| Logging (A.8.15) | All logs local — direct audit access | Must request logs from provider |
| Cryptography (A.8.24) | Key management under organization control | Provider key management |
| Configuration (A.8.9) | Full customization | Limited configuration options |
| DLP (A.8.12) | Integrated with organization's DLP policies | Limited DLP options |
Statement of Applicability (SoA) Support
During ISO 27001 certification, organizations must prepare a Statement of Applicability (SoA). YesPDF provides the technical infrastructure needed to demonstrate that document management-related controls are implemented:
- Evidence of access control policy implementation (RBAC configuration records)
- Evidence of audit log maintenance (immutable audit logs)
- Evidence of encryption controls (AES-256 configuration)
- Evidence of data masking/redaction capabilities
- Evidence of retention and destruction policies
- Configuration management records
ISO 27001 Compliance Checklist
To support ISO 27001 Annex A controls with YesPDF:
- 1Add to asset inventory
Add YesPDF to your information asset inventory and assign an asset owner (A.5.9).
- 2Conduct risk assessment
Assess document types processed on YesPDF and associated risks (A.5.12).
- 3Configure access policies
Define RBAC roles and permissions to enforce the least privilege principle (A.5.15, A.8.3).
- 4Enable audit logging
Ensure all document access is logged and create a regular review schedule (A.8.15).
- 5Verify encryption
Confirm AES-256 encryption is active and define key management procedures (A.8.24).
- 6Define retention policies
Set retention periods by document type and enable automatic alerts (A.5.33, A.8.10).
- 7Establish redaction procedures
Define standard redaction procedures for documents containing personal data (A.8.11).
- 8Verify backup plan
Confirm regular backups are taken and recovery procedures are tested (A.8.13).
- 9Conduct awareness training
Provide information security awareness training and YesPDF secure usage training (A.6.3).
- 10Perform internal audit
Regularly audit the effectiveness of document management controls and update the SoA.
Summary
YesPDF supports organizations in meeting ISO 27001:2022 Annex A controls through its on-premise architecture, comprehensive access controls, immutable audit logs, AES-256 encryption, permanent redaction, data leakage prevention controls and flexible retention policies. The on-premise architecture keeps data under organizational control, minimizes supplier risk and naturally integrates into the organization's ISMS. ISO 27001 certificates from accredited bodies carry full international recognition.
Technical Support
For questions about ISO 27001 compliance and YesPDF configuration: