Description

This curriculum spans the full lifecycle of malicious code management within ISO 27001, equivalent in depth to a multi-phase internal capability build covering risk assessment, policy design, technical implementation, and audit validation across complex, distributed environments.

Module 1: Defining Malicious Code Scope within ISO 27001 Context

Determine which systems (e.g., OT, cloud workloads, endpoints) are explicitly included or excluded from the malicious code control based on asset classification.
Map malicious code risks to specific business units and data types to justify control applicability during stage 1 certification audits.
Decide whether containerized environments require separate malicious code detection strategies compared to traditional VMs.
Assess if shadow IT systems discovered during asset inventory should be retrofitted with malicious code controls or decommissioned.
Document exceptions for systems that cannot support anti-malware agents due to performance or compatibility constraints.
Align malicious code definitions with internal incident response playbooks to ensure consistent classification during triage.
Negotiate control boundaries with third-party service providers where endpoint protection is outside organizational control.
Update the Statement of Applicability (SoA) to reflect justifications for partial or full implementation of A.12.2.1 controls.

Module 2: Risk Assessment Integration for Malware Threats

Integrate threat intelligence feeds into the risk assessment process to quantify likelihood of ransomware attacks on internet-facing systems.
Assign ownership of malware-related risks to system custodians rather than generic IT roles to ensure accountability.
Adjust risk ratings dynamically when new malware campaigns (e.g., Emotet resurgence) are detected in the sector.
Use historical incident data to calibrate risk models instead of relying solely on vendor-provided threat likelihood tables.
Include supply chain compromise scenarios in risk assessments when third-party software is integrated into core systems.
Validate risk treatment plans by requiring technical controls (e.g., EDR deployment) to be in place before risks are formally accepted.
Document risk acceptance decisions for systems running unsupported operating systems with known malware vulnerabilities.
Ensure malware risk scenarios are reviewed quarterly during management review meetings with documented outcomes.

Module 3: Policy Development and Control Specification

Define acceptable configurations for real-time scanning (e.g., CPU thresholds, scan exclusions) to prevent operational disruption.
Specify file types and extensions subject to mandatory scanning at email gateways and web proxies.
Establish rules for handling encrypted archives suspected of containing malicious payloads.
Prohibit local administrator rights on endpoints as a complementary control to reduce malware execution success.
Mandate digital signing and hashing verification for all internally distributed executables.
Define response time requirements for malware signature and behavioral rule updates across global sites.
Require sandboxing for all executable files downloaded from untrusted domains, including SaaS platforms.
Prohibit the use of personal USB storage devices on corporate systems through enforceable policy language.

Module 4: Anti-Malware Technology Selection and Architecture

Evaluate EDR vs. traditional AV based on organizational detection capabilities, staffing, and SOC maturity.
Design agent deployment sequencing to avoid network congestion during initial rollout across 10,000+ endpoints.
Select centralized management platforms that support API integration with SIEM and ticketing systems.
Implement failover mechanisms for on-premise update servers to maintain protection during WAN outages.
Configure cloud workload protection platforms (CWPP) to scan container images at CI/CD pipeline stages.
Enforce mutual TLS between anti-malware agents and management servers to prevent command-and-control spoofing.
Define data retention policies for endpoint telemetry to balance forensic needs with privacy regulations.
Conduct side-by-side testing of signature-based and behavior-based detection efficacy using controlled malware samples.

Module 5: Secure Configuration and Hardening Practices

Disable AutoRun and AutoPlay features across all Windows endpoints to prevent USB-based malware propagation.
Implement application allowlisting on critical servers where malware risk outweighs operational flexibility.
Configure email gateways to strip or block executable file types in inbound attachments from external senders.
Set registry and file system permissions to prevent unauthorized modification of anti-malware services.
Enforce macro security policies in Office applications to block unsigned or untrusted VBA scripts.
Disable PowerShell remoting on workstations unless explicitly required and logged for audit.
Implement host-based firewall rules to restrict outbound connections from anti-malware agent processes.
Use group policy to enforce consistent real-time scanning settings across endpoint fleets.

Module 6: Monitoring, Detection, and Alerting

Define correlation rules in SIEM to detect multi-stage malware attacks across endpoint, email, and network logs.
Set thresholds for anomalous process creation chains that trigger high-priority alerts in EDR consoles.
Integrate phishing simulation results with detection tuning to reduce false negatives on socially engineered payloads.
Configure automated quarantine actions for endpoints exhibiting confirmed malware behavior.
Establish baseline CPU and disk utilization patterns to identify performance degradation from scanning processes.
Assign detection ownership to specific SOC analysts to ensure consistent alert triage and response.
Validate detection coverage by running controlled red team exercises targeting anti-malware bypass techniques.
Document and review false positive rates monthly to adjust detection sensitivity without compromising coverage.

Module 7: Incident Response and Containment

Activate predefined network segmentation rules to isolate infected systems without disrupting business-critical traffic.
Preserve memory dumps and disk images from compromised endpoints before remediation for forensic analysis.
Coordinate with legal counsel before initiating mass endpoint scans during active ransomware incidents.
Use hash-based indicators to search for lateral movement across systems within the same trust zone.
Engage external incident response firms only after internal containment thresholds are exceeded.
Document chain of custody for all evidence collected during malware investigations to support legal proceedings.
Initiate crisis communication protocols when malware impacts customer-facing systems or data.
Conduct post-incident tabletop exercises to validate improvements to detection and response workflows.

Module 8: Third-Party and Supply Chain Risk Management

Require software vendors to provide SBOMs (Software Bill of Materials) for all third-party applications.
Scan all vendor-provided updates in isolated environments before deployment to production systems.
Include malware detection requirements in SLAs with cloud service providers hosting critical workloads.
Conduct on-site assessments of offshore development teams to verify secure coding and build practices.
Block unauthorized SaaS file-sharing services that increase exposure to infected document uploads.
Enforce code signing for all internally developed applications before they are distributed to users.
Monitor DNS and HTTP traffic for connections to known malware distribution domains used by compromised suppliers.
Require penetration test reports from third parties demonstrating resistance to common malware delivery vectors.

Module 9: Audit, Compliance, and Continuous Improvement

Verify through technical audit that anti-malware agents are active and communicating on 100% of defined scope systems.
Review SoA entries for A.12.2.1 annually to confirm alignment with current threat landscape and business changes.
Measure mean time to detect (MTTD) and mean time to respond (MTTR) for confirmed malware incidents quarterly.
Conduct unannounced control testing by introducing benign test files to validate detection and alerting workflows.
Compare internal audit findings with external certification auditor observations to identify control gaps.
Update training materials for end users based on trending phishing and social engineering tactics observed.
Track patch latency for anti-malware engine and signature updates across global regions for compliance reporting.
Revise control objectives when organizational shifts (e.g., remote work adoption) alter malware exposure profiles.