Introduction
Your organization’s source code is its DNA the blueprint of your applications, products, and intellectual property.
But if that code falls into the wrong hands or gets altered without control, it can lead to data breaches, product compromise, or even backdoors in production.
That’s why ISO 27001 Control 5.45 Access to Source Code exists.
It ensures your development environments, repositories, and processes protect the integrity, confidentiality, and ownership of your code.
Because your source code doesn’t just power your business it is your business.
Why This Control Matters
Source code is often the most valuable and least protected asset.
While security teams focus on networks and servers, attackers target code repositories looking for credentials, secrets, or exploitable logic.
Control 5.45, from ISO/IEC 27002:2022 Section 5.45, is an Organizational control that’s preventive in nature.
It reinforces Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability through the Protect and Restrict cybersecurity concepts.
Effective source code access management helps you:
- ✅ Prevent unauthorized modifications
- ✅ Protect intellectual property from leaks
- ✅ Ensure traceability and accountability in code changes
- ✅ Maintain compliance with industry and contractual requirements
What This Control Looks Like in Practice
Restrict Access to Repositories
Only authorized developers and system accounts should have access based on the principle of least privilege.
Implement Version Control and Change Tracking
Use tools like Git with enforced commit signing, change approvals, and review workflows.
Monitor and Log Access
Keep detailed logs of who accessed or modified code, and when ensuring traceability and accountability.
Secure Storage and Backup
Protect repositories with encryption and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
Protect Embedded Secrets
Use dedicated secret management tools instead of storing credentials in code.
Conduct Code Integrity Checks
Regularly verify checksums, digital signatures, and code integrity post-deployment to detect tampering.
Common Pitfalls
- 🚫 Shared or hardcoded credentials in code repositories
- 🚫 Developers using personal GitHub accounts for corporate projects
- 🚫 Unsecured backups or local copies of source code
- 🚫 Lack of review or approval workflows for production pushes
Canadian Cyber’s Take
At Canadian Cyber, we help organizations secure their DevOps pipelines by embedding ISO 27001 and DevSecOps principles directly into their workflows.
From GitHub Enterprise and GitLab hardening to Azure DevOps access control and CI/CD pipeline protection, our approach ensures your source code remains untampered, traceable, and protected from development to deployment.
Because in cybersecurity, protecting your code means protecting your credibility.
Takeaway
Your source code is your competitive edge.
ISO 27001 Control 5.45 ensures it stays safe, authentic, and under control no matter where or how it’s developed.
Don’t just secure your applications secure their foundation.
How Canadian Cyber Can Help
At Canadian Cyber, we provide:
- DevSecOps and Source Code Security Audits
- ISO 27001 & ISO 27018 Implementation Support
- GitHub, GitLab, and Azure DevOps Hardening Services
👉 Ready to protect your most valuable intellectual asset?
Book a free consultation here.
