NIST Special Publication 800-161

Supply Chain Risk Management 

Practices for Federal Information 

Systems and Organizations

Jon Boyens

Celia Paulsen

Rama Moorthy 

Nadya Bartol

This publication is available free of charge from:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-161

C O M P U T E R S E C U R I T Y

C O M P U T E R S E C U R I T Y

C O M P U T E R S E C U R I T Y

C O M P U T E R S E C U R I T Y
NIST Special Publication 800-161

Supply Chain Risk Management 

Practices for Federal Information 

Systems and Organizations

Jon Boyens 

Celia Paulsen 

Computer Security Division 

Information Technology Laboratory 

Rama Moorthy 

Hatha Systems

Washington, D.C.

Nadya Bartol

Utilities Telecom Council

Washington, D.C.

This publication is available free of charge from:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-161

April 2015

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Penny Pritzker, Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Willie May, Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and Acting Director 
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Information Systems and Organizations

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Authority

This publication has been developed by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 

accordance with its statutory responsibilities under the Federal Information Security Modernization Act

(FISMA) of 2002, 44 U.S.C. § 3541 et seq., Public Law 113-283. NIST is responsible for developing 

information security standards and guidelines, including minimum requirements for federal information 

systems, but such standards and guidelines shall not apply to national security systems without the 

express approval of appropriate federal officials exercising policy authority over such systems. This 

guideline is consistent with the requirements of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular 

A-130, Section 8b(3), Securing Agency Information Systems, as analyzed in Circular A-130, Appendix 

IV: Analysis of Key Sections. Supplemental information is provided in Circular A-130, Appendix III,

Security of Federal Automated Information Resources.

Nothing in this publication should be taken to contradict the standards and guidelines made mandatory 

and binding on federal agencies by the Secretary of Commerce under statutory authority. Nor should 

these guidelines be interpreted as altering or superseding the existing authorities of the Secretary of 

Commerce, Director of the OMB, or any other federal official. This publication may be used by 

nongovernmental organizations on a voluntary basis and is not subject to copyright in the United States. 

Attribution would, however, be appreciated by NIST.

National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-161

Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 800-161, 282 pages (April 2015)

CODEN: NSPUE2

This publication is available free of charge from:

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-161

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Attn: Computer Security Division, Information Technology Laboratory

100 Bureau Drive (Mail Stop 8930) Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930

Email: scrm-nist@nist.gov

Certain commercial entities, equipment, or materials may be identified in this document in order to describe an 

experimental procedure or concept adequately. Such identification is not intended to imply recommendation or 

endorsement by NIST, nor is it intended to imply that the entities, materials, or equipment are necessarily the 

best available for the purpose. 

There may be references in this publication to other publications currently under development by NIST in 

accordance with its assigned statutory responsibilities. The information in this publication, including concepts 

and methodologies, may be used by federal agencies even before the completion of such companion 

publications. Thus, until each publication is completed, current requirements, guidelines, and procedures, where 

they exist, remain operative. For planning and transition purposes, federal agencies may wish to closely follow 

the development of these new publications by NIST.

Organizations are encouraged to review all draft publications during public comment periods and provide 

feedback to NIST. All NIST Computer Security Division publications, other than the ones noted above, are 

available at http://csrc.nist.gov/publications.
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Reports on Computer Systems Technology

The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology 

(NIST) promotes the U.S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the Nation’s 

measurement and standards infrastructure. ITL develops tests, test methods, reference data, proof of 

concept implementations, and technical analyses to advance the development and productive use of 

information technology. ITL’s responsibilities include the development of management, administrative, 

technical, and physical standards and guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of other than 

national security-related information in federal information systems. The Special Publication 800-series 

reports on ITL’s research, guidelines, and outreach efforts in information system security, and its 

collaborative activities with industry, government, and academic organizations.

Abstract

Federal agencies are concerned about the risks associated with information and communications 

technology (ICT) products and services that may contain potentially malicious functionality, are 

counterfeit, or are vulnerable due to poor manufacturing and development practices within the ICT supply 

chain. These risks are associated with the federal agencies’ decreased visibility into, understanding of, 

and control over how the technology that they acquire is developed, integrated and deployed, as well as 

the processes, procedures, and practices used to assure the integrity, security, resilience, and quality of the 

products and services.

This publication provides guidance to federal agencies on identifying, assessing, and mitigating ICT 

supply chain risks at all levels of their organizations. The publication integrates ICT supply chain risk 

management (SCRM) into federal agency risk management activities by applying a multitiered, SCRMspecific approach, including guidance on assessing supply chain risk and applying mitigation activities.

Keywords

Acquire; Information and Communication Technology Supply Chain Risk Management; ICT SCRM; risk 

management; supplier; supply chain; supply chain assurance; supply chain risk; supply chain risk 

assessment; supply chain security

Acknowledgements

The authors, Jon Boyens, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Celia Paulsen (NIST), 

Rama Moorthy (Hatha Systems), and Nadya Bartol (Utilities Telecom Council), would like to 

acknowledge and thank the ICT SCRM community, which has provided the authors invaluable insight 

and diverse perspectives to managing the ICT supply chain. We would especially like to thank Kelly 

Dempsey (NIST), Dr. Ron Ross (NIST), and Stephanie Shankles (Booz Allen Hamilton) for their 

contribution to the content during the document development and review. We would also like to thank 

numerous reviewers within the information technology community who took the time to provide valuable 

feedback and comments to the public drafts. Finally, we would like to thank the participants of NIST’s 

October 2012 ICT SCRM Workshop for providing the guiding foundation to the approach this 

publication has taken.
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Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 PURPOSE........................................................................................................................................................2

1.2 SCOPE 2

1.3 TARGET AUDIENCE.........................................................................................................................................3

1.4 BACKGROUND ...............................................................................................................................................3

1.4.1 Federal Agencies ICT Supply Chain....................................................................................................4

1.4.2 ICT Supply Chain Risk.........................................................................................................................7

1.4.3 Federal Agency Relationships with System Integrators, Suppliers, and External Service Providers..8

1.5 FOUNDATIONAL PRACTICES ........................................................................................................................10

1.6 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS ........................................................................11

1.7 METHODOLOGY FOR BUILDING ICT SCRM GUIDANCE USING SP 800-39 AND NIST SP 800-53 REVISION 4..13

1.7.1 Integration into Risk Management Process....................................................................................13

1.7.2 Enhanced ICT SCRM Overlay ...........................................................................................................14

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THIS SPECIAL PUBLICATION..........................................................................................14

INTEGRATION OF ICT SCRM INTO ORGANIZATION-WIDE RISK MANAGEMENT.................................................... 16

2.1 MULTITIERED RISK MANAGEMENT..............................................................................................................17

2.1.1 TIER 1 – ORGANIZATION .................................................................................................................19

2.1.2 TIER 2 – MISSION/BUSINESS PROCESS ............................................................................................20

2.1.3 TIER 3 – INFORMATION SYSTEMS ...................................................................................................21

2.2 ICT SCRM ACTIVITIES IN RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS...............................................................................21

2.2.1 FRAME.............................................................................................................................................23

2.2.2 ASSESS.............................................................................................................................................33

2.2.3 RESPOND.........................................................................................................................................41

2.2.4 MONITOR ........................................................................................................................................45

ICT SCRM CONTROLS ........................................................................................................................................... 49

3.1 ICT SCRM CONTROLS SUMMARY .................................................................................................................49

3.2 ICT SCRM CONTROLS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION...........................................................................50

3.3 APPLYING ICT SCRM CONTROLS TO ACQUIRING ICT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES..........................................50

3.3.1 System Integrators..........................................................................................................................51

3.3.2 Suppliers..........................................................................................................................................51

3.3.3 External Providers of Information System Services.........................................................................52

3.4 SELECTING AND TAILORING IMPLEMENTING ICT SCRM SECURITY CONTROLS............................................52

3.4.1 ICT SCRM Control Format................................................................................................................52

3.4.2 Using ICT SCRM Controls in This Publication...................................................................................53

3.5 ICT SCRM SECURITY CONTROLS ...................................................................................................................55

FAMILY: ACCESS CONTROL ..........................................................................................................................55

FAMILY: AWARENESS AND TRAINING .........................................................................................................60

FAMILY: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY .......................................................................................................62
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FAMILY: SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZATION.............................................................................65

FAMILY: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................68

FAMILY: CONTINGENCY PLANNING.............................................................................................................74

FAMILY: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION ......................................................................................77

FAMILY: INCIDENT RESPONSE......................................................................................................................79

FAMILY: MAINTENANCE ..............................................................................................................................81

FAMILY: MEDIA PROTECTION......................................................................................................................85

FAMILY: PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION............................................................................86

FAMILY: PLANNING......................................................................................................................................88

FAMILY: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT............................................................................................................90

FAMILY: PERSONNEL SECURITY ...................................................................................................................92

FAMILY: PROVENANCE ................................................................................................................................94

FAMILY: RISK ASSESSMENT..........................................................................................................................97

FAMILY: SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION............................................................................................98

FAMILY: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION .........................................................................110

FAMILY: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY .....................................................................................115

ICT SCRM CONTROL SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................. 1

NIST SP 800-53 ICT SCRM-RELEVANT CONTROLS.................................................................................................... 1

FAMILY: ACCESS CONTROL ............................................................................................................................1

FAMILY: AWARENESS AND TRAINING .........................................................................................................12

FAMILY: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY .......................................................................................................14

FAMILY: SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZATION.............................................................................19

FAMILY: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT .................................................................................................25

FAMILY: CONTINGENCY PLANNING.............................................................................................................35

FAMILY: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION ......................................................................................40

FAMILY: INCIDENT RESPONSE......................................................................................................................44

FAMILY: MAINTENANCE ..............................................................................................................................47

FAMILY: MEDIA PROTECTION......................................................................................................................52

FAMILY: PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION............................................................................54

FAMILY: PLANNING......................................................................................................................................58

FAMILY: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT............................................................................................................61

FAMILY: PERSONNEL SECURITY ...................................................................................................................64

FAMILY: RISK ASSESSMENT..........................................................................................................................66

FAMILY: SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION............................................................................................69

FAMILY: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION ...........................................................................88

FAMILY: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY .......................................................................................96

ICT SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT EVENTS ....................................................................................................................... 1

SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT SCENARIOS AND ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK......................................................................... 1

DEVELOPING AND ANALYZING THREAT SCENARIOS & IDENTIFYING APPLICABLE CONTROLS................................2

SAMPLE SCENARIOS................................................................................................................................................5

SCENARIO 1: Telecommunications Counterfeits............................................................................................5

SCENARIO 2: Industrial Espionage .................................................................................................................9

SCENARIO 3: Malicious Code Insertion ........................................................................................................13

SCENARIO 4: Unintentional Compromise ....................................................................................................16

ICT SCRM PLAN TEMPLATE .................................................................................................................................... 1

1 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................................................4
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1.1 Purpose and Scope ............................................................................................................................4

1.2 Authority ...........................................................................................................................................4

1.3 Audience............................................................................................................................................4

2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES .......................................................................................................................5

2.1 Responsibility for the plan.................................................................................................................5

2.2 Key Contributors................................................................................................................................5

3 ICT SCRM CONTROLS .....................................................................................................................................5

4 USING AND REVISING ICT SCRM PLAN ...........................................................................................................5

4.1 Communicating ICT SCRM Plan.........................................................................................................6

4.2 Revision and Improvement................................................................................................................6

4.3 Implementing and Assessing Effectiveness of ICT SCRM Plans................................................................6

4.4 Use of ICT SCRM Plan during Contingencies and Emergencies .........................................................8

ATTACHMENTS .......................................................................................................................................................8

GLOSSARY.............................................................................................................................................................. 1

ACRONYMS............................................................................................................................................................ 1

REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................................... 1
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List of Figures and Tables

FIGURE 1-1: FOUR PILLARS OF ICT SCRM.......................................................................................................................4

FIGURE 1-2: FEDERAL AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS WITH SYSTEM INTEGRATORS, SUPPLIERS, AND EXTERNAL SERVICE PROVIDERS WITH 

RESPECT TO THE SCOPE OF NIST SP 800-161.........................................................................................................5

FIGURE 1-3: ICT SUPPLY CHAIN RISK ..............................................................................................................................7

FIGURE 1-4: AN ORGANIZATION’S VISIBILITY, UNDERSTANDING, AND CONTROL OF ITS ICT SUPPLY CHAINS .................................8

FIGURE 1-5: ICT SCRM SECURITY CONTROLS IN NIST SP 800-161, CHAPTER 3.5 ..............................................................14

FIGURE 2-1: RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS ....................................................................................................................16

FIGURE 2-2: MULTITIERED ORGANIZATION-WIDE RISK MANAGEMENT ................................................................................18

FIGURE 2-3: ICT SCRM RISK MANAGEMENT.................................................................................................................22

FIGURE 2-4: ICT SCRM ACTIVITIES IN RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS..................................................................................23

FIGURE 2-5: ICT SCRM IN THE FRAME STEP..................................................................................................................25

FIGURE 2-6: ICT SCRM IN THE ASSESS STEP..................................................................................................................34

FIGURE 2-7: ICT SCRM IN THE RESPOND STEP...............................................................................................................41

FIGURE 2-8: ICT SCRM IN THE MONITOR STEP..............................................................................................................46

FIGURE 3-1: ICT SCRM SECURITY CONTROLS IN NIST SP 800-161, CHAPTER 3.5 ..............................................................50

FIGURE D-1: SAMPLE THREAT SCENARIO ANALYSIS FRAMEWORK ..................................................................................... D-4

FIGURE E-1: ISO/IEC 15288 LIFE CYCLE PROCESSES .....................................................................................................E-1

FIGURE E-2: ICT SCRM PLAN AND LIFE CYCLES.............................................................................................................E-2

FIGURE E-3: AGENCY IMPLEMENTATION OF ICT SCRM PLAN...........................................................................................E-7

TABLE 2-1: SUPPLY CHAIN RISK MANAGEMENT STAKEHOLDERS.........................................................................................19

TABLE 2-2: EXAMPLES OF ICT SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT AGENTS ..........................................................................................27

TABLE 2-3: SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT CONSIDERATIONS.......................................................................................................28

TABLE 2-4: SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABILITY CONSIDERATIONS.............................................................................................29

TABLE 2-5: SUPPLY CHAIN CONSTRAINTS.......................................................................................................................31

TABLE 2-6: EXAMPLES OF ICT SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABILITIES MAPPED TO THE ORGANIZATIONAL TIERS ..................................38

TABLE 2-7: ICT SCRM PLAN CONTROLS AT TIERS 1, 2, AND 3 ..........................................................................................45

TABLE 3-2: ICT SCRM CONTROL FORMAT ....................................................................................................................53

TABLE A-1: ICT SCRM CONTROL SUMMARY ............................................................................................................... A-1

TABLE C-1: ADVERSARIAL ICT SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT EVENTS ......................................................................................... C-1

TABLE C-2: NON-ADVERSARIAL ICT SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT EVENTS ................................................................................. C-6
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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

nformation and Communications Technology (ICT) relies on a complex, globally distributed, and 

interconnected supply chain ecosystem that is long, has geographically diverse routes, and consists of 

multiple tiers of outsourcing. This ecosystem is composed of public and private sector entities (e.g., 

acquirers, system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers) and technology, law, policy, 

procedures, and practices that interact to design, manufacture, distribute, deploy, and use ICT products 

and services. This ecosystem has evolved to provide a set of highly refined, cost-effective, reusable ICT 

solutions. Federal government information systems1 have rapidly adopted this ecosystem of solution 

options, which has increased their reliance on commercially available products, system integrator support 

for custom-built systems, and external service providers. This in turn has resulted in increased

complexity, diversity, and scale of the federal government’s ICT supply chains. 

Commercially available ICT solutions present significant benefits including low cost, interoperability, 

rapid innovation, a variety of product features, and choice among competing vendors. These commercial

off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions can be proprietary or open source and can meet the needs of a global base 

of public and private sector customers. However, the same globalization and other factors that allow for

such benefits also increase the risk of a threat event which can directly or indirectly affect the ICT supply

chain, often undetected, and in a manner that may result in risks to the end user. 

These ICT supply chain risks may include insertion of counterfeits, unauthorized production, tampering, 

theft, insertion of malicious software and hardware, as well as poor manufacturing and development 

practices in the ICT supply chain. These risks are associated with an organization’s decreased visibility 

into, and understanding of, how the technology that they acquire is developed, integrated, and deployed, 

as well as the processes, procedures, and practices used to assure the integrity, security, resilience, and 

quality of the products and services.2 Threats and vulnerabilities created by malicious actors (individuals, 

organizations, or nation states) are often especially sophisticated and difficult to detect, and thus provide a 

significant risk to organizations. It should be noted that ICT products (including libraries, frameworks, 

and toolkits) or services originating anywhere (domestically or abroad) might contain vulnerabilities that 

 

1 An information system is a discrete set of information resources organized expressly for the collection, processing, 

maintenance, use, sharing, dissemination, or disposition of information. Information systems also include specialized systems 

such as industrial/process controls systems, telephone switching/private branch exchange (PBX) systems, and environmental 

control systems.[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]

2 This document adapts the definition of risk from [FIPS 200] to establish a definition for ICT supply chain risk as follows:

Risks that arise from the loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of information or information systems and 

reflect the potential adverse impacts to organizational operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), 

organizational assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation. 

I
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can present opportunities for ICT supply chain compromises.

3 For example, an adversary may have the 

power to insert malicious capability into a product or to coerce a manufacturer to hand over the 

manufacturing specifications of a sensitive U.S. system. Note that it is impossible to completely eliminate 

all risks.

Currently, organizations, and many private sector integrators and suppliers use varied and not yet 

standardized practices, which make it difficult to consistently measure and manage ICT supply chain risks 

across different organizations. ICT Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM) is the process of identifying, 

assessing, and mitigating the risks associated with the global and distributed nature of ICT product and 

service supply chains.

1.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this publication is to provide guidance to federal agencies on identifying, assessing,

selecting, and implementing risk management processes and mitigating controls throughout their 

organizations to help manage ICT supply chain risks. 

The processes and controls identified in this document can be modified or augmented with organizationspecific requirements from policies, guidelines, and other documents. This publication empowers 

organizations to develop ICT SCRM mitigation strategies that are tailored to their particular 

mission/business needs, threats, and operational environments. The publication does not provide contract 

language or a complete list of ICT SCRM methods and techniques that mitigate specific supply chain 

threats.

1.2 SCOPE

This publication provides guidance to federal agencies on managing ICT supply chain risks to their 

information systems and organizations. The processes and controls described in this publication build on 

federal agency guidance and are for federal agencies to consider and implement. While entities outside of 

the federal government may decide to consult this publication as a source of good practices, the

publication does not contain any specific guidance for those entities. 

The guidance and controls in this publication are recommended for use with high-impact systems 

according to Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 199, Standards for Security Categorization 

of Federal Information and Information Systems [FIPS 199]. However, because of interdependencies and 

individual needs, agencies may choose to apply the guidance to systems at a lower-impact level or to 

specific system components. 

Agencies should carefully consider the potential costs of applying ICT SCRM controls beyond highimpact information systems and weigh the costs against the risks to the organization of not applying ICT 

 

3 This document defines an ICT Supply Chain Compromise as:

An occurrence within the ICT supply chain whereby an adversary jeopardizes the confidentiality, integrity, or 

availability of a system or the information the system processes, stores, or transmits. An ICT supply chain compromise 

can occur anywhere within the system development life cycle of the product or service.
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SCRM controls. Implementing these controls will require financial and human resources, not just from 

the agencies directly but also potentially from their systems integrators, suppliers, and external service 

providers that would also result in increased costs to the acquirer. ICT SCRM controls support risk 

management, and should be considered in the context of the agency’s or organization’s unique missions, 

operational environments, and risks.

In applying the processes and controls, organizations may decide to include requirements that they 

include in their policies, acquisition guidelines, and procurement documents.

In this document, the word organization refers to the federal agency. In the context of this document, 

the acquirer is the federal agency.

Federal agencies are a diverse set of organizations with different missions, structures, and sizes. The 

guidance in this publication applies across the federal sector, and therefore this publication does not 

differentiate between the terms federal agency and organization, and uses those terms interchangeably.

1.3 TARGET AUDIENCE

ICT SCRM is an organization-wide activity that should be directed under the overall agency governance, 

regardless of the specific organizational structure. At the organization level, ICT SCRM activities should 

be led by the risk executive function, described in [NIST SP 800-39], and implemented throughout the 

organization by a variety of individuals in different roles. The audience for this publication is federal 

agency personnel involved in engineering/developing, testing, deploying, acquiring, maintaining, and 

retiring ICT components and systems. These functions may include, but are not limited to, information 

technology, information security, contracting, risk executive, program management, legal, supply chain 

and logistics, acquisition and procurement, other related functions, and system owner. Other personnel or 

entities are free to make use of the guidance as appropriate to their situation.

1.4 BACKGROUND

ICT SCRM encompasses activities in the system development life cycle, including research and 

development (R&D), design, manufacturing, acquisition, delivery, integration, operations, and 

disposal/retirement of an organization’s ICT products (i.e., hardware and software) and services. ICT 

SCRM lies at the intersection of security, integrity, resilience, and quality, as depicted in Figure 1-1.

 Security provides the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information that (a) describes 

the ICT supply chain (e.g., information about the paths of ICT products and services, both logical 

and physical); or (b) traverses the ICT supply chain (e.g., intellectual property contained in ICT 

products and services), as well as information about the parties participating in the ICT supply 

chain (anyone who touches an ICT product or service throughout its life cycle);

 Integrity is focused on ensuring that the ICT products or services in the ICT supply chain are 

genuine, unaltered, and that the ICT products and services will perform according to acquirer 

specifications and without additional unwanted functionality.

 Resilience is focused on ensuring that ICT supply chain will provide required ICT products and 

services under stress or failure; and

 Quality is focused on reducing vulnerabilities that may limit the intended function of a 

component, lead to component failure, or provide opportunities for exploitation. 

This publication addresses the overlap of the four pillars of ICT SCRM - security, integrity, resilience, 

and quality - as depicted in Figure 1-1. The publication does not address the entire body of knowledge of 

these disciplines that is depicted by the non-overlapping areas of the circles in Figure 1-1.
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Figure 1-1: Four Pillars of ICT SCRM

1.4.1 Federal Agencies ICT Supply Chain

Federal agencies run complex information systems and networks to support their missions. These 

information systems and networks are composed of ICT products and components made available by ICT 

suppliers. Federal agencies also acquire and deploy an array of IT services, including those that:

 Integrate or provide operations, maintenance, and disposal support for federal information

systems and networks within and outside of the federal agency authorization boundaries,

4 made 

available by system integrators; and

 Provide external services to support federal agency operations that are provided from both within 

or outside of the federal agency authorization boundaries, made available by external service 

providers.

In addition to operating information systems and networks internally, organizations also host system 

development and integration activities within their authorization boundaries. Those activities may be 

performed by the agency themselves or by system integrators. The ICT supply chain infrastructure is the 

integrated set of components (hardware, software, and processes) within the organizational boundary that 

 

4 NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4 defines Authorization Boundary as:

All components of an information system to be authorized for operation by an authorizing official and excludes 

separately authorized systems, to which the information system is connected.[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4, p. B-2]
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composes the environment in which a system is developed or manufactured, tested, deployed, maintained, 

and retired/decommissioned. Figure 1-2 depicts a federal agency ICT supply chain that consists of 

multiple layers of system integrators, external service providers, and suppliers with respect to the scope of 

this publication and the drivers that influence activities described herein.

The ICT supply chain infrastructure is the integrated set of components (hardware, software and 

processes) within the organizational boundary that composes the environment in which a system is 

developed or manufactured, tested, deployed, maintained, and retired/decommissioned.

Depicted in Figure 1-2, organizations define which mission functions and information systems compose 

the ICT supply chain infrastructure, potentially including system integrator and external service provider 

support. 

An organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure includes internal development, information, 

information systems, services, components, and processes to create, maintain, and retire an organization’s 

information systems. Examples include development environments, individuals who are working within 

the organization’s facilities, logistics/delivery environments that transport information systems and 

components, or applicable system and communications interfaces. These elements of the ICT supply

chain infrastructure may be provided by the organization itself, system integrator, or external service 

provider. Inclusion in ICT supply chain infrastructure is defined by agreement documents for 

organization’s information systems between system integrator or external service provider or the 

organization.

Figure 1-2: Federal Agency Relationships with System Integrators, Suppliers, and External Service Providers with 

Respect to the Scope of NIST SP 800-161.
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The ICT supply chain infrastructure does not include:

 The information system traversing the supply chain;

 Any information system not used in the development, testing, maintenance, or retirement of 

information system components;

 System integrator, supplier, and external service provider information systems that are outside of 

the organization’s information system boundaries as defined by [NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 1];

 System integrator, supplier, and external service provider people, processes, and technology that 

are not engaged in supporting the information system sytem development life cycle (SDLC); and

 The organization’s people, processes, and technology not engaged in the SDLC for an 

information system. For example, organization’s shipping and receiving processes handling nonICT are not included in the ICT supply chain infrastructure, such as food services or paper clips.

Supplier and system integrator are included under the definition of “developer” by NIST SP 800-53 

Revision 4, Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations:

A general term that includes: (i) developers or manufacturers of information systems, system 

components, or information system services; (ii) systems integrators; (iii) vendors; and (iv) 

product resellers. Development of systems, components, or services can occur internally within 

organizations (i.e., in-house development) or through external entities.[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4, p. 

B-6]

NIST SP 800-161 uses NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 developer definition items (i), (iii), and (iv) to define 

supplier and item (ii) to define system integrator.

NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 describes external information system service provider as follows:

External services can be provided by: (i) entities within the organization but outside of the security 

authorization boundaries established for organizational information systems; (ii) entities outside 

of the organization either in the public sector (e.g., federal agencies) or private sector (e.g., 

commercial service providers); or (iii) some combination of the public and private sector options. 

External information system services include, for example, the use of service-oriented 

architectures (SOAs), cloud-based services (infrastructure, platform, software), or data center 

operations. External information system services may be used by, but are typically not part of, 

organizational information systems. In some situations, external information system services may 

completely replace or heavily augment the routine functionality of internal organizational 

information systems. [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4, p. B-8]

Additionally, NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 describes organizational users as follows:

An organizational employee or an individual the organization deems to have equivalent status of 

an employee including, for example, contractor, guest researcher, or individual detailed from 

another organization.[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4, p. B-16]
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1.4.2 ICT Supply Chain Risk

ICT supply chain risks include insertion of counterfeits, unauthorized production, tampering, theft, 

insertion of malicious software and hardware (e.g., GPS tracking devices, computer chips, etc.), as well as 

poor manufacturing and development practices in the ICT supply chain. These risks are realized when 

threats in the ICT supply chain exploit existing vulnerabilities.

Figure 1-3 depicts ICT supply chain risk resulting from the likelihood that relevant threats may exploit 

applicable vulnerabilities and the consequential potential impact. 

Figure 1-3: ICT Supply Chain Risk

It should be noted that it might take years for a vulnerability stemming from the ICT supply chain to be 

exploited or discovered. In addition, it may be difficult to determine whether an event was the direct 

result of a supply chain vulnerability. This may result in a persistent negative impact on an organization’s

missions that could range from reduction in service levels leading to customer dissatisfaction to theft of 

intellectual property or degradation of mission-critical functions. 
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1.4.3 Federal Agency Relationships with System Integrators, Suppliers, and External 

Service Providers

ICT supply chain risks are associated with an organization’s decreased visibility into, and understanding 

of, how the technology that they acquire is developed, integrated, and deployed. They are also associated 

with the processes, procedures, and practices used to assure the integrity, security, resilience, and quality 

of the products and services. Federal agencies have a variety of relationships with their system 

integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Figure 1-4 depicts how the diverse types of these 

relationships affect an organization’s visibility and control of the supply chain. 

Figure 1-4: An Organization’s Visibility, Understanding, and Control of its ICT Supply Chains

Some supply chain relationships are tightly intermingled, such as when a system integrator develops a 

complex information system to be operated within the federal agency’s authorization boundary or when 

an external service provider manages federal agency information systems and resources on behalf of the 

department. These relationships are usually guided by an agreement (e.g., contract) that establishes 

detailed functional and security requirements and may provide for custom development or significant 

customization of ICT products and services. For these relationships, system integrators and external 

service providers are likely to be able to work with the federal agency to implement those processes and 

controls listed within this document, which are deemed appropriate based on the results of a risk 

assessment and cost/benefit analysis. This may include floating requirements upstream in the supply chain 

that can significantly impact costs to the supplier. The cost of requiring system integrators and external 

service providers to implement ICT SCRM processes and controls should be weighed against the risks to 

the organization of not adhering to those additional requirements. Often, working directly with the system 
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integrators and external service providers to identify appropriate mitigation processes and controls will 

help create a more cost-effective strategy.

Procuring ICT products directly from ICT suppliers establishes a direct relationship between those 

suppliers and the acquirers. This relationship is also usually guided by an agreement between the acquirer 

and ICT supplier. However, commercial ICT developed by suppliers are typically designed for general 

purposes for a global market and typically are not tailored to any individual customer’s specific

operational or threat environments. Organizations should establish a dialog with ICT suppliers regarding 

their specific ICT SCRM requirements to determine if an ICT solution is “fit for purpose."

5

This dialog will help acquirers understand the capabilities of existing ICT products and services, set 

expectations and requirements for suppliers, and identify ICT SCRM needs not yet satisfied by the 

market. It can also help identify emerging solutions that may at least partially support the acquirer need.

Overall, the dialog will allow the acquirer to better articulate their requirements to align with and drive 

market offerings.

This dialog will also help system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers achieve a more 

nuanced understanding of the organization’s requirements and how their current and emerging ICT 

products and services may be able to satisfy them. 

Organizations should recognize that ICT suppliers may or may not be able to offer customization or 

tailoring to their ICT SCRM needs, and that such tailoring may have cost implications. Acquirers should 

weigh the costs and benefits afforded by these products to make their final acquisition decision. Acquirers 

should also recognize that ICT suppliers may choose to keep their processes or products as is and not

support the acquirer’s security and ICT SCRM requirements. The dialog between acquirers and ICT 

suppliers may help acquirers and ICT suppliers achieve an understanding and identify acceptable 

solutions when such challenges occur.

Requiring a greater level of testing, documentation, or security features from system integrators, 

suppliers, and external service providers may increase the price of a product or service. Additional costs 

may include the development or testing of products, or the collection, analysis, storage and protection of 

data. This is especially true for those products and services developed for general-purpose application and 

not tailored to the specific organization’s security or ICT SCRM requirements. Acquirers should evaluate 

and weigh the costs of adding ICT SCRM requirement into agreements against the risks to the 

organization of not adding ICT SCRM requirements.

 

5

“Fit for purpose” is a term used informally to describe a process, configuration item, IT service, etc., that is capable of meeting 

its objectives or service levels. Being fit for purpose requires suitable design, implementation, control, and maintenance. 

(Adapted from Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Service Strategy.[ITIL Service Strategy)
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1.5 FOUNDATIONAL PRACTICES

ICT supply chain risk management builds on existing standardized practices in multiple disciplines. 

Organizations should consider reaching a base level of maturity in foundational practices prior to 

specifically focusing on ICT SCRM practices that are more advanced. Those foundational practices are 

described in NIST standards and guidelines as well as other applicable national and international 

standards and best practices. They include: ensuring that organizations understand the cost and scheduling 

constraints of implementing ICT SCRM; integrating information security requirements into the 

acquisition process; using applicable baseline security controls as one of the sources for security 

requirements; ensuring a robust software quality control process; and establishing multiple sources, e.g.,

delivery routes, for critical system elements. A formal program and process, including dedicated 

resources, may be used to reach a base level of maturity. [FIPS 199] “high-impact” systems should 

already have these foundational practices established. 

Having foundational practices in place is critical to successfully and productively interacting with mature 

system integrators and suppliers who may have such practices standardized and in place.

The following are specific examples of the multidisciplinary foundational practices that can be 

implemented incrementally to improve an organization’s ability to develop and implement more advanced 

ICT SCRM practices:

 Implement a risk management hierarchy and risk management process (in accordance with NIST 

SP 800-39, Managing Information Security Risk [NIST SP 800-39]) including an organizationwide risk assessment process (in accordance with NIST SP 800-30 Revision 1, Guide for 

Conducting Risk Assessments [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1]);

 Establish an organization governance structure that integrates ICT SCRM requirements and 

incorporates these requirements into the organizational policies;

 Establish consistent, well-documented, repeatable processes for determining [FIPS 199]impact 

levels; 

 Use risk assessment processes after the [FIPS 199] impact level has been defined, including 

criticality analysis, threat analysis, and vulnerability analysis;

 Implement a quality and reliability program that includes quality assurance and quality control 

process and practices; 

 Establish a set of roles and responsibilities for ICT SCRM that ensures that the broad set of 

appropriate stakeholders are involved in decision making, including who has the required 

authority to take action, who has accountability for an action or result, and who should be 

consulted and/or informed (e.g., Legal, Risk Executive, HR, Finance, Enterprise IT, Program 

Management/System Engineering, Information Security, Acquisition/procurement, supply chain 

logistics, etc.); 

 Ensure that adequate resources are allocated to information security and ICT SCRM to ensure 

proper implementation of guidance and controls;

 Implement consistent, well-documented, repeatable processes for system engineering, ICT 

security practices, and acquisition; 

 Implement an appropriate and tailored set of baseline information security controls in NIST SP 

800-53 Revision 4, Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and 

Organizations [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4];

 Establish internal checks and balances to assure compliance with security and quality 

requirements;
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 Establish a supplier management program including, for example, guidelines for purchasing 

directly from qualified original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)6 or their authorized distributors 

and resellers;

 Implement a tested and repeatable contingency plan that integrates ICT supply chain risk 

considerations to ensure the integrity and reliability of the supply chain including during adverse 

events (e.g., natural disasters such as hurricanes or economic disruptions such as labor strikes); 

and 

 Implement a robust incident management program to successfully identify, respond to, and 

mitigate security incidents. This program should be capable of identifying causes of security 

incidents, including those originating from the ICT supply chain.

The guidance and controls contained in this publication are built on existing practices from multiple 

disciplines and are intended to increase the ability of organizations to strategically manage ICT supply 

chain risks over the entire life cycle of systems, products, and services.

1.6 RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER PROGRAMS AND PUBLICATIONS

This publication builds on the Joint Task Force Transformation Initiative Unified Information Security 

Framework7and uses concepts described in a number of NIST publications to facilitate integration with 

the agencies’ existing organization-wide activities. These publications are complementary and work 

together to help organizations build risk-based information security programs to help protect their 

operations and assets against a range of diverse and increasingly sophisticated threats. This publication

will be revised to remain consistent with the NIST SP 800-53 security controls catalog, using an iterative 

process as the ICT SCRM discipline matures.

NIST SP 800-161 builds on the fundamental concepts described in:

 FIPS 199, Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information 

Systems, to conduct criticality analysis to scoping ICT SCRM activities to high-impact 

components or systems [FIPS 199];

 NIST SP 800-30, Revision 1, Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments, to integrate ICT SCRM 

into the risk assessment process [NIST SP 800-30 Rev 1];

 NIST SP 800-37, Revision 1, Guide for Applying the Risk Management Framework to Federal 

Information Systems [NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 1];

 

6 For purposes of this publication, the term original equipment manufacturers includes original component manufacturers.

7 The Unified Information Security Framework is a comprehensive, flexible, risk-based information security framework 

developed by the Joint Task Force, a partnership among the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of 

Defense, the U.S. Intelligence Community, and the Committee on National Security Systems. The Unified Information Security 

Framework consists of five core publications including: [NIST SP 800-39]; [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1]; [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]; 

and [NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 1].
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 NIST SP 800-39, Managing Information Security Risk: Organization, Mission, and Information 

System View, to integrate ICT SCRM into the risk management tiers and risk management 

process [NIST SP 800-39];

 NIST 800-53 Revision 4, Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and 

Organizations, to provide information security controls for enhancing and tailoring to ICT SCRM 

context [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]; and

 NIST SP 800-53A Revision 4, Guide for Assessing the Security Controls in Federal Information 

Systems and Organizations, Building Effective Security Assessment Plans, to enable the 

assessment techniques to be applicable to ICT SCRM controls in this publication [NIST SP 800-

53A Rev. 4].

NIST SP 800-161 refines the multitiered risk management approach of [NIST SP 800-39], by providing 

ICT SCRM guidance at Organization, Mission, and Information System Tiers. It also contains an 

enhanced overlay of specific ICT SCRM controls, building on [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]. Appendix C of 

this publication contains threat events described in [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1] .

For specific guidance on system security engineering, the readers of NIST SP 800-161 should consult 

NIST SP 800-160, Systems Security Engineering [NIST SP 800-160]. They complement each other; NIST 

SP 800-161 addresses the security engineering aspects of ICT SCRM while NIST SP 800-160 addresses 

system security engineering more broadly throughout SDLC processes. Both publications build on [NIST 

SP 800-53 Rev. 4]. 

NIST SP 800-161 draws from a collaborative ICT SCRM community workshop hosted in October 2012

[NIST SCRM Proceedings 2012] and NIST Interagency Report (IR) 7622, Notional Supply Chain Risk 

Management Practices for Federal Information Systems [NIST IR 7622], which resulted from several 

years of rigorous study of the ICT SCRM discipline and provided NIST the insight required to scope and 

develop this special publication. NISTIR 7622 can be used by the reader for background materials in 

support of applying the special publication to their specific acquisition processes.

NIST SP 800-161 also draws from several external publications, including:

 Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security Software Assurance Acquisition 

Working Group, Software Assurance in Acquisition: Mitigating Risks to the Enterprise [SwA];

 National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Engineering for System Assurance [NDIA];

 International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission 

(ISO/IEC) 15288 – System Life Cycle Processes [ISO/IEC 15288];

 Draft ISO/IEC 27036 – Information Technology – Security Techniques – Information Security for 

Supplier Relationships [ISO/IEC 27036]; 

 The Open Group’s Open Trusted Technology ProviderTM Standard (O-TTPS), Version 1.0, 

Mitigating Maliciously Tainted and Counterfeit Products [O-TTPS]; and

 Software Assurance Forum for Excellence in Code (SAFECode) Software Integrity Framework

[SAFECode 2] and Software Integrity Best Practices [SAFECode 1].
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This publication does not replace guidance provided with respect to federal agency assessment of cloud 

service providers’ security. The external service providers discussed in this publication include cloud 

service providers. When applying this publication to cloud service providers, federal agencies should first 

use Federal Risk and Authorization Program (FedRAMP) cloud services security guidelines and then 

apply NIST SP 800-161 for those processes and controls that are not addressed by FEDRAMP.8

1.7 METHODOLOGY FOR BUILDING ICT SCRM GUIDANCE USING SP 800-39 AND

NIST SP 800-53 REVISION 4

This publication applies the multitiered risk management approach of [NIST SP 800-39], by providing 

ICT SCRM guidance at organization, mission, and system tiers. It also contains an enhanced overlay of 

specific ICT SCRM controls, building on NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4.

The guidance/controls contained in this publication are built on existing practices from multiple 

disciplines and are intended to increase the ability of organizations to strategically manage the associated 

ICT supply chain risks over the entire life cycle of systems, products, and services. It should be noted that 

this publication gives organizations the flexibility to either develop stand-alone documentation (e.g.,

policies, assessment and authorization [A&A] plan and ICT SCRM plan) for ICT SCRM or to integrate it 

into existing agency documentation.

For individual systems, this guidance is recommended for use for those information systems that are 

categorized as high-impact systems according to [FIPS 199]. The agencies may choose to apply this 

guidance to systems at a lower-impact level or to specific system components. Finally, NIST SP 800-161 

describes the development and implementation of an ICT SCRM plan to be developed at all levels of an 

organization. An ICT SCRM plan is an output of ICT supply chain risk assessment and should contain 

ICT SCRM controls tailored to specific agency mission/business needs, operational environments, and/or 

implementing technologies.

1.7.1 Integration into Risk Management Process

The processes in this publication should be integrated into agencies’ existing SDLCs and organizational 

environments at all levels of the risk management processes and hierarchy (organization, mission, system)

as described in [NIST SP 800-39]. Chapter 2.1 provides an overview of the [NIST SP 800-39] risk 

management hierarchy and approach, and identifies ICT SCRM activities in the risk management process. 

The structure of Chapter 2.1 mirrors [NIST SP 800-39]. Chapter 2.2 builds on Chapter 3 of [NIST SP 

800-39], providing descriptions and explanations of ICT SCRM activities. 

 

8 For cloud services, FEDRAMP is applicable for low- and moderate-impact systems [FEDRAMP]. Ongoing work will address 

high-impact systems utilizing cloud services. Once the work is completed, agencies should refer to FEDRAMP for guidance 

applicable to high-impact systems utilizing cloud services.
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1.7.2 Enhanced ICT SCRM Overlay

This publication contains an enhanced overlay of [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]. Chapter 3 identifies, refines,

and expands ICT SCRM-related controls from [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4], adds new controls that address 

specific ICT SCRM concerns, and offers ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance where appropriate. 

Figure 1-5 illustrates the process used to create the enhanced overlay. The individual controls and 

enhancements from [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] that were relevant to ICT SCRM were extracted. These 

controls were analyzed to determine how they apply to ICT SCRM. Additional supplemental guidance 

was then developed and included for each control and control enhancement. The resulting set of controls 

and enhancements were evaluated to determine whether all ICT SCRM concerns were addressed. A new 

control family, Provenance, and some additional controls and control enhancements were created to 

address specific remaining ICT SCRM concerns. 

Figure 1-5: ICT SCRM Security Controls in NIST SP 800-161, Chapter 3.5

1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THIS SPECIAL PUBLICATION

This publication is organized as follows: 

 Chapter 1 provides the purpose, scope, and applicability of the publication and describes 

foundational concepts and practices;

Managing Cost and Resources

Organizations should be aware that implementing these controls will require financial and human 

resources. Any requirements that result from federal agencies implementing these controls may also 

require financial and human resources from their system integrators, suppliers, and external service 

providers potentially resulting in increased costs to the federal acquirers. The acquirers should be 

cognizant of the costs and weigh them against the risks to the organization of not selecting ICT SCRM 

controls. When appropriate, allow system integrators, suppliers, and external services providers the 

opportunity to reuse any existing data and documentation that may provide evidence to support ICT 

SCRM. The challenge of balancing ICT supply chain risks with the costs and benefits of mitigating 

controls should be a key component of the acquirer’s overall approach to ICT SCRM.
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 Chapter 2 discusses ICT SCRM processes and how to integrate them into the organizational risk 

management hierarchy and risk management process, based on NIST SP 800-39;

 Chapter 3 provides a comprehensive set of baseline controls for organizations to choose from and 

the guidance required for customization/tailoring for their organization and ICT needs;

 Appendix A maps the ICT SCRM controls in this publication to their associated NIST SP 800-53 

Revision 4 controls;

 Appendix B provides NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 controls relevant to ICT SCRM that are listed 

or expanded in Chapter 3;

 Appendix C provides a listing of threats from NIST SP 800-30 Revision 1 Appendix B relevant 

to ICT SCRM;

 Appendix D provides a Supply Chain Threat and Analysis Framework and illustrative threat 

scenarios;

 Appendix E provides an annotated ICT SCRM Plan Template;

 Appendix F provides a glossary of terms used in the publication;

 Appendix G provides the acronyms and abbreviations used in the publication; and

 Appendix H lists references used in the development of this publication. 
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CHAPTER TWO

INTEGRATION OF ICT SCRM INTO ORGANIZATIONWIDE RISK MANAGEMENT

ICT SCRM should be integrated into the organization-wide risk management process described in [NIST 

SP 800-39] and depicted in Figure 2-1. This process includes the following continuous and iterative steps:

(i) Frame risk – establish the context for risk-based decisions and the current state of the information

system or ICT supply chain infrastructure; 

(ii) Assess risk – review and interpret criticality, threat, vulnerability, likelihood, impact, and related 

information; 

(iii)Respond to risk once determined – select, tailor, and implement mitigation controls; and 

(iv) Monitor risk on an ongoing basis, including changes to an information system or ICT supply 

chain infrastructure, using effective organizational communications and a feedback loop for 

continuous improvement.

Figure 2-1: Risk Management Process

Managing ICT supply chain risks is a complex, multifaceted undertaking that requires a coordinated 

effort across an organization and building trust relationships and communicating with external and 

internal partners and stakeholders. This includes: engaging multiple disciplines in identifying priorities 

and developing solutions; ensuring that ICT SCRM activities are performed throughout the SDLC; and 

incorporating ICT SCRM into overall risk management decisions. ICT SCRM activities should involve 
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identifying and assessing applicable risks, determining appropriate mitigating actions, developing ICT 

SCRM Plans to document selected mitigating actions, and monitoring performance against ICT SCRM 

Plans. Because ICT supply chains differ across and within organizations, ICT SCRM plans should be 

tailored to individual organizational, program, and operational contexts. These tailored ICT SCRM Plans 

will provide the basis for determining whether an information system is “fit for purpose” 9and as such,

the controls need to be tailored accordingly. Tailored ICT SCRM plans will help organizations to focus 

appropriate resources on the most critical functions and components based on organizational 

mission/business requirements and their risk environment.

Chapter 2.1 describes the three-tier risk management approach in terms of ICT SCRM. Generally, senior 

leaders provide the strategic direction, mid-level leaders plan and manage projects, and individuals on the 

front lines develop, implement, and operate the ICT supply chain infrastructure. The activities performed 

in each tier can be integrated into an organization’s overall risk management process in order to ensure 

that the ICT SCRM program appropriately supports the organization’s mission and goals.10 Chapter 2.2 

describes the Risk Management Framework as it applies to ICT SCRM. The foundational concepts are 

described in greater detail in [NIST SP 800-39]. 

2.1 MULTITIERED RISK MANAGEMENT

To integrate risk management throughout an organization, [NIST SP 800-39] describes three 

organizational tiers, depicted in Figure 2-2, that address risk at the: (i) organization level; (ii) 

mission/business process level; and (iii) information system level. ICT SCRM requires the involvement 

of all three tiers.

 

9 The tailoring of ICT SCRM plans to individual organizational, program, and operational contexts may be referred to as “fit for 

purpose” as defined by Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Service Strategy.[ITIL Service Strategy]

10 This document uses the word “mission” to mean the organization’s required tasks as determined by the organization’s purpose 

and enterprise-level goals and priorities.

Organizations should ensure that tailored ICT SCRM Plans are designed to:

 Manage, rather than eliminate risk;

 Ensure that operations are able to adapt to constantly evolving threats;

 Be responsive to changes within their own organization, programs, and the supporting 

information systems; and 

 Adjust to the rapidly evolving practices of the private sector's global ICT supply chain.
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Figure 2-2: Multitiered Organization-wide Risk Management11

In general, Tier 1 is engaged in the development of the overall ICT SCRM strategy, determination of 

organization-level ICT SCRM risks, and setting of the organization-wide ICT SCRM policies to guide the 

organization’s activities in establishing and maintaining organization-wide ICT SCRM capability. Tier 2 

is engaged in prioritizing the organization’s mission and business functions, conducting mission/businesslevel risk assessment, implementing Tier 1 strategy and guidance to establish an overarching

organizational capability to manage ICT supply chain risks, and guiding organization-wide ICT 

acquisitions and their corresponding SDLCs. Tier 3 is involved in specific ICT SCRM activities to be 

applied to individual information systems and information technology acquisitions, including integration 

of ICT SCRM into these systems’ SDLCs. 

The ICT SCRM activities can be performed by a variety of individuals or groups within an organization 

ranging from a single individual to committees, divisions, programs, or any other organizational 

structures. ICT SCRM activities will be distinct for different organizations depending on their 

organization’s structure, culture, mission, and many other factors. It should be noted that this publication

gives organizations the flexibility to either develop stand-alone documentation (e.g., policies, assessment 

and authorization [A&A] plan and ICT SCRM Plan) for ICT SCRM, or to integrate it into existing 

agency documentation.

 

11 Further information about the concepts depicted in Figure 2-2 can be found in [NIST SP 800-39].
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Table 2-1 shows generic ICT SCRM stakeholders for each tier with the specific ICT SCRM activities 

performed within the corresponding tier. These activities are either direct ICT SCRM activities or have a 

direct impact on ICT SCRM.

Table 2-1: Supply Chain Risk Management Stakeholders

Tiers Tier Name Generic Stakeholder Activities

1 Organization Executive Leadership (CEO, CIO, COO, CFO, 

CISO, CTO, etc.) - Risk executive

Define corporate strategy, 

policy, goals and 

objectives

2 Mission Business Management (includes program 

management [PM], research and development 

[R&D], Engineering [SDLC oversight], 

Acquisitions / Procurement, Cost Accounting, and 

other management related to reliability, safety, 

security, quality, etc.)

Develop actionable 

policies and procedures, 

guidance and constraints

3 Information 

Systems

Systems Management (architect, developers, 

system owner, QA/QC, test, and contracting

personnel, approving selection, payment and 

approach for obtaining, maintenance engineering, 

disposal personnel, etc.)

Policy implementation,

requirements, constraints,

implementations

The ICT SCRM process should be carried out across the three risk management tiers with the overall 

objective of continuous improvement in the organization’s risk-related activities and effective inter-tier 

and intra-tier communication, thus integrating both strategic and tactical activities among all stakeholders 

with a shared interest in the mission/business success of the organization. Whether addressing a 

component, a system, a process, a mission function, or a policy, it is important to engage the relevant ICT 

SCRM stakeholders at each tier to ensure that risk management activities are as informed as possible. 

The next few sections provide example activities in each tier. However, because each organization is 

different, there may be activities that are performed in different tiers than listed as individual 

organizational context requires.

2.1.1 TIER 1 – ORGANIZATION

Tier 1 (Organization) provides strategic ICT SCRM direction for an organization using organizationallevel mission/business requirements and policies, governance structures such as the risk executive 

(function), and organization-wide resource allocation for ICT SCRM. Tier 1 activities help to ensure that 

ICT SCRM mitigation strategies are cost-effective, efficient, and consistent with the strategic goals and 

objectives of the organization. It is critical that, as organizations define and implement organization-wide 

strategies, policies, and processes in this tier, they include ICT SCRM considerations. 

Chapter 3 provides a number of mission/business ICT SCRM controls that organizations can tailor for 

their use to help guide Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 ICT SCRM activities. It should be noted the tailoring 

should be scoped to the organization’s risk management needs and take into consideration the costs 

associated with implementing ICT SCRM.
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ICT SCRM activities at this tier include:

 Establish ICT SCRM policies based on external and organizational requirements and constraints 

(e.g., applicable laws and regulations). Policies should include the purpose and applicability, as 

well as investment and funding requirements, of the ICT SCRM program;

 Based on the ICT SCRM policy, identify:

o Mission/business requirements that will influence ICT SCRM, such as cost, schedule, 

performance, security, privacy, quality, and safety; 

o Information security requirements, including ICT SCRM-specific requirements; and

o Organization-wide mission/business functions and how ICT SCRM will be integrated 

into their processes; 

 Establish risk tolerance level for ICT supply chain risks; 

 Establish a group of individuals across the organization who will address ICT SCRM throughout 

the organization, known as the ICT SCRM Team; and

 Ensure that ICT SCRM is appropriately integrated into the organization risk management 

policies and activities.

Implementing ICT SCRM requires that organizations establish a coordinated team-based approach to 

assess ICT supply chain risk and manage this risk by using programmatic and technical mitigation 

techniques. The coordinated team approach, either ad hoc or formal, will enable agencies to conduct a 

comprehensive analysis of their ICT supply chain, communicate with external partners/stakeholders, and 

gain broad consensus regarding appropriate resources for ICT SCRM.

The ICT SCRM Team should consist of members with diverse roles and responsibilities for leading and 

supporting ICT SCRM activities including information technology, information security, contracting, risk 

executive, mission/business, legal, supply chain and logistics, acquisition and procurement, and other 

relevant functions. These individuals may include government personnel or prime contractors hired to 

provide acquisition services to a government client.

Members of the ICT SCRM team should be a diverse group of people who are involved in the various 

aspects of the SDLC. Collectively, to aid in ICT SCRM, these individuals should have an awareness of, 

and provide expertise in organizational acquisition processes, legal practices, vulnerabilities, threats, and 

attack vectors, as well as an understanding of the technical aspects and dependencies of systems. The ICT 

SCRM team may be an extension of an organization’s existing information system risk management or 

include parts of a general risk management team.

2.1.2 TIER 2 – MISSION/BUSINESS PROCESS

Tier 2 (Mission/Business Process) addresses risk from a mission/business process perspective and is 

informed by the risk context, risk decisions, and risk activities at Tier 1.12 In this tier, program 

requirements are defined and managed – including ICT SCRM as well as cost, schedule, performance, 

and a variety of critical nonfunctional requirements. These nonfunctional requirements include concepts 

such as reliability, dependability, safety, security, and quality. Many threats to and through the supply 

chain are addressed at this level in the management of trust relationships with system integrators,

 

12 For more information, see [NIST SP 800-39 Section 2.2].
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suppliers, and external service providers of ICT products and services. Because ICT SCRM can both 

directly and indirectly impact mission/business processes, understanding, integrating and coordinating 

ICT SCRM activities at this tier are critical for ensuring successful mission and business operations.

ICT SCRM activities at this tier include: 

 Defining the risk response strategy, including ICT SCRM considerations, for critical processes;

 Establishing ICT SCRM processes to support mission/business processes;

 Determining the ICT SCRM requirements of the mission/business systems needed to execute the 

mission/business processes; 

 Incorporating ICT SCRM requirements into the mission/business processes; 

 Integrating ICT SCRM requirements into an enterprise architecture to facilitate the allocation of 

ICT SCRM controls to organizational information systems and the environments in which those 

systems operate; and

 Establishing a mission/business-specific ICT SCRM team that coordinates and collaborates with 

the organizational ICT SCRM team.

2.1.3 TIER 3 – INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Tier 3 (Information Systems) is where ICT SCRM activities are integrated into the SDLC of 

organizational information systems and system components. Many threats through the supply chain are 

addressed at this level with the use of ICT SCRM-related information security requirements. Risk 

management activities at Tier 3 reflect the organization’s risk management strategy defined in Tier 1 (per 

NIST SP 800-39), as well as cost, schedule, and performance requirements for individual information

systems as defined in Tier 2. ICT SCRM activities at this tier include: 

 Applying, monitoring and managing ICT SCRM controls in the development and sustainment of 

systems supporting mission/business processes; and

 Applying, monitoring and managing ICT SCRM controls to the SDLC and the environment in 

which the SDLC is conducted (e.g., ICT supply chain infrastructure) used to develop and 

integrate mission/business systems.

At Tier 3, ICT SCRM significantly intersects with the SDLC, which includes acquisition (both custom 

and off-the-shelf), requirements, architectural design, development, delivery, installation, integration, 

maintenance, and disposal/retirement of information systems, including ICT products and services. 

2.2 ICT SCRM ACTIVITIES IN RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Risk management is a comprehensive process that requires organizations to: (i) frame risk (i.e., establish 

the context for risk-based decisions); (ii) assess risk; (iii) respond to risk once determined; and (iv) 

monitor risk on an ongoing basis using effective organizational communications and a feedback loop for 

continuous improvement in the risk-related activities of organizations. Figure 2-3 depicts 

interrelationships among the risk management process steps, including the order in which each analysis 

may be executed and the interactions required to ensure that the analysis is inclusive of the various inputs 

at the organization, mission, and operations levels.

 
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Figure 2-3: ICT SCRM Risk Management

The steps in the risk management process – Frame, Assess, Respond, and Monitor - are iterative and not 

inherently sequential in nature. Different individuals may be required to perform the steps at the same 

time depending on a particular need or situation. Organizations have significant flexibility in how the risk 

management steps are performed (e.g., sequence, degree of rigor, formality, and thoroughness of 

application) and in how the results of each step are captured and shared—both internally and externally. 

The outputs from a particular risk management step will directly impact one or more of the other risk 

management steps in the risk management process. 

Figure 2-4 summarizes ICT SCRM activities throughout the risk management process as they are 

performed within the three organizational tiers. The arrows between different steps of the risk 

management process depict simultaneous flow of information and guidance among the steps. Together the 

arrows indicate that the inputs, activities, and outputs are continuously interacting and influencing one 

another. More details are provided in the following subsections.
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Figure 2-4: ICT SCRM Activities in Risk Management Process

Figure 2-4 depicts interrelationships among the risk management process steps including the order in 

which each analysis is executed and the interactions required to ensure that the analysis is inclusive of the 

various inputs at the organization, mission, and operations levels. 

The remainder of this section provides a detailed description of ICT SCRM activities within the Frame, 

Assess, Respond, and Monitor steps of the Risk Management Process. The structure of subsections 2.2.1 

through 2.2.4 mirrors the structure of NIST SP 800-39, Chapters 3.1-3.4. For each step of the Risk 

Management Process (i.e., Frame, Assess, Respond, Monitor), the structure includes Inputs and 

Preconditions, Activities, and Outputs and Post-Conditions. Activities are further organized into Tasks 

according to [NIST SP 800-39] . NIST SP 800-161 cites the steps and tasks of the risk management 

process but rather than repeating any other content of [NIST SP 800-39], it provides ICT SCRM-specific 

guidance for each step with its Inputs and Preconditions, Activities with corresponding Tasks, and 

Outputs and Post-Conditions. NIST SP 800-161 adds one task to the tasks provided in [NIST SP 800-39], 

under the Assess step: Task 2-0, Criticality Analysis.

2.2.1 FRAME

Inputs and Preconditions

Frame is the step that establishes context for ICT SCRM in all three tiers. The scope and structure of the 

organizational ICT supply chain infrastructure, the overall risk management strategy, as well as specific 

Enterprise Mission/Business Process System

Frame Assess Respond Monitor

• Make mission/business-level 

risk decisions to avoid, 

mitigate, share, or transfer risk

• Select, tailor , and implement 

appropriate system-level 

controls

• Document ICT SCRM controls 

in System Security Plan

• Make enterprise risk 

decisions to avoid, mitigate, 

share, or transfer risk

• Select, tailor, and implement 

appropriate enterprise ICT 

SCRM controls

• Document controls in 

Enterprise ICT SCRM Plan

• Make mission/business-level 

risk decisions to avoid, 

mitigate, share, or transfer risk

• Select, tailor , and implement 

appropriate mission/ businesslevel controls

• Document controls in Missionlevel ICT SCRM Plan

• Integrate ICT SCRM into agency 

Continuous Monitoring 

program

• Monitor and evaluate 

enterprise-level constraints and 

risks for change and impact 

• Monitor effectiveness of 

enterprise-level risk response

• Identify which mission 

functions need to be 

monitored for ICT supply chain 

change and assessed for 

impact

• Integrate ICT SCRM into 

Continuous Monitoring 

processes and systems

• Monitor and evaluate missionlevel risks and constraints for 

change and impact

• Monitor effectiveness of 

mission-level risk response

• Monitor and evaluate 

system-level requirements 

and risks for change and 

impact

• Monitor effectiveness of 

system-level risk response

• Develop ICT SCRM Policy

• Conduct Baseline Criticality

Determination

• Integrate ICT SCRM 

considerations into enterprise 

risk management

• Define ICT SCRM Mission/business 

requirements

• Incorporate these requirements 

into mission/ business processes 

and enterprise architecture

• Establish ICT SCRM Risk 

Assessment Methodology

• Establish FIPS 199 impact levels

• Conduct Mission Function Baseline 

Criticality

Determination

• Determine ICT SCRM risk 

assessment methodology

• Define system-level 

ICT SCRM 

requirements

• Integrate ICT SCRM 

considerations into 

enterprise risk 

management

• Conduct Risk Assessment 

including Criticality 

Analysis for mission 

threads

• Determine current risk 

posture

• Conduct ICT SCRM Risk 

Assessment including 

Criticality Analysis for 

individual systems

• Determine current risk 

posture
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program/project or individual information system needs, are defined in this step. The data and information 

collected during Frame provides inputs for scoping and fine-tuning ICT SCRM activities in other risk 

management process steps throughout the three tiers. 

[NIST SP 800-39] defines risk framing as “the set of assumptions, constraints, risk tolerances, and 

priorities/trade-offs that shape an organization’s approach for managing risk.” ICT SCRM risk framing 

should be integrated into the overall organization risk framing process. Outputs of the organization’s risk 

framing and the overall risk management process should serve as inputs into the ICT SCRM risk framing, 

including but not limited to: 

 Organization policies, strategies, and governance;

 Applicable laws and regulations;

 Mission functions and business goals;

 Organization processes (security, quality, etc.);

 Organization threats, vulnerabilities, risks, and risk tolerance;

 Criticality of mission functions;

 Enterprise architecture;

 Mission-level security policies;

 Functional requirements; and

 Security requirements.

ICT SCRM risk framing is an iterative process that also uses inputs from the other steps of the risk 

management process (Assess, Respond, and Monitor) as inputs. Figure 2-5 depicts the Frame Step with 

its inputs and outputs along the three organizational tiers. 
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Figure 2-5: ICT SCRM in the Frame Step

Figure 2-5 depicts inputs, activities, and outputs of the Frame Step distributed along the three 

organizational tiers. The large arrows on the left and right sides of the activities depict the inputs and 

outputs to and from other steps of the Risk Management Process, with the arrow on the left depicting that 

the steps are in constant interaction. Inputs into the Frame Step include inputs from other steps as well as 

inputs from the organization risk management process that are shaping the ICT SCRM process. Up-down 

arrows between the tiers depict flow of information and guidance from the upper tiers to the lower tiers 

and the flow of information and feedback from the lower tiers to the upper tiers. Together the arrows 

indicate that the inputs, activities, and outputs are continuously interacting and influencing one another. 

Activities

RISK ASSUMPTIONS

TASK 1-1: Identify assumptions that affect how risk is assessed, responded to, and monitored within the 

organization. 

Supplemental Guidance: 

As a part of identifying ICT supply chain Risk Assumptions within the broader Risk Management process 

(described in [NIST SP 800-39]), agencies should do the following:

Frame

• Determine Baseline Criticality

Develop ICT SCRM Policy

• Integrate ICT SCRM 

considerations into enterprise 

risk management

• Define ICT SCRM Mission/business 

requirements

• Incorporate these requirements 

into mission/ business processes 

and enterprise architecture

• Establish ICT SCRM Risk 

Assessment Methodology

• Establish FIPS 199 impact levels

• Conduct Mission Function Baseline 

Criticality

• Determine ICT SCRM risk 

assessment methodology

• Define system-level 

ICT SCRM 

requirements

Inputs Outputs

• Enterprise policies, strategies, 

governance

• Applicable laws and regulations

• All mission functions and business 

goals

• External and internal customer 

requirements

• Enterprise processes (security, 

quality, etc. )

• Enterprise threats, vulnerabilities, 

risks, risk tolerance

• Supply chain map

• Mission functions

• Criticality of functions

• Enterprise Architecture

• Mission-level security policies

• Functional requirements

• Security requirements

• ICT SCRM Policy

• Baseline Criticality

ICT SCRM considerations 

integrated into enterprise 

risk management

• ICT SCRM Mission/business 

requirements

• Revised mission/business 

processes and enterprise 

architecture

• ICT SCRM Risk Assessment 

Methodology

• FIPS 199 impact levels

• Mission Function Baseline 

Criticality

• System-level ICT 

SCRM requirements

Enterprise Mission/Business Process System
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 Define ICT SCRM mission, business, and system-level requirements;

 Identify which mission functions and related components are critical to the organization, 

including FIPS 199 impact level, to determine the baseline criticality; 

 Identify, characterize, and provide representative examples of threat sources, vulnerabilities, 

consequences/impacts, and likelihood determinations related to ICT supply chain;

 Develop organization-wide ICT SCRM policy;

 Select appropriate ICT supply chain risk assessment methodologies, depending on organizational 

governance, culture, and diversity of the missions/business functions; 

 Establish a method for the results of ICT SCRM activities to be integrated into the overall agency 

Risk Management Process; and

 Define which mission functions and information systems compose the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure, potentially including system integrator and external service provider support and 

periodically review its ICT supply chain infrastructure because it may evolve over time. 

Baseline Criticality:

Critical functions are those functions, which if corrupted or disabled, are likely to result in mission 

degradation or failure. Mission-critical functions are dependent on their supporting systems that in turn 

depend on critical components in those systems (hardware, software, and firmware). Mission-critical 

functions also depend on processes that are used to execute the critical functions. Those components and 

processes that deliver defensive functions (e.g., access control, identity management, and crypto) and 

unmediated access (e.g., power supply) may also be considered mission-critical. A criticality analysis is 

the primary method by which mission-critical functions and associated systems/components are identified 

and prioritized.

Baseline criticality determination is the initial identification of specific critical components and processes 

based on the required function. This includes the analysis of requirements, architecture, and design to 

identify the minimum set of components required for system operation. Baseline criticality determination 

includes first identifying system requirements that support mission function and systems/components that 

have a direct impact on system requirements. This analysis should include agency system and ICT supply 

chain dependencies. Organizations should define the baseline criticality in the Frame phase to be updated 

and tailored to specific context in the Assess phase. 

Determining baseline criticality is an iterative process performed at all tiers during both Frame and 

Assess. In Frame, baseline criticality determination is expected to be performed at a high level, using the 

available information with further detail incorporated through additional iterations or at the Assess step. 

Determining baseline criticality may include the following:

 Identify mission and business drivers, such as applicable regulations, policies, requirements, and 

operational constraints;

 Prioritize these drivers to help articulate the organization’s critical functions, systems, and 

components;

 Identify, group, and prioritize mission functions based on the drivers;

 Establish [FIPS 199] impact levels (high, moderate, low) for individual systems; and

 Map the mission functions to the system architecture and identify the systems/ components 

(hardware, software, and firmware) and processes that are critical to the mission/business 

effectiveness of the system or an interfacing network.
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Please note that baseline criticality can be determined for existing systems or for future system integration 

efforts based on system architecture and design. It is an iterative activity that should be performed if a 

change warranting iteration is identified in the Monitor step.

Threat Sources: 

For ICT SCRM, threat sources include: (i) hostile cyber/physical attacks either to the supply chain or to 

an information system component(s) traversing the supply chain; (ii) human errors; or (iii) geopolitical 

disruptions, economic upheavals, and natural or man-made disasters. [NIST SP 800-39] states that 

organizations provide a succinct characterization of the types of tactics, techniques, and procedures 

employed by adversaries that are to be addressed by safeguards and countermeasures (i.e., security 

controls) deployed at Tier 1 (organization level), at Tier 2 (mission/business process level), and at Tier 3 

(information system level)—making explicit the types of threat sources that are to be addressed as well as 

making explicit those not being addressed by the safeguards/countermeasures.

Threat information includes historical threat data, factual threat data, or validated technology-specific 

threat information. Threat information may come from multiple information sources, including the U.S. 

Intelligence Community (for federal agencies), as well as open source reporting such as news and trade 

publications, partners, suppliers, and customers. 

Information about ICT supply chain (such as from supply chain maps) provides the context for 

identifying possible locations or access points for threat agents to enter the ICT supply chain. The ICT 

supply chain threat agents are similar to the information security threat agents, such as attackers or 

industrial spies. Table 2-2 lists examples of ICT supply chain threat agents. Appendix D provides Supply 

Chain Threat Scenarios listed in Table 2-2.

Table 2-2: Examples of ICT Supply Chain Threat Agents

Threat Agent Scenario Examples

Counterfeiters Counterfeits inserted 

into ICT supply chain 

(see Appendix D

Scenario 1)

Criminal groups seek to acquire and sell counterfeit ICT 

components for monetary gain. Specifically, organized crime 

groups seek disposed units, purchase overstock items, and 

acquire blueprints to obtain ICT components that they can 

sell through various gray market resellers to acquirers.13

Insiders Intellectual property 

loss

Disgruntled insiders sell or transfer intellectual property to 

competitors or foreign intelligence agencies for a variety of 

reasons including monetary gain. Intellectual property 

includes software code, blueprints, or documentation.

Foreign 

Intelligence 

Malicious code 

insertion (see 

Foreign intelligence services seek to penetrate ICT supply 

chain and implant unwanted functionality (by inserting new 

 

13 “Defense Industrial Base Assessment: Counterfeit Electronics,” [Defense Industrial Base Assessment: Counterfeit Electronics]
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Threat Agent Scenario Examples

Services Appendix D Scenario 

3)

or modifying existing functionality) to be used when the 

system is operational to gather information or subvert14

system or mission operations. 

Terrorists Unauthorized access Terrorists seek to penetrate or disrupt the ICT supply chain 

and may implant unwanted functionality to obtain 

information or cause physical disablement and destruction

through ICT.

Industrial 

Espionage/Cyber 

Criminals

Industrial 

Espionage/Intellectual 

Property Loss (see 

Appendix D Scenario 

2)

Industrial spies/cyber criminals seek ways to penetrate ICT 

supply chain to gather information or subvert system or 

mission operations (e.g., exploitation of an HVAC contractor 

to steal credit card information).

Agencies can identify and refine ICT SCRM-specific threats in all three tiers. Table 2-3 provides 

examples of threat considerations and different methods that can be used to characterize ICT supply 

chain threats at different tiers.

Table 2-3: Supply Chain Threat Considerations

Tier Threat Consideration Methods

Tier 1  Organization’s business and mission

 Strategic supplier relationships 

 Geographical considerations related to 

the extent of the organization’s ICT 

supply chain 

 Establish common starting points for 

identifying ICT supply chain threat. 

 Establish procedures for countering 

organization-wide threats such as insertion of 

counterfeits into critical systems and 

components.

Tier 2  Mission functions

 Geographic locations

 Types of suppliers (COTS, external 

service providers, or custom, etc.)

 Technologies used organization-wide

 Identify additional sources of threat 

information specific to organizational mission 

functions.

 Identify potential threat sources based on the 

locations and suppliers identified through 

examining available agency ICT supply chain 

information (e.g., from supply chain map.)

 Scope identified threat sources to the specific 

mission functions, using the agency the ICT 

supply chain information.

 Establish mission-specific preparatory 

procedures for countering threat 

 

14 Examples of subverting operations include gaining unauthorized control to ICT supply chain or flooding it with unauthorized 

service requests to reduce or deny legitimate access to ICT supply chain.
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Tier Threat Consideration Methods

adversaries/natural disasters.

Tier 3  SDLC  Base the level of detail with which threats 

should be considered on the SDLC phase.

 Identify and refine threat sources based on the 

potential for threat insertion within individual 

SDLC processes.

Vulnerabilities 

A vulnerability is a weakness in an information system, system security procedures, internal controls, or 

implementation that could be exploited or triggered by a threat source [FIPS 200], [NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 

1], [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 4], [NIST SP 800-53A Rev. 4], [NIST SP 800-115]. Within the ICT SCRM 

context, it is any weakness in the system/component design, development, manufacturing, production, 

shipping and receiving, delivery, operation, and component end-of life that can be exploited by a threat 

agent. This definition applies to both the systems/components being developed and integrated (i.e., within 

the SDLC) and to the ICT supply chain infrastructure, including any security mitigations and techniques, 

such as identity management or access control systems.

ICT supply chain vulnerabilities may be found in:

 The systems/components within the SDLC (i.e., being developed and integrated);

 The development and operational environment directly impacting the SDLC; and

 The logistics/delivery environment that transports ICT systems and components (logically or 

physically).

Organizations should identify approaches used to characterize ICT supply chain vulnerabilities, consistent 

with the characterization of threat sources and events and with the overall approach used by the 

organization for characterizing vulnerabilities. Appendix C provides examples of ICT supply chain threat 

events, based on [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1, Appendix B].

All three organizational tiers should contribute to determining the organization’s approaches to 

characterize vulnerabilities, with progressively more detail identified and documented in the lower tiers. 

Table 2-4 provides examples of considerations and different methods that could be used to characterize 

ICT supply chain vulnerabilities at different tiers.

Table 2-4: Supply Chain Vulnerability Considerations

Tier Vulnerability Consideration Methods

Tier 1  Organization’s mission/business

 Supplier relationships (e.g., system 

integrators, COTS, external services)

 Geographical considerations related to 

the extent of the organization’s ICT 

supply chain 

 Enterprise/Security Architecture

 Criticality Baseline

 Examine agency ICT supply chain information 

including that from supply chain maps to 

identify especially vulnerable locations or 

organizations.

 Analyze agency mission for susceptibility to 

potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

 Examine system integrator and supplier 

relationships for susceptibility to potential 
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Tier Vulnerability Consideration Methods

supply chain vulnerabilities.

 Review enterprise architecture and criticality 

baseline to identify areas of weakness requiring 

more robust ICT supply chain considerations.

Tier 2  Mission functions

 Geographic locations

 Types of suppliers (COTS, custom, 

etc.)

 Technologies used

 Refine analysis from Tier 1 based on specific 

mission functions and applicable threat and 

supply chain information.

 Consider using the National Vulnerability 

Database (NVD), including Common 

Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) and 

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 

(CVSS), to characterize, categorize, and score

vulnerabilities15. 

 Consider using scoring guidance to prioritize 

vulnerabilities for remediation.

Tier 3  Individual technologies, solutions, 

and suppliers should be considered.

 Use CVEs where available to characterize and 

categorize vulnerabilities.

 Identify weaknesses.

Consequences and Impact 

Impact is the effect on organizational operations, organizational assets, individuals, other organizations, 

or the Nation (including the national security interests of the United States) of a loss of confidentiality, 

integrity, or availability of information or an information system [NIST SP 800-53 Rev.4].

For ICT SCRM, impact should be considered for the systems or components traversing the ICT supply 

chain, the supply chain itself, the ICT supply chain infrastructure, and the organization- or mission-level 

activities. All three tiers in the risk management hierarchy may be impacted. Potential impacts can be 

gathered through reviewing historical data for the agency, similar peer organizations, or applicable 

industry surveys. In this publication, impact is always in relation to the organization’s mission and 

includes the systems or components traversing the supply chain as well as the supply chain itself. 

The following are examples of ICT supply chain consequences and impact: 

 An earthquake in Malaysia reduced the amount of commodity Dynamic Random Access Memory 

(DRAM) to 60 percent of the world’s supply, creating a shortage for hardware maintenance and 

new design. 

 Accidental procurement of a counterfeit part resulted in premature component failure, thereby

impacting the organization’s mission performance.

 

15 See https://nvd.nist.gov/
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Likelihood 

In an information security risk analysis, likelihood is a weighted factor based on a subjective analysis of 

the probability that a given threat is capable of exploiting a given vulnerability[CNSSI 4009]. Agencies 

should determine which approach(es) they will use to determine the likelihood of an ICT supply chain 

compromise, consistent with the overall approach used by the agency’s risk management function. 

RISK CONSTRAINTS

TASK 1-2: Identify constraints16 on the conduct of risk assessment, risk response, and risk monitoring 

activities within the organization. 

Supplemental Guidance: 

Identify the following two types of constraints to ensure that the ICT supply chain is integrated into the 

agency risk management process:

1. Agency constraints; and

2. ICT supply chain-specific constraints.

Agency constraints serve as an overall input into framing the ICT supply chain policy at Tier 1, mission 

requirements at Tier 2, and system-specific requirements at Tier 3. Table 2-5 lists the specific agency and 

ICT supply chain constraints. ICT supply chain constraints, such as ICT SCRM policy and ICT SCRM 

requirements, may need to be developed if they do not exist.

Table 2-5: Supply Chain Constraints

Tier Agency Constraints ICT Supply Chain Constraints

Tier 1  Organization policies, strategies, 

governance

 Applicable laws and regulations

 Mission functions

 Organization processes (security, 

quality, etc.)

 Organization ICT SCRM policy based on the 

existing agency policies, strategies, and 

governance; applicable laws and regulations; 

mission functions; and organization processes.

Tier 2  Mission functions

 Criticality of functions

 Enterprise architecture

 Mission-level security policies

 ICT SCRM Mission/business requirements 

that are incorporated into mission/business 

processes and enterprise architecture.

Tier 3  Functional requirements  System-level ICT SCRM requirements.

 

16 Refer to [NIST SP 800-39], Section 3.1, Task 1-2 for a description of constraints in the risk management context.
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 Security requirements

An organization ICT SCRM policy is a critical vehicle for guiding ICT SCRM activities. Driven by 

applicable laws and regulations, this policy should support applicable organization policies including 

acquisition and procurement, information security, quality, and supply chain and logistics. It should 

address goals and objectives articulated in the overall agency strategic plan, as well as specific mission 

functions and business goals, along with the internal and external customer requirements. It should also 

define the integration points for ICT SCRM with the agency’s Risk Management Process and SDLC.

ICT SCRM policy should define ICT SCRM-related roles and responsibilities of the agency ICT SCRM 

team, any dependencies among those roles, and the interaction among the roles. ICT SCRM-related roles 

will articulate responsibilities for collecting ICT supply chain threat intelligence, conducting risk 

assessments, identifying and implementing risk-based mitigations, and performing monitoring functions.

Identifying and validating roles will help to specify the amount of effort that will be required to 

implement the ICT SCRM Plan. Examples of ICT SCRM-related roles include:

 Risk executive function that provides overarching ICT supply chain risk guidance to engineering 

decisions that specify and select ICT products as the system design is finalized;

 Procurement officer and maintenance engineering responsible for identifying and replacing the 

hardware when defective;

 Delivery organization and acceptance engineers who verify that the part is acceptable to receive 

into the acquiring organization;

 System integrator responsible for system maintenance and upgrades, whose staff resides in the 

acquirer facility and uses system integrator development infrastructure and the acquirer 

operational infrastructure; 

 System Security Engineer/Systems Engineer responsible for ensuring that information system 

security concerns are properly identified and addressed; and

 The end user of ICT systems/components/services.

ICT SCRM requirements should be guided by the ICT SCRM policy, as well as by the mission functions 

and their criticality at Tier 2 and by known functional and security requirements at Tier 3.

RISK TOLERANCE 

TASK 1-3: Identify the level of risk tolerance for the organization. 

Supplemental Guidance: 

Risk tolerance is the level of risk that organizations are willing to accept in pursuit of strategic goals and 

objectives [NIST SP 800-39]. Organizations should take into account ICT supply chain threats, 

vulnerabilities, constraints, and baseline criticality, when identifying the overall level of risk tolerance.17

 

17 Federal Departments’ and Agencies’ governance structures vary widely (see [NIST SP 800-100, Section 2.2.2]). Regardless of 

the governance structure, individual agency risk decisions should apply to the agency and any subordinate organizations, but not 

in the reverse direction.
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PRIORITIES AND TRADE-OFFS 

TASK 1-4: Identify priorities and trade-offs considered by the organization in managing risk. 

Supplemental Guidance

As a part of identifying priorities and trade-offs, organizations should consider ICT supply chain threats, 

vulnerabilities, constraints, and baseline criticality. 

Outputs and Post Conditions 

Within the scope of NIST SP 800-39, the output of the risk framing step is the risk management strategy 

that identifies how organizations intend to assess, respond to, and monitor risk over time. This strategy 

should clearly include any identified ICT SCRM considerations and should result in the establishment of 

ICT SCRM-specific processes throughout the agency. These processes should be documented in one of

three ways:

1. Integrated into existing agency documentation;

2. A separate set of documents addressing ICT SCRM; or

3. A mix of separate and integrated documents, based on agency needs and operations.

The following information should be provided as an output of the risk framing step, regardless of how the 

outputs are documented:

 ICT SCRM Policy;

 Baseline Criticality including prioritized mission functions and FIPS 199 criticality;

 ICT supply chain risk assessment methodology and guidance;

 ICT supply chain risk response guidance;

 ICT supply chain risk monitoring guidance;

 ICT SCRM mission/business requirements;

 Revised mission/business processes and enterprise architecture with ICT SCRM considerations 

integrated; and

 System-level ICT SCRM requirements.

Outputs from the risk framing step serve as inputs to the risk assessment, risk response, and risk 

monitoring steps.

2.2.2 ASSESS

Inputs and Preconditions

Assess is the step where all the collected data is used to conduct a risk assessment. A number of inputs are

combined and analyzed to identify the likelihood and the impact of an ICT supply chain compromise, 

including criticality, threat, and vulnerability analysis results; stakeholder knowledge; and policy, 

constraints, and requirements. 

An ICT supply chain risk assessment should be integrated into the overall organization risk assessment 

processes. ICT SCRM risk assessment results should be used and aggregated as appropriate to 

communicate ICT supply chain risks at each tier of the organizational. Figure 2-6 depicts the Assess Step 

with its inputs and outputs along the three organizational tiers. 
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Figure 2-6: ICT SCRM in the Assess Step 

Similar to Figure 2-5, Figure 2-6 depicts inputs, activities, and outputs of the Assess Step distributed 

along the three organizational tiers. The large arrows on the left and right sides of the activities depict the 

inputs from other steps of the Risk Management Process, with the arrow on the left depicting that the 

steps are in constant interaction. Inputs into the Assess Step include inputs from the other steps. Up-down 

arrows between the tiers depict flow of information and guidance from the upper tiers to the lower tiers 

and the flow of information and feedback from the lower tiers to the upper tiers. Together the arrows 

indicate that the inputs, activities, and outputs are continuously interacting and influencing one another. 

Criticality, vulnerability, and threat analyses are essential to the supply chain risk assessment process. As 

depicted in Figure 2-4, vulnerability and threat analyses can be performed in any order and may be 

performed iteratively to ensure that all applicable threats and vulnerabilities have been identified.

The order of activities that begins with the update of the criticality analysis ensures that the assessment is 

scoped to include only relevant critical mission functions and the impact of ICT supply chain on these 

mission functions. The likelihood of exploitability is a key step to understanding impact. It becomes a 

synthesis point for criticality analysis, vulnerability analysis, and threat analysis and helps to further 

clarify impact to support an efficient and cost-effective risk decision.

Inputs Assess Outputs

• ICT SCRM considerations 

integrated into enterprise risk 

management

• Mission function criticality

• Mission risks

• ICT supply chain risk 

assessment for mission 

threads

• Integrate ICT SCRM 

considerations into 

enterprise risk management

• Conduct Risk Assessment 

including Criticality Analysis 

for mission threads

• Determine current risk 

posture

• Conduct ICT SCRM Risk 

Assessment including 

Criticality Analysis for 

individual systems

• Determine current risk 

posture

• ICT SCRM Policy

• Baseline Criticality

• ICT SCRM 

Mission/business 

requirements

• Revised mission/business 

processes and enterprise 

architecture

• ICT SCRM Risk Assessment 

Methodology

• FIPS 199 impact levels

• Mission Function Baseline 

Criticality

• ICT SCRM Risk Assessment 

Methodology

• System-level ICT SCRM 

requirements

• Identification of critical 

components

• ICT supply chain risk 

assessment for individual 

systems

Enterprise Mission/Business Process System
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Activities

CRITICALITY ANALYSIS

TASK 2-0: Update Criticality Analysis of mission-critical functions, systems, and components to narrow 

the scope (and resources) for ICT SCRM activities to those most important to mission success.

Supplemental Guidance

Criticality analysis should include the ICT supply chain infrastructure for both the organization and 

applicable system integrators, suppliers, external service providers, and the systems/components/services. 

Criticality analysis assesses the direct impact they each have on the mission priorities. ICT supply chain 

infrastructure includes the SDLC for applicable systems, services, and components because the SDLC 

defines whether security considerations are built into the systems/components or added after 

systems/components have been created. 

Organizations should update and tailor Baseline Criticality established during the Frame Step of the risk 

management process, including FIPS 199 system categorization, based on the information newly 

discovered in the Assess step. Organizations should use their own discretion for whether to perform 

criticality analysis for moderate-impact systems.

In addition to updating and tailoring Baseline Criticality, performing criticality analysis in the Assess Step 

may include the following:

 Perform a dependency analysis and assessment to establish which components may require

hardening given the system architecture;

 Obtain and review existing information that the agency has about critical ICT 

systems/components such as locations where they are manufactured or developed, physical and 

logical delivery paths, information flows and financial transactions associated with these 

components, and any other available information that can provide insights into ICT supply chain 

of these components;18 and

 Correlate identified critical components/services to the information about the ICT supply chain, 

the ICT supply chain infrastructure, historical data, and SDLC to identify critical ICT supply 

chain paths.

The outcome of the updated criticality analysis is a narrowed, prioritized list of the organization’s critical 

functions, systems, and components. Organizations can use the Baseline Criticality process in Chapter

2.2.1, Task 1-1, to update Criticality Analysis.

 

18 This information may be available from a supply chain map for the agency or individual IT projects or systems. Supply chain 

maps are descriptions or depictions of supply chains including the physical and logical flow of goods, information, processes, and 

money upstream and downstream through a supply chain. They may include supply chain nodes, locations, delivery paths, or 

transactions. 
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Because more information will be available in the Assess step, organizations can narrow the scope and 

increase the granularity of a criticality analysis. When identifying critical functions and associated 

systems/components and assigning them criticality levels, consider the following:

 Functional breakdown is an effective method to identify functions, associated critical 

components, and supporting defensive functions;

 Dependency analysis is used to identify the functions on which critical functions depend (e.g., 

defensive functions such as digital signatures used in software patch acceptance). Those functions 

become critical functions themselves;

 Identification of all access points to identify and limit unmediated access to critical 

function/components (e.g., least-privilege implementation); and

 Malicious alteration can happen throughout the SDLC.

The resulting list of critical functions is used to guide and inform the vulnerability analysis and threat 

analysis to determine the initial ICT SCRM risk as depicted in Figure 2-3. ICT supply chain 

countermeasures and mitigations can then be selected and implemented to reduce risk to acceptable 

levels. 

Criticality analysis is performed iteratively and may be performed at any point in the SDLC and 

concurrently at each tier. The first iteration is likely to identify critical functions and systems/components 

that have a direct impact on mission functions. Successive iterations will include information from the 

criticality analysis, threat analysis, vulnerability analysis, and mitigation strategies defined at each of the 

other tiers. Each iteration will refine the criticality analysis outcomes and result in the addition of 

defensive functions. Several iterations are likely needed to establish and maintain the criticality analysis 

results.

THREAT AND VULNERABILITY IDENTIFICATION 

TASK 2-1: Identify threats to and vulnerabilities in organizational information systems and the 

environments in which the systems operate.

Supplemental Guidance

In addition to threat and vulnerability identification, as described in [NIST SP 800-39] and [NIST SP 800-

30 Rev. 1], organizations should conduct ICT supply chain threat analysis and vulnerability analysis.

Threat Analysis

For ICT SCRM, a threat analysis provides specific and timely threat characterization of threat events (see 

Appendix C) and potential threat actors, including any identified system integrators, suppliers, or external 

service providers,19 to inform management, acquisition, engineering, and operational activities within an 

 

19 Please note that threat characterization of system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers may be benign.
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organization. Threat analyses can use a variety of information to assess potential threats, including open 

source, intelligence, and counterintelligence. Organizations should use the threat sources defined during 

the Frame Step in the threat analysis conducted during the Assess Step. Organizations should use the 

results of the threat analysis in the Assess Step to ultimately support acquisition decisions, alternative 

build decisions, and development and selection of appropriate mitigations in the Respond Step. ICT 

supply chain threat analysis should be based on the results of the criticality analysis. Specific identified 

threats may include people, processes, technologies, or natural and man-made disasters.

Agencies should use information available from existing incident management activities to determine 

whether they have experienced an ICT supply chain compromise and to further investigate such 

compromises. Some ICT supply chain compromises may not be recognized as such at first and may be 

initially identified as an information security or logistics incident. Agencies should define criteria for 

what constitutes an ICT supply chain compromise to ensure that such compromises can be identified as a 

part of post-incident activities, including forensics investigations.

An ICT supply chain threat analysis should capture at least the following data:

 Changes to the systems/components or SDLC environment;

 Observation of ICT supply chain-related attacks while they are occurring;

 Incident data collected post-ICT supply chain-related compromise;

 Observation of tactics, techniques, and procedures used in specific attacks, whether observed or 

collected using audit mechanisms; and

 Natural and man-made disasters before, during, and after occurrence.

Vulnerability Analysis

For ICT SCRM, a vulnerability is any weakness in system/component design, development, production, 

or operation that can be exploited by a threat to defeat a system’s mission objectives or to significantly 

degrade its performance. 

A vulnerability analysis is an iterative process that informs risk assessment and countermeasure selection. 

The vulnerability analysis works alongside the threat analysis to help inform the impact analysis and to 

help scope and prioritize vulnerabilities to be mitigated.

Vulnerability analysis in the Assess Step should use the approaches used during the Frame Step to 

characterize ICT supply chain vulnerabilities. Vulnerability analysis should begin with identifying 

vulnerabilities that are applicable to mission-critical functions and systems/components identified by the 

criticality analysis. An investigation of vulnerabilities may indicate the need to raise or at least reconsider 

the criticality levels of functions and components identified in earlier criticality analyses. Later iterations 

of the vulnerability analysis may also identify additional threats, or opportunities for threats, not 

considered in earlier threat assessments. 

Table 2-6 provides examples of applicable ICT supply chain vulnerabilities that can be observed within 

the three organizational tiers. 
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Table 2-6: Examples of ICT Supply Chain Vulnerabilities Mapped to the Organizational Tiers

Vulnerability Types Mitigation Types

Tier 1 –

Organization

1) Deficiencies or weaknesses in 

organizational governance 

structures or processes such as a 

lack of ICT SCRM Plan

1) Provide guidance on how to consider 

dependencies on external organizations as 

vulnerabilities.

2) Seek out alternate sources of new 

technology including building in-house.

Tier 2 –

Mission/

Business

1) No operational process is in place 

for detecting counterfeits.

2) No budget was allocated for the 

implementation of a technical 

screening for acceptance testing 

of ICT components entering the 

SDLC as replacement parts. 

3) Susceptibility to adverse issues 

from innovative technology 

supply sources (e.g., technology 

owned or managed by third 

parties is buggy).

1) Develop a program for detecting 

counterfeits and allocate appropriate 

budgets for putting in resources and 

training.

2) Allocate budget for acceptance testing –

technical screening of components 

entering into SDLC.

Tier 3 –

Operation

1) Discrepancy in system functions 

not meeting requirements, 

resulting in substantial impact to 

performance,

1) Initiate engineering change. Malicious 

alteration can happen throughout the 

system life cycle to an agency system to 

address functional discrepancy and test 

correction for performance impact.

The principal vulnerabilities to identify are:

 Access paths within the supply chain that would allow malicious actors to gain information about 

the system and ultimately introduce components that could cause the system to fail at some later 

time (“components” here include hardware, software, and firmware);

 Access paths that would allow malicious actors to trigger a component malfunction or failure 

during system operations; and

 Dependencies on supporting or associated components that might be more accessible or easier for 

malicious actors to subvert than components that directly perform critical functions.

RISK DETERMINATION 

TASK 2-2: Determine the risk to organizational operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, 

and the Nation if identified threats exploit identified vulnerabilities. 

Supplemental Guidance

Organizations determine ICT supply chain risk by considering the likelihood that known threats exploit 

known vulnerabilities to and through the ICT supply chain and the resulting consequences or adverse 

impacts (i.e., magnitude of harm) if such exploitations occur. Organizations use threat and vulnerability 
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information together with likelihood and consequences/impact information to determine ICT SCRM risk 

either qualitatively or quantitatively.

Likelihood

Likelihood is the probability that an exploit occurrence may result in the loss of mission capability. 

Determining the likelihood requires the consideration of the characteristics of the threat sources, the 

identified vulnerabilities, and the organizations susceptibility to the ICT supply chain compromise, prior 

to and with the safeguards/mitigations implemented. This analysis should consider the degree of an 

adversary’s intent to interfere with the organization’s mission. For example, how much time or money 

would the adversary spend to validate the existence of and leverage the vulnerability to attack a system?

ICT supply chain risk assessment should consider two views: 

 The likelihood that the ICT supply chain itself is compromised. This may impact, for example, 

the availability of quality components or increase the risk of intellectual property theft; and

 The likelihood that the system or component within the supply chain may be compromised, for 

example, if malicious code is inserted into a system or an electric storm damages a component. 

In some cases, these two views may overlap or be indistinguishable, but both may have an impact on the 

agency’s ability to perform its mission.

Likelihood determination should consider:

 Threat assumptions that articulate the types of threats that the system or the component may be 

subject to, such as cybersecurity threats, natural disasters, or physical security threats;

 Actual supply chain threat information such as adversaries’ capabilities, tools, intentions, and 

targets;

 Exposure of components to external access;

 Identified system, process, or component vulnerabilities; and

 Empirical data on weaknesses and vulnerabilities available from any completed analysis (e.g., 

system analysis, process analysis) to determine probabilities of ICT supply chain threat 

occurrence.

Factors to consider include the ease or difficulty of successfully attacking through a vulnerability and the 

ability to detect the method used to introduce or trigger a vulnerability. The objective is to assess the net 

effect of the vulnerability, which will be combined with threat information to determine the likelihood of 

successful attacks in the risk assessment process. The likelihood can be based on threat assumptions or 

actual threat data, such as previous breaches of the supply chain, specific adversary capability, historical 

breach trends, or frequency of breaches. The organization may use empirical data and statistical analysis 

to determine specific probabilities of breach occurrence, depending on the type of data available and 

accessible within the organization and from supporting organizations. 

Impact

Organizations should begin impact analysis with the potential impacts identified during the Frame Step, 

determining the impact of a compromise and then the impact of mitigating that compromise. 

Organizations need to identify the various adverse impacts of compromise, including: (i) the 

characteristics of the threat sources that could initiate the events; (ii) identified vulnerabilities; and (iii) 

the organizational susceptibility to such events based on planned or implemented countermeasures. 

Impact analysis is an iterative process performed initially when a compromise occurs, when mitigation 
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approach is decided to evaluate the impact of change, and finally, in the ever-changing SDLC, when the 

situation/context of the system or environment changes. 

Organizations should use the result of impact analysis to define an acceptable level of ICT supply chain 

risk for a given system. Impact is derived from criticality, threat, and vulnerability analyses results, and 

should be based on the likelihood of exploit occurrence. Impact is likely to be a qualitative measure 

requiring analytic judgment. Executive/decision makers use impact as an input into the risk-based 

decisions whether to accept, avoid, mitigate, share, or transfer the resulting risks and the consequences of 

such decisions. 

Organizations should document the overall results of ICT supply chain risk assessments in risk 

assessment reports.20 ICT supply chain risk assessment reports should cover risks in all three 

organizational tiers as applicable. Based on the organizational structure and size, multiple ICT supply 

chain risk assessment reports may be required. Agencies are encouraged to develop individual reports at 

Tier 1. For Tier 2, agencies may want to integrate ICT supply chain risks into the respective mission-level 

Business Impact Assessments (BIA) or develop separate mission-level ICT supply chain risk assessment 

reports. For Tier 3, agencies may want to integrate ICT supply chain risks into the respective System Risk 

assessment reports or develop separate system-level ICT supply chain risk assessment reports. The ICT 

supply chain risk assessment report applies only to High Criticality systems per [FIPS 199]. 

Organizations may decide to develop ICT supply chain risk assessment reports for Moderate Criticality 

systems per [FIPS 199]. 

ICT supply chain risk assessment reports at all three tiers should be interconnected, reference each other 

when appropriate, and integrated into the ICT SCRM Plans. 

Outputs and Post Conditions 

This step results in:

 Confirmed mission function criticality;

 Establishment of relationships between the critical aspects of the system’s ICT supply chain 

infrastructure (e.g., SDLC) and applicable threats and vulnerabilities;

 Understanding of the likelihood and the impact of a potential ICT supply chain compromise;

 Understanding of mission and system-specific risks;

 Documented ICT supply chain risk assessments for mission functions and individual systems; 

and

 Integration of relevant ICT supply chain risk assessment results into the organization risk 

management process.

 

20 See [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1 Appendix K] for a description of risk assessment reports.
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2.2.3 RESPOND

Inputs and Preconditions

Respond is the step in which the individuals conducting risk assessment will communicate the assessment 

results, proposed mitigation/controls options, and the corresponding acceptable level of risk for each 

proposed option to the decision makers. This information should be presented in a manner appropriate to 

inform and guide risk-based decisions. This will allow decision makers to finalize appropriate risk 

response based on the set of options along with the corresponding risk factors for choosing the various 

options. Sometimes an appropriate response is to do nothing and to monitor the adversary’s activities and 

behavior to better understand the tactics and to attribute the activities. 

ICT supply chain risk response should be integrated into the overall organization risk response. Figure 2-

7 depicts the Respond Step with its inputs and outputs along the three organizational tiers.

Figure 2-7: ICT SCRM in the Respond Step

Figure 2-7 depicts inputs, activities, and outputs of the Respond Step distributed along the three 

organizational tiers. The large arrows on the left and right sides of the activities depict the inputs from the 

other steps of the Risk Management Process, with the arrow on the left depicting that the steps are in 

constant interaction. Inputs into the Respond Step include inputs from other steps. Outputs of the Respond 

Steps serve as inputs into the other steps, as well as inputs into the overall organization Risk Management 

Program at all three tiers. Up-down arrows between the tiers depict flow of information and guidance 

Inputs Respond Outputs

• Risk decisions

• Implemented controls

• Enterprise ICT SCRM Plan

• Feedback to enterprise-level 

foundational processes that are 

not ICT SCRM

• Mission function criticality

• Mission risks

• ICT supply chain risk 

assessment for mission 

threads

• ICT supply chain risk 

assessment for individual 

systems

• Make mission/business-level risk 

decisions to avoid, mitigate, share, 

or transfer risk

• Select, tailor, and implement 

appropriate system-level controls

• Document ICT SCRM controls in 

System Security Plan

• Make enterprise risk decisions to 

avoid, mitigate, share, or transfer 

risk

• Select, tailor, and implement 

appropriate enterprise ICT SCRM 

controls

• Document controls in Enterprise 

ICT SCRM Plan

• Make mission/business-level risk 

decisions to avoid, mitigate, share, 

or transfer risk

• Select, tailor , and implement 

appropriate mission/ business-level 

controls

• Document controls in Mission-level 

ICT SCRM Plan

• Risk decisions

• Implemented controls

• Mission-level ICT SCRM Plan

• Feedback to mission functionlevel foundational processes 

that are not ICT SCRM

• Risk decisions

• Implemented controls

• Updated System Security Plan

• Feedback to system-level 

foundational processes that are 

not ICT SCRM

• ICT SCRM considerations 

integrated into enterprise risk 

management

Enterprise Mission/Business Process System
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from the upper tiers to the lower tiers and the flow of information and feedback from the lower tiers to the 

upper tiers. Together the arrows indicate that the inputs, activities, and outputs are continuously 

interacting and influencing one another. 

Activities 

RISK RESPONSE IDENTIFICATION 

TASK 3-1: Identify alternative courses of action to respond to risk determined during the risk 

assessment.

Organizations should select ICT SCRM controls and tailor these controls based on the risk determination. 

ICT SCRM controls should be selected for all three organizational tiers, as appropriate per findings of the 

risk assessments for each of the tiers.

Many of the ICT SCRM controls included in this document may be part of an IT security plan. These 

controls are included because they apply to ICT SCRM. 

This process should begin with determining acceptable risk to support the evaluation of alternatives (also 

known as trade-off analysis). 

EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES 

TASK 3-2: Evaluate alternative courses of action for responding to risk.

Once an initial acceptable level of risk has been defined and options identified, these options should be 

evaluated for achieving this level of risk by selecting mitigations from ICT SCRM controls and tailoring 

them to the organization’s context. Chapter 3 provides risk mitigations and more information on how to 

select and tailor them.

This step involves conducting analysis of alternatives to select the proposed options for ICT SCRM 

mitigations/controls to be applied throughout the organization. 

To tailor a set of ICT SCRM controls, the organization should perform ICT SCRM and mission-level 

trade-off analysis to achieve appropriate balance among ICT SCRM and functionality needs of the 

organization. This analysis will result in a set of cost-effective ICT SCRM controls that is dynamically 

updated to ensure that mission-related considerations trigger updates to ICT SCRM controls. 

During this evaluation, applicable requirements and constraints are reviewed with the stakeholders to 

ensure that ICT SCRM controls appropriately balance ICT SCRM and the broader organizational 

requirements, such as cost, schedule, performance, policy, and compliance. 

ICT SCRM controls will vary depending on where they are applied within organizational tiers and SDLC 

processes. For example, ICT SCRM controls may range from using a blind buying strategy to obscure 

end use of a critical component, to design attributes (e.g., input validation, sandboxes, and anti-tamper 

design). For each implemented control, the organization should identify someone responsible for its 

execution and develop a time- or event-phased plan for implementation throughout the SDLC. Multiple 

controls may address a wide range of possible risks. Therefore, understanding how the controls impact the 

overall risk is critical and must be considered before choosing and tailoring the combination of controls as 

yet another trade-off analysis may be needed before the controls can be finalized. The organization may 
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be trading one risk for a larger risk unknowingly if the dependencies between the proposed controls and 

the overall risk are not understood and addressed. 

RISK RESPONSE DECISION 

TASK 3-3: Decide on the appropriate course of action for responding to risk.

As described in [NIST SP 800-39] , organizations should finalize identified and tailored ICT SCRM 

controls, based on the evaluation of alternatives and an overall understanding of threats, risks, and supply 

chain priorities. 

Risk response decisions may be made by a risk executive or be delegated by the risk executive to 

someone else in the organization. While the decision can be delegated to Tier 2 or Tier 3, the significance 

and the reach of the impact should determine the tier where the decision is being made. Risk response 

decisions may be made in collaboration with an organization’s risk executives, mission owners, and 

system owners, as appropriate.

The resulting decision, along with the selected and tailored controls should be documented in an ICT 

SCRM Plan. While the ICT SCRM Plan should ideally be developed proactively, it may also be 

developed in response to an ICT supply chain compromise. Ultimately, the ICT SCRM Plan should cover 

the full SDLC, document an ICT SCRM baseline, and identify ICT supply chain requirements and 

controls for Tiers 1, 2, and 3. The ICT SCRM Plan should be revised and updated based on the output of 

ICT supply chain monitoring. 

ICT SCRM Plans should:

 Represent the result of an internal dialogue among Tiers 1, 2, and 3 stakeholders within the 

organization in support of the organization’s mission and relevant mission function;

 Set the framework for an external dialogue between acquirers and system integrators, suppliers, 

and external service providers;

 Help define the state of the information system that will be “fit for purpose”; and

 Establish acceptance criteria that may be used in acquiring and sourcing ICT components and 

services.

The ICT SCRM Plan should cover activities in all three organizational tiers as applicable. 

Depending on their governance structure and size, agencies can have multiple ICT SCRM Plans, one for 

Tier 1, several for Tier 2, and several for Tier 3. Agencies are encouraged to develop individual plans at 

Tiers 1 and 2. For Tier 3, agencies may want to integrate ICT SCRM controls into the respective System 

Security Plans or develop separate system-level ICT SCRM Plans. At Tier 3, the ICT SCRM Plan applies 

to High-Impact systems per [FIPS 199] , though organizations may decide to develop an ICT SCRM Plan 

for Moderate-Impact systems per [FIPS 199]. Regardless of the total number of plans, the ICT SCRM 

requirements and controls at the higher tiers will flow down to the lower tiers and should be used to guide 

the development of the lower tier ICT SCRM Plans. Conversely, the ICT SCRM controls and 

requirements at the lower tiers should be considered in developing and revising requirements and controls 

applied at the higher tiers. Agencies may choose to integrate their Tier 3 ICT SCRM controls into the 

applicable System Security Plans or create individual ICT SCRM Plans for Tier 3 that reference 

corresponding System Security Plans.

ICT SCRM Plans at all three tiers should be interconnected and reference each other when appropriate. 
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At each Tier, the plan should:

 Summarize the environment as determined in Frame such as applicable policies, processes, and 

procedures based on organization and mission requirements currently implemented in the 

organization;

 State the role responsible for the plan such as Risk Executive, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), 

Chief Information Officer (CIO), Program Manager, or System Owner;

 Identify key contributors such as CFO, Chief Operations Officer (COO), Acquisition/Contracting, 

System Engineer, System Security Engineer, Developer/Maintenance Engineer, Operations 

Manager, or System Architect;

 Provide the applicable (per tier) set of controls resulting from the Analysis of Alternatives (in 

Respond);

 Provide tailoring decision for selected controls including the rationale for the decision;

 Describe feedback processes among the tiers to ensure that ICT supply chain interdependencies 

are addressed; 

 Describe monitoring and enforcement activities (including auditing if appropriate) applicable to 

the scope of each specific ICT SCRM Plan;

 If appropriate, state qualitative or quantitative measures to support implementation of the ICT 

SCRM Plan and to assess effectiveness of this implementation;

21

 Define frequency for deciding whether the plan needs to be reviewed and revised; 

 Include criteria that would trigger revision, for example, life cycle milestones, gate reviews, or 

significant contracting activities; and

 Include system integrator, supplier, and external service provider ICT SCRM Plans if made 

available as part of agreements.

Table 2-7 summarizes the controls to be contained in the ICT SCRM Plans at Tiers 1, 2, and 3 and 

provides examples of those controls.

 

21 NIST SP 800-55 Revision 1, Performance Measurement Guide for Information Security (July 2008), provides guidance on 

developing information security measures. Agencies can use general guidance in that publication to develop specific measures 

for their ICT SCRM plans. See http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-55-Rev1/SP800-55-rev1.pdf
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Table 2-7: ICT SCRM Plan Controls at Tiers 1, 2, and 3

Tier Controls Examples

Tier 1  Provides organization

common controls baseline to 

Tiers 2 and 3

 Minimum sets of controls applicable to all ICT suppliers

 Organization-level controls applied to processing and 

storing supplier information

 ICT supply chain training and awareness for acquirer 

staff at the organization level

Tier 2  Inherits common controls 

from Tier 1

 Provides mission functionlevel common controls 

baseline to Tier 3

 Provides feedback to Tier 1 

about what is working and 

what needs to be changed

 Minimum sets of controls applicable to ICT suppliers 

for the specific mission function

 Program-level refinement of Identity and Access 

Management controls to address ICT SCRM concerns

 Program-specific ICT supply chain training and 

awareness

Tier 3  Inherits common controls 

from Tiers 1 and 2

 Provides system-specific 

controls for Tier 3

 Provides feedback to Tier 2 

and Tier 1 about what is 

working and what needs to 

be changed

 Minimum sets of controls applicable to specific 

hardware and software for the individual system

 Appropriately rigorous acceptance criteria for change 

management for systems that support ICT supply chain, 

e.g., as testing or integrated development environments

 System-specific ICT supply chain training and 

awareness

 Intersections with the SDLC

Appendix E provides an example ICT SCRM Plan template with the sections and the type of information 

that organizations should include in their ICT SCRM Planning activities. 

RISK RESPONSE IMPLEMENTATION 

TASK 3-4: Implement the course of action selected to respond to risk.

Organizations should implement the ICT SCRM Plan in a manner that integrates the ICT SCRM controls 

into the overall agency risk management processes.

Outputs and Post Conditions

The output of this step is a set of ICT SCRM controls that address ICT SCRM requirements and can be 

incorporated into the system requirements baseline. These requirements and resulting controls will be 

incorporated into the SDLC and other organizational processes, throughout the three tiers. 

This step results in:

 Selected, evaluated, and tailored ICT SCRM controls that address identified risks;

 Identified consequences of accepting or not accepting the proposed mitigations; and

 Development and implementation of the ICT SCRM Plan.

2.2.4 MONITOR

Inputs and Preconditions
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Monitor is the step in which the project/program is routinely evaluated to maintain or adjust the 

acceptable level of risk. Changes to the organization, mission/business, operations, or the supply chain 

can directly impact an individual project/program and the organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure. 

The monitor step provides a mechanism for tracking such changes and ensuring that they are 

appropriately assessed for impact (in Assess). If ICT supply chain infrastructure is redefined as a result of 

monitoring, organizations should engage in a dialog with the system integrators, supplier, and external 

service providers about implications and mutual obligations.

Organizations should integrate ICT SCRM into existing continuous monitoring programs.22 In case a 

Continuous Monitoring program does not exist, ICT SCRM can serve as a catalyst for establishment of a 

more comprehensive continuous monitoring program. Figure 2-8 depicts the Monitor Step with its inputs 

and outputs along the three organizational tiers.

Figure 2-8: ICT SCRM in the Monitor Step

 

22 NIST SP 800-137, Information Security Continuous Monitoring (ISCM) for Federal Information Systems and Organizations

(September 2011), describes how to establish and implement a continuous monitoring program. See 

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-137/SP800-137-Final.pdf

Inputs Monitor Outputs

• ICT Supply Chain integrated into agency 

Continuous Monitoring program

• Regular reporting as a part of 

Continuous Monitoring Program

• Areas of improvement based on 

reporting

• New or changed constraints that would 

trigger re-assessment of risk

• ICT Supply Chain integrated into missionlevel Continuous Monitoring activities 

• Regular reporting as a part of Continuous 

Monitoring activities

• Areas of improvement based on 

reporting

• New or changed constraints that would 

trigger re-assessment of risk

• ICT Supply Chain integrated into systemlevel Continuous Monitoring activities 

• Regular reporting as a part of Continuous 

Monitoring activities

• Areas of improvement based on reporting

• New or changed constraints that would 

trigger re-assessment of risk

• Integrate ICT SCRM into agency 

Continuous Monitoring program

• Monitor and evaluate enterprise-level 

constraints and risks for change and 

impact 

• Monitor effectiveness of enterpriselevel risk response

• Identify which mission functions 

need to be monitored for ICT 

supply chain change and assessed 

for impact

• Integrate ICT SCRM into Continuous 

Monitoring processes and systems

• Monitor and evaluate mission-level 

risks and constraints for change and 

impact

• Monitor effectiveness of missionlevel risk response

• Monitor and evaluate systemlevel requirements and risks for 

change and impact

• Monitor effectiveness of systemlevel risk response

• Organization’s Continuous 

Monitoring program

• Risk decisions

• Implemented controls

• Enterprise ICT SCRM Plan

• Mission Function-level 

Continuous Monitoring 

activities

• Risk decisions

• Implemented controls

• Mission-level ICT SCRM Plan

• System-level Continuous 

Monitoring Activities

• Risk decisions

• Implemented controls

• Updated System Security Plan

Enterprise Mission/Business Process System
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Similarly to Figures 2-5, 2-6, and 2-7, Figure 2-8 depicts inputs, activities, and outputs of the Monitor 

Step distributed along the three organizational tiers. The large arrows on the left and right sides of the 

activities depict the inputs from the other steps of the risk management process, with the arrow on the left 

depicting that the steps are in constant interaction. Inputs into the Monitor Step include inputs from other 

steps, as well as from the organization Continuous Monitoring program and activities. Up-down arrows 

between the tiers depict flow of information and guidance from the upper tiers to the lower tiers and the 

flow of information and feedback from the lower tiers to the upper tiers. Together the arrows indicate that 

the inputs, activities, and outputs are continuously interacting and influencing one another. 

Activities 

RISK MONITORING STRATEGY 

TASK 4-1: Develop a risk monitoring strategy for the organization that includes the purpose, type, and 

frequency of monitoring activities.

Supplemental Guidance:

Organizations should integrate ICT SCRM considerations into their overall risk monitoring strategy. 

Because some of the information will be gathered from outside of the agency – from open sources, 

suppliers and integrators, monitoring ICT supply chain risk may require information that agencies have 

not traditionally collected. The strategy should, among other things, include the data to be collected, state 

the specific measures that will be compiled from the data, identify existing or required tools to collect the 

data, identify how the data will be protected, and define reporting formats for the data. Potential data 

sources may include:

 Agency vulnerability management and incident management activities;

 Agency manual reviews;

 Interagency information sharing;

 Information sharing between the agency and system integrator or external service provider;

 Supplier information sharing; and

 Contractual reviews of system integrator or external service provider.

Organizations should ensure the appropriate protection of supplier data if that data is collected and stored 

by the agency. Agencies may also require additional data collection and analysis tools to appropriately 

evaluate the data to achieve the objective of monitoring applicable ICT supply chain risks.

RISK MONITORING 

TASK 4-2: Monitor organizational information systems and environments of operation on an ongoing 

basis to verify compliance, determine effectiveness of risk response measures, and identify changes.

According to [NIST SP 800-39], organizations should monitor compliance, effectiveness, and change. 

Monitoring compliance within the context of ICT SCRM involves monitoring an organization’s processes 

and ICT products and services for compliance with the established security and ICT SCRM requirements. 

Monitoring effectiveness involves monitoring the resulting risks to determine whether these established 

security and ICT SCRM requirements produce the intended results. Monitoring change involves 

monitoring the environment for any changes that would require changing requirements and 

mitigations/controls to maintain an acceptable level of ICT supply chain risk. 
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To monitor changes, organizations need to identify and document the set of triggers that would change 

ICT supply chain risk. While the categories of triggers will likely include changes to constraints, 

identified in Table 2-6 (during the Frame Step), such as policy, mission, change to the threat environment, 

enterprise architecture, SDLC, or requirements, the specific triggers within those categories may be 

substantially different for different organizations. 

An example of the ICT supply chain infrastructure change is two key vetted suppliers23 announcing their 

departure from a specific market, therefore creating a supply shortage for specific components. This 

would trigger the need to evaluate whether reducing the number of suppliers would create vulnerabilities 

in component availability and integrity. In this scenario, potential deficit of components may result 

simply from insufficient supply of components, because fewer components are available. If none of the 

remaining suppliers are vetted, this deficit may result in uncertain integrity of the remaining components. 

If the organizational policy directs use of vetted components, this event may result in the organization’s 

inability to fulfill its mission needs. 

In addition to regularly updating existing risks assessments with the results of the ongoing monitoring, the 

organization should determine what would trigger a reassessment. Some of these triggers may include 

availability of resources, changes to ICT supply chain risk, natural disasters, or mission collapse.

Outputs and Post Conditions

Organizations should integrate the ICT supply chain outputs of the Monitor Step into the ICT SCRM 

Plan. This plan will provide inputs into iterative implementations of the Frame, Assess, and Respond 

Steps as required. 

 

23 A vetted supplier is a supplier with whom the organization is comfortable doing business. This level of comfort is usually 

achieved through developing an organization-defined set of supply chain criteria and then vetting suppliers against those criteria.
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CHAPTER THREE

ICT SCRM CONTROLS

NIST defines security controls as:

The management, operational, and technical controls (i.e., safeguards or 

countermeasures) prescribed for an information system to protect the confidentiality, 

integrity, and availability of the system and its information. [FIPS 200, FIPS 199, CNSSI 

No. 4009, NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 1, NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4, NIST SP 800-53A Rev. 4]

[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] defines a number of ICT supply chain-related controls within the catalog of 

information security controls. This chapter is structured as an enhanced overlay of [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 

4]. It identifies and augments ICT SCRM-related controls with additional supplemental guidance and 

provides new controls as appropriate. The ICT SCRM controls are organized into the eighteen control 

families of [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]. Also, an ICT SCRM-specific family, Provenance, was created, 

resulting in nineteen (19) ICT SCRM control families. This approach facilitates use of the security 

controls assessment techniques provided in [NIST SP 800-53A Rev. 4]to be used to assess

implementation of ICT SCRM controls.

The controls provided in this publication are intended for organizations to implement internally. As with 

[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4], the security controls and control enhancements are a starting point from which 

controls/enhancements may be removed, added, or specialized based on an organization’s needs. Each 

control in this chapter is listed for its applicability to ICT SCRM. Those controls from [NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4] not listed are not considered directly applicable to ICT SCRM, and thus are not included in this 

publication. Details and supplemental guidance for the various ICT SCRM controls in this publication are 

contained in Chapter 3.4.1. Appendix A maps the ICT SCRM controls in this publication to their 

corresponding [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] controls as appropriate.

3.1 ICT SCRM CONTROLS SUMMARY

During the Respond Step of the risk management process discussed in Chapter 2.2.3, organizations select, 

tailor, and implement controls for mitigating ICT supply chain risk. Appendix E of NIST 800-53 Revision 

4 lists a set of information security controls at the FIPS 199 high-, moderate-, and low-impact levels. This 

chapter describes how these controls help mitigate risk to high-impact information systems and 

components, as well as the ICT supply chain infrastructure. The chapter provides nineteen (19) ICT 

SCRM control families that include relevant ICT controls and supplemental guidance. 

Figure 3-1 depicts the process used to identify, refine, and add ICT SCRM supplemental guidance to the 

[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] ICT SCRM-related controls. The figure, which repeats Figure 1-5, represents 

the following steps:

1. Selected and extracted individual controls and enhancements from [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] that 

were applicable to ICT SCRM;

2. Analyzed these controls to determine how they apply to ICT SCRM;

3. Evaluated the resulting set of controls and enhancements to determine whether all ICT SCRM 

concerns were addressed;

4. Developed additional controls currently not defined in [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4];
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5. Assigned applicable tiers to each ICT SCRM control; and

6. Developed ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance for each ICT SCRM control.

Figure 3-1: ICT SCRM Security Controls in NIST SP 800-161, Chapter 3.5

It should be noted that [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] provides some ICT SCRM-related controls. These 

controls may be listed in this publication with a summary or additional guidance and a reference back to 

the original NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control and supplemental guidance detail.

3.2 ICT SCRM CONTROLS THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION

As noted in Table 3-1, ICT SCRM controls in this publication are designated by the three tiers composing 

the organization. This is to facilitate ICT SCRM control selection specific to organizations, their various 

missions, and individual systems, as described in Chapter 2 under the Respond step of the risk 

management process. During controls selection, organizations should use the ICT SCRM controls in this 

chapter to identify appropriate ICT SCRM controls for tailoring, per risk assessment. By selecting and 

implementing applicable ICT SCRM controls for each tier, organizations will ensure that they have 

appropriately addressed ICT SCRM throughout their enterprises.

3.3 APPLYING ICT SCRM CONTROLS TO ACQUIRING ICT PRODUCTS AND

SERVICES

Acquirers may use ICT SCRM controls to communicate their ICT SCRM requirements to different types 

of organizations, described within this publication, that provide ICT products and services to acquirers, 

including system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Acquirers are encouraged to use 

Managing Cost and Resources

Organizations should be aware that implementing these controls will require financial and human 

resources. Furthermore, any requirements for system integrators, suppliers, or external service 

providers that result from federal agencies implementing these controls may also require financial and 

human resources from those system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers, potentially 

resulting in increased costs to the federal acquirers. The acquirers should be cognizant of the costs 

and weigh them against the benefits when selecting ICT SCRM controls. This challenge of balancing 

ICT supply chain risks with benefits and costs of mitigating controls should be a key component of 

the organization’s overall approach to ICT SCRM.
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ICT SCRM plans for their respective systems and missions throughout their acquisition activities. More 

detail on how to use ICT SCRM plans for acquisition is provided in Appendix E.

It is important to recognize that the controls in this chapter do not provide specific contracting language. 

Acquirers should develop their own contracting language using this publication as guidance to develop 

specific ICT SCRM requirements to be included in contracts. The following sections expand upon the 

system integrator, supplier, and external service provider roles with respect to ICT SCRM expectations 

for acquirers. 

Organizations may use multiple techniques to ascertain that these controls are in place. Techniques may 

include: supplier self-assessment, acquirer review, or third-party assessments for measurement and 

conformance to the organization's requirements. Organizations should first look to established third-party 

assessments to see if they meet their needs. When an organization defines ICT SCRM requirements, it 

may discover that established third-party assessments may not address all specific requirements. In this

case, additional evidence may be needed to justify additional requirements. Please note that the data 

obtained for this purpose should be appropriately protected.

3.3.1 System Integrators

System integrators are those entities that provide customized services to the acquirer including custom 

development, test, operations, and maintenance. This group usually replies to a request for proposal from 

an acquirer with a proposal that describes solution or services that are customized to the acquirer’s

requirements. Such proposals provided by system integrators can include many layers of suppliers (see

Chapter 3.3.2). The system integrator should ensure that those suppliers are vetted and verified with 

respect to the acquirer’s ICT SCRM requirements. Because of the level of visibility that can be obtained 

in the relationship with the system integrator, the acquirer has the ability to require rigorous supplier 

acceptance criteria as well as any relevant countermeasures to address identified or potential risks. 

3.3.2 Suppliers

Suppliers may provide either commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) or government off-the-shelf (GOTS)

solutions to the acquirer. COTS solutions include non-developmental items (NDI), such as commercially 

licensing solutions/products, which includes Open Source Solutions (OSS). GOTS solutions are 

government-only license-able solutions. Suppliers are a diverse group, ranging from very small to large, 

specialized to diversified, based in a single country to transnational, and range widely in the level of 

sophistication, resources, and transparency/visibility in both process and solution. Suppliers also have 

diverse levels and types of ICT SCRM practices in place. These practices and other related practices may 

provide the evidence needed for SCRM evaluation. An example of a federal resource that may be 

leveraged is the Defense Microelectronics Activity (DMEA) accreditation for Trusted Suppliers. When 

appropriate, allow suppliers the opportunity to reuse any existing data and documentation that may 

provide evidence of ICT SCRM implementation. 

Organizations should consider that the costs of doing business with suppliers may be directly impacted by

the level of visibility the suppliers allow into how they apply security and supply chain practices to their 

solutions. When organizations or system integrators require greater levels of transparency from suppliers, 

they must consider the possible cost implications of such requirements. Suppliers may select to not 

participate in procurements to avoid increased costs or perceived risks to their intellectual property, 

In this document the word organization means federal department or agency. In the context of this 

document, the federal department/agency is the acquirer.
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limiting an organization’s supply or technology choices. The risk to suppliers is the potential for multiple,

different sets of requirements that they may have to individually comply with, which may not be scalable.

3.3.3 External Providers of Information System Services

Organizations use external IT service providers to manage their mission and business functions [NIST SP 

800-53 Rev. 4, p. 12]. The outsourcing of IT systems and services creates a set of ICT supply chain 

concerns that reduces the acquirer’s visibility into, and management of, the outsourced functions. 

Therefore, it requires increased rigor from organizations in defining ICT SCRM requirements, stating 

them in procurements, and then monitoring delivered services and evaluating them for compliance with 

the stated requirements. Regardless of who performs the services, the acquirer is ultimately responsible 

and accountable for the risk to the organization’s systems and data that may result from using these 

services. Organizations should implement a set of compensating ICT SCRM controls to address this risk 

and work with the risk executive to accept this risk. A variety of methods may be used to communicate 

and subsequently verify and monitor ICT SCRM requirements through such vehicles as contracts, 

interagency agreements, lines of business arrangements, licensing agreements, and/or supply chain 

transactions. 

3.4 SELECTING AND TAILORING IMPLEMENTING ICT SCRM SECURITY

CONTROLS

The ICT SCRM controls defined in this chapter should be selected and tailored according to individual 

organization needs and environment using the guidance in [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4], in order to ensure a 

cost-effective, risk-based approach to providing ICT SCRM organization-wide. The ICT SCRM baseline 

defined in this publication addresses the basic needs of a broad and diverse set of constituencies. 

Organizations must select, tailor, and implement the security controls based on: (i) the environments in 

which organizational information systems are acquired and operate; (ii) the nature of operations 

conducted by organizations; (iii) the types of threats facing organizations, missions/business processes, 

supply chains, and information systems; and (iv) the type of information processed, stored, or transmitted 

by information systems and the supply chain infrastructure.

After selecting the initial set of security controls from Chapter 3, the acquirer should initiate the tailoring 

process according to [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] in order to appropriately modify and more closely align 

the selected controls with the specific conditions within the organization. The tailoring should be 

coordinated with and approved by the appropriate organizational officials [e.g., authorizing officials, 

authorizing official designated representatives, risk executive (function), chief information officers, or 

senior information security officers] prior to implementing the ICT SCRM controls. Additionally, 

organizations have the flexibility to perform the tailoring process at the organization level (either as the 

required tailored baseline or as the starting point for policy, program or system-specific tailoring), in 

support of a specific program, at the individual information system level, or using a combination of 

organization-level, program/mission-level and system-specific approaches. 

Selection and tailoring decisions, including the specific rationale for those decisions, should be 

documented in the ICT SCRM Plans for Tiers 1, 2, and 3 and approved by the appropriate organizational 

officials as part of the ICT SCRM Plan approval process.

3.4.1 ICT SCRM Control Format

Table 3-2 shows the format used in this publication for controls which provide supplemental ICT SCRM 

guidance on existing [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] controls or control enhancements.
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Each control and control enhancement identifier and title is hyperlinked to the appropriate parent control

or enhancement in Appendix B. ICT SCRM controls that do not have a parent [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]

control generally follow the format described in [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4], with the addition of relevant 

tiers. New controls are given identifiers consistent with [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4], but do not duplicate 

existing control identifiers.

Table 3-2: ICT SCRM Control Format

An example of the ICT SCRM control format is shown below using ICT SCRM Control AC-3 and 

SCRM Control Enhancement AC-3(8):

AC-3 ACCESS ENFORCEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Ensure that the information systems and the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure have appropriate access enforcement mechanisms in place. This includes both physical and 

logical access enforcement mechanisms, which likely work in coordination for ICT supply chain needs. 

Organizations should ensure a detailed definition of access enforcement.

TIER: 2, 3

Control Enhancements: 

(8) ACCESS ENFORCEMENT | REVOCATION OF ACCESS AUTHORIZATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: : Prompt revocation is critical to ensure that system integrators, 

suppliers, and external service providers who no longer require access are not able to access an 

organization’s system. For example, in a “badge flipping” situation, a contract is transferred from one 

system integrator organization to another with the same personnel supporting the contract. In that 

situation, the organization should retire the old credentials and issue completely new credentials.

TIER: 2, 3

3.4.2 Using ICT SCRM Controls in This Publication

The remainder of Chapter 3 provides the enhanced ICT SCRM overlay of [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]. 

Appendix B contains the NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 controls and enhancements. This chapter displays

the relationship between NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 controls and ICT SCRM controls in one of the 

following ways:

 If a NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control or enhancement was determined to be an information 

security control that serves as a foundational control for ICT SCRM but is not specific to ICT 

SCRM, it is not included in this publication.

 If a NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control or enhancement was determined to be relevant to ICT 

SCRM, the number and title of that control or enhancement is included in Chapter 3 with the 

CONTROL 

IDENTIFIER

CONTROL NAME

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance:

TIER:

(1) CONTROL NAME | CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: 

TIER:
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complete control (unchanged from NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4) provided in Appendix B. The 

tiers in which the control applies are also provided. 

 If a NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 enhancement was determined to be relevant to ICT SCRM, but 

the parent control was not, the parent control number and title is included, but there is no 

supplemental ICT SCRM guidance, and the parent control text is not included in Appendix B.

 ICT SCRM controls/enhancements that do not have an associated NIST 800-53 Revision 4

control/enhancement are listed with their titles and the control/enhancement text.

 All ICT SCRM controls include the tiers in which the control applies and supplemental ICT 

SCRM guidance as applicable.

 When a control enhancement provides a mechanism for implementing the ICT SCRM control, the 

control enhancement is listed within the Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance and is not included 

separately.

The following new controls and control enhancement have been added:

 The Provenance control family is included in Chapter 3 with a description of the control family 

and three associated controls;

 The SCRM Control MA-7 –Maintenance Monitoring - is added to the Maintenance control 

family; and

 The control enhancement The SCRM Control Enhancement SA-15 (3) – Tamper Resistance – is 

added to the System Acquisition.

Each SCRM control in Chapter 3 that originated from [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] contains a link to 

Appendix B where the full NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control text is provided. Controls in Appendix B

contain links back to the related ICT SCRM control in Chapter 3.5. This feature is provided to increase 

the usability of the publication by having all pertinent material in a single publication.
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3.5 ICT SCRM SECURITY CONTROLS

FAMILY: ACCESS CONTROL

[FIPS 200] specifies the Access Control minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must limit information system access to authorized users, processes acting on 

behalf of authorized users, or devices (including other information systems) and to the types of 

transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to exercise.

Systems and components that traverse the ICT supply chain infrastructure are subject to access by a 

variety of individuals within an organization, system integrator, supplier, or external service provider. 

Such access should be defined and managed to ensure that it does not inadvertently result in 

unauthorized release, modification, or destruction of sensitive information. This access should be 

limited to only the necessary access for authorized individuals and monitored for ICT supply chain 

impact. 

AC-1 ACCESS CONTROL POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should specify and include in agreements (e.g., contracting 

language) access control policies for their system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. 

These should include both physical and logical access to the ICT supply chain infrastructure and the 

information system.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

AC-2 ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Use of this control helps in traceability of actions and actors in the ICT 

supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 2, 3

AC-3 ACCESS ENFORCEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Ensure that the information systems and the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure have appropriate access enforcement mechanisms in place. This includes both physical and 

logical access enforcement mechanisms, which likely work in coordination for ICT supply chain needs. 

Organizations should ensure a detailed definition of access enforcement.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(8) ACCESS ENFORCEMENT | REVOCATION OF ACCESS AUTHORIZATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Prompt revocation is critical to ensure that system integrators, 

suppliers, and external service providers who no longer require access are not able to access an 

organization’s system. For example, in a “badge flipping” situation, a contract is transferred from one 

system integrator organization to another with the same personnel supporting the contract. In that 

situation, the organization should retire the old credentials and issue completely new credentials.
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TIER: 2, 3

(9) ACCESS ENFORCEMENT | CONTROLLED RELEASE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Information about the ICT supply chain should be controlled for 

release between the organizations. Information may be continuously exchanged between the 

organization and its system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Controlled release of 

organizational information provides protection to manage risks associated with disclosure.

TIER: 2, 3

AC-4 INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Supply chain information may traverse a large ICT supply chain 

infrastructure to a broad set of stakeholders including the organization and its various federal stakeholders,

as well as system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Requirements of information flow 

enforcement should ensure that only the required information, and not more, is communicated to the 

various participants in the supply chain.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(6) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | METADATA

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Metadata relevant to ICT SCRM is quite extensive and includes 

activities within the SDLC. For example, information about systems and system components, 

acquisition details, and delivery is considered metadata and should be appropriately protected. 

Organizations should identify what metadata is directly relevant to their ICT supply chain security and 

ensure that information flow enforcement is implemented in order to protect the metadata.

TIER: 2, 3

(17) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | DOMAIN AUTHENTICATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Within the ICT SCRM context, organizations should specify various 

source and destination points for information about ICT supply chain and information that flows 

through the supply chain. This is so that organizations have visibility of information flow within the 

ICT supply chain infrastructure. 

TIER: 2, 3

(19) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | VALIDATION OF METADATA

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: For ICT SCRM, data and the relationship to its metadata and the 

validation of it become critical. Much of the data transmitted through the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure is validated with the verification of the metadata that is bound to it. Ensuring that proper 

filtering and inspection is put in place for validation before allowing payloads into the ICT supply 

chain infrastructure.

TIER: 2, 3

(21) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | PHYSICAL / LOGICAL SEPARATION OF INFORMATION

FLOWS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure the separation of the information 

system and ICT supply chain infrastructure information flow. Various mechanisms can be 

implemented including, for example, encryption methods (e.g., digital signing). Addressing 

information flow between the organization and its system integrator, external service provider, or
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supplier may be challenging, especially when leveraging public networks. Organizations should ensure

that, at a minimum, protection measures are implemented for any appropriate data (e.g., component 

data and any related metadata).

TIER: 3

AC-5 SEPERATION OF DUTIES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that appropriate separation of duties is

established for decisions requiring the acquisition of both information system and ICT supply chain 

infrastructure components. Separation of duties helps to ensure that adequate protections are in place for 

components entering the organization’s supply chain. An example may be separating technical decision 

makers from the procurement personnel for deciding on components in the supply chain.

TIER: 2, 3

AC-6 LEAST PRIVILEGE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance provided in control 

enhancement AC-6 (6).

Control enhancements:

(6) LEAST PRIVILEGE | PRIVILEGED ACCESS BY NON-ORGANIZATIONAL USERS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that protections are in place to prevent

non-organizational users from having privileged access to organizational ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and related supply chain information. When organizational users may include

independent consultants, system integrators, suppliers, and external services providers, relevant access

requirements may need to be more precisely defined regarding which information and/or components 

are accessible, for what duration, at which frequency, using which access methods, and by whom,

using least privilege mechanisms. Understanding which components are critical and noncritical can aid 

in understanding the level of detail that may need to be defined regarding least privilege access for 

non-organizational users.

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AC-17 REMOTE ACCESS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: With the push toward distributed approaches to accessing ICT supply 

chain infrastructures, whether for development, maintenance, or operation of information systems, 

organizations should implement secure remote access mechanisms and allow remote access only to vetted 

personnel. Remote access to an organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure (including distributed 

software development environments) should be limited to the organization or system integrator personnel

as required to perform their tasks. Ensure that appropriate levels of remote access requirements are properly 

defined (including agreements between organization and its system integrators).

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements: 

(6) REMOTE ACCESS | PROTECTION OF INFORMATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that detailed requirements are properly 

defined and access to information regarding the information system and ICT supply chain 

infrastructure is protected from unauthorized use and disclosure. Since supply chain data and metadata 
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disclosure or access can have significant implications to an organization’s mission processes, 

appropriate measures must be taken to vet both the ICT supply chain infrastructure and personnel 

processes to ensure that adequate protections are implemented. Ensure that remote access to such 

information is included in requirements.

TIER: 2, 3

AC-18 WIRELESS ACCESS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: An organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure may include wireless 

infrastructure that supports supply chain logistics (e.g., Radio Frequency Identification Device [RFID] 

support, software call home features). Supply chain systems/components traverse such ICT supply chain 

infrastructures as they are moved from one location to another, whether within the organization’s own 

environment or during delivery from system integrators or suppliers. Ensuring appropriate access 

mechanisms are in place within this ICT supply chain infrastructure enables the protection of the 

information systems and components, as well as logistics technologies and metadata used during shipping

(e.g., within tracking sensors). The organization should explicitly define appropriate wireless access control 

mechanisms for the ICT supply chain infrastructure in policy and implement appropriate mechanisms.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

AC-19 ACCESS CONTROL FOR MOBILE DEVICES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Use of mobile devices has become common in ICT supply chain 

infrastructure. They are used as mechanisms for tracking supply chain logistics data as information systems 

and components traverse organization or systems integrator ICT supply chain infrastructure. Ensure that

access control mechanisms are clearly defined and implemented where relevant when managing 

organizations ICT supply chain components. An example of such an implementation includes access 

control mechanisms implemented for use with remote handheld units in RFID for tracking components 

traversing the supply chain as well as any associated data and metadata.

TIER: 2, 3

AC-20 USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations’ external information systems include those of system 

integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Unlike in an acquirer’s internal organization where 

direct and continuous monitoring is possible, in the external supplier relationship, information may be

shared on an as-needed basis and should be articulated in an agreement. Access to the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure from such external information systems should be monitored and audited.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

Control enhancements: 

(1) USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | LIMITS ON AUTHORIZED USE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement helps limit exposure of the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure to system integrator, supplier, and external service provider systems.

TIER: 2, 3

(3) USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | NON-ORGANIZATIONALLY OWNED SYSTEMS /

COMPONENTS / DEVICES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Devices that do not belong to the organization increase the

organization’s exposure to ICT supply chain risks.
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AC-21 COLLABORATION AND INFORMATION SHARING 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Sharing information within the ICT supply chain can help to manage ICT 

supply chain risks. This information may include vulnerabilities, threats, criticality of systems and 

components, or delivery information. This information sharing should be carefully managed to ensure that 

the information is accessible only to authorized individuals within the organization’s ICT supply chain. 

Organizations should clearly define boundaries for information sharing with respect to temporal, 

informational, contractual, security, access, system, and other requirements. Organizations should monitor 

and review for unintentional or intentional information sharing within its ICT supply chain activities 

including information sharing with system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. 

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AC-22 PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE CONTENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Within the ICT SCRM context, publicly accessible content may include 

Requests for Information, Requests for Proposal, or information about delivery of systems and components. 

This information should be reviewed to ensure that only appropriate content is released for public 

consumption, alone or in aggregation with other information.

TIER: 2, 3

AC-24 ACCESS CONTROL DECISIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should assign access control decisions to support authorized 

accesses to the ICT supply chain infrastructure. Ensure that if a system integrator or external service 

provider is used, there is consistency in access control decision requirements and how the requirements are 

implemented to deliver consistency in support of the organization’s supply chain needs. This may require 

defining such requirements in service-level agreements in many cases as part of the upfront relationship 

established between the organization and system integrator or the organization and external service 

provider.

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FAMILY: AWARENESS AND TRAINING

[FIPS 200] specifies the Awareness and Training minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) ensure that managers and users of organizational information systems 

are made aware of the security risks associated with their activities and of the applicable laws, 

Executive Orders, directives, policies, standards, instructions, regulations, or procedures 

related to the security of organizational information systems; and (ii) ensure that 

organizational personnel are adequately trained to carry out their assigned information 

security-related duties and responsibilities. 

NIST SP 800-161 expands the Awareness and Training control of FIPS 200 to include ICT SCRM. 

Making the workforce aware of ICT SCRM concerns is key to a successful ICT SCRM strategy. ICT 

SCRM awareness and training provides understanding of the problem space and of the appropriate 

processes and controls that can help mitigate ICT supply chain risk. Organizations should provide ICT 

SCRM awareness and training to individuals at all levels within the organization including, for example, 

risk executive function, acquisition and contracting professionals, program managers, supply chain and 

logistics professionals, shipping and receiving staff, information technology professionals, quality 

professionals, mission and business owners, system owners, and information security engineers. 

Organizations should also work with system integrators and external service providers to ensure that their 

personnel that interact with an organization’s ICT supply chains receive appropriate ICT SCRM 

awareness and training, as appropriate.

AT-1 SECURITY AWARENESS AND TRAINING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should integrate ICT supply chain risk management training 

and awareness into the security training and awareness policy. The ICT SCRM training should target both 

the organization and its system integrators. The policy should ensure that ICT supply chain role-based 

training is required for those individuals or functions that touch or impact the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure, such as information system owner, acquisition, supply chain logistics, system engineering, 

program management, IT, quality, and incident response.

ICT SCRM training procedures should address:

a. Roles throughout the supply chain and system/element life cycle to limit opportunities and means 

available to individuals performing these roles that could result in adverse consequences;

b. Requirements for interaction between an organization’s personnel and individuals not employed 

by the organization that participate in the ICT supply chain throughout the SDLC; and

c. Incorporating feedback and lessons learned from ICT SCRM activities into the ICT SCRM 

training. 

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AT-3 ROLE-BASED SECURITY TRAINING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance provided in control 

enhancement.

Control enhancements:

(2) SECURITY TRAINING | PHYSICAL SECURITY CONTROLS
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Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM is impacted by a number of physical security mechanisms 

and procedures within the ICT supply chain infrastructure, such as manufacturing, shipping and 

receiving, physical access to facilities, inventory management, and warehousing. Organization and 

system integrator personnel providing development and operational support to the organization should 

receive training on how to handle these physical security mechanisms and on the associated ICT 

supply chain risks. 

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FAMILY: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

[FIPS 200] specifies the Audit and Accountability minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) create, protect, and retain information system audit records to the 

extent needed to enable the monitoring, analysis, investigation, and reporting of unlawful, 

unauthorized, or inappropriate information system activity; and (ii) ensure that the actions of 

individual information system users can be uniquely traced to those users so they can be held 

accountable for their actions. 

Audit and accountability controls for ICT SCRM provide information useful in case of an ICT supply 

chain compromise. Organizations should ensure that they designate and audit ICT supply chain-relevant 

events within their information system boundaries using appropriate audit mechanisms (e.g., system logs, 

Intrusion Detection System (IDS) logs, firewall logs, paper reports, forms, clipboard checklists, digital 

records). These audit mechanisms should also be configured to work within reasonable time-frame 

boundaries, as defined by organizational policy. Organizations may encourage their system integrators 

and external service providers to do the same and may include in agreements requirements for such 

monitoring. However, organizations should not deploy audit mechanisms on systems outside of their 

organizational boundary, including those of system integrators and external service providers.

AU-1 AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Audit mechanisms provide data for tracking activities in an organization’s 

ICT supply chain infrastructure. Audit and accountability policy and procedures should appropriately 

address such tracking and its availability for other various ICT supply chain activities, such as 

configuration management. System integrator, supplier, and external service provider activities should not 

be included in such policy, unless those are performed within the acquirer’s ICT supply chain 

infrastructure.

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AU-2 AUDIT EVENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: An observable occurrence within the information system or ICT supply 

chain infrastructure should be identified as an ICT supply chain auditable event, based on the 

organization’s SDLC context and requirements. Auditable events may include software/hardware changes,

failed attempts to access ICT supply chain infrastructure systems, or movement of source code. Information 

on such events should be captured by appropriate audit mechanisms and should be traceable and verifiable. 

Information captured may include type of event, date/time, length, and frequency of occurrence. Among 

other things, auditing may help detect misuse of the ICT supply chain infrastructure caused by insider 

threat.

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AU-6 AUDIT REVIEW, ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that both ICT supply chain and 

information security auditable events are appropriately filtered and correlated for analysis and reporting. 

For example, if new maintenance or a patch upgrade is recognized to have an invalid digital signature, the 

identification of the patch arrival qualifies as an ICT supply chain auditable event, while invalid signature 

is an information security auditable event. The combination of these two events may provide information 

valuable to ICT SCRM.

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Control enhancements:

(9) AUDIT REVIEW, ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING | CORRELATION WITH INFORMATION FROM

NONTECHNICAL SOURCES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: In an ICT SCRM context, nontechnical sources include changes to 

organizational security or operational policy, changes to procurement or contracting processes, and 

notifications from system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers regarding plans to 

update, enhance, patch, or retire/dispose of a system/component. 

TIER: 3

AU-10 NON-REPUDIATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should implement non-repudiation techniques to protect 

both information systems and ICT supply chain infrastructure. Examples of what may require nonrepudiation include ICT supply chain metadata describing the components, ICT supply chain 

communication, delivery acceptance information, etc. For information systems, it can be patch or 

maintenance upgrades for software as well as component replacement in a large hardware system. 

Verifying that such components originate from the OEM is part of non-repudiation. 

TIER: 3

Control enhancements:

(1) NON-REPUDIATION | ASSOCIATION OF IDENTITIES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement helps traceability in ICT supply chain. It also 

facilitates the accuracy of provenance.

TIER: 2

(2) NON-REPUDIATION | VALIDATE BINDING OF INFORMATION PRODCUER IDENTITIY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement validates the relationship of provenance and the 

component. Therefore, it ensures integrity of provenance.

TIER: 2, 3

(3) NON-REPUDIATION | CHAIN OF CUSTODY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Chain of custody is fundamental to provenance and traceability in the 

ICT supply chain. It also helps verification of system and component integrity.

TIER: 2, 3

AU-12 AUDIT GENERATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that audit generation mechanisms are in place 

to capture all relevant supply chain auditable events. Examples of such events include: component version 

updates, component approvals from acceptance testing results, logistics data-capturing inventory or 

transportation information, etc.

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AU-13 MONITORING FOR INFORMATION DISCLOSURE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Within the ICT SCRM context, information disclosure may occur via 

multiple avenues including open source information. For example, supplier-provided errata may reveal 

information about an organization’s system that may provide insight into the system that increases the risk 

to the system.

TIER: 2, 3

AU-16 CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL AUDITING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: In an ICT SCRM context, this control includes the organization’s use of 

system integrator or external service provider infrastructure.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(2) CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL AUDITING | SHARING OF AUDIT INFORMATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Whether managing a distributed audit environment or an audit datasharing environment between organizations and its system integrators or external services providers, 

organizations should establish a set of requirements for the process of sharing audit information. In the 

case of the system integrator and external service provider and the organization, a service-level 

agreement of the type of audit data required vs. what can be provided must be agreed to in advance to 

ensure that the organization obtains the relevant audit information needed for ensuring that appropriate 

protections are in place to meet its mission operation protection needs. Ensure that coverage of both 

information systems and ICT supply chain infrastructure are addressed for the collection and sharing of

audit information. 

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FAMILY: SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZATION

[FIPS 200] specifies the Certification, Accreditation, and Security Assessments minimum security 

requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) periodically assess the security controls in organizational information 

systems to determine if the controls are effective in their application; (ii) develop and 

implement plans of action designed to correct deficiencies and reduce or eliminate 

vulnerabilities in organizational information systems; (iii) authorize the operation of 

organizational information systems and any associated information system connections; and 

(iv) monitor information system security controls on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued 

effectiveness of the controls.

Organizations should integrate ICT supply chain considerations, including the supply chain risk 

management process and the use of relevant controls defined in this publication, into ongoing security 

assessment and authorization activities. This includes activities to assess and authorize an 

organization’s information systems and ICT supply chain infrastructure, as well as external assessments 

of system integrators and external service providers, where appropriate. ICT supply chain aspects 

include documentation and tracking of chain of custody and system interconnections within and 

between organizations, verification of ICT supply chain security training, verification of suppliers 

claims of conformance to security, product/component integrity, and validation tools and techniques for 

noninvasive approaches to detect counterfeits or malware (e.g., Trojans) using inspection for genuine 

components including manual inspection techniques. 

CA-1 SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZATION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Integrate the development and implementation of assessment and 

authorization policies and procedures for ICT supply chain security into the security assessment and 

authorization policy.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

CA-2 SECURITY ASSESSMENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Ensure that the security assessment plan incorporates relevant ICT SCRM 

security controls and control enhancements. The security assessment should cover the assessment of both 

information systems and the ICT supply chain infrastructure, and ensure that an organization-relevant 

baseline set of controls and control enhancements are identified and used for the assessment. 

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(2) SECURITY ASSESSMENTS | SPECIALIZED ASSESSMENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations may want to use a variety of assessment techniques and 

methodologies such as continuous monitoring, insider threat assessment, and malicious user’s

assessment. These assessment mechanisms are context-specific and require the organization to 

understand its ICT supply chain infrastructure and to define the required set of measures for assessing 

and verifying that appropriate protections have been implemented. 

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(3) SECURITY ASSESSMENTS | EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: For ICT SCRM, organizations should consider using external security 

assessments for system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. External assessments 

include certifications and third-party assessments, such as those driven by organizations such as the 

International Organization for Standardization (ISO), the National Information Assurance Partnership 

(Common Criteria), and The Open Group Trusted Technology Forum (OTTF), if such certifications 

meet agency needs.

TIER: 3

CA-3 SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Interconnected information systems and mission operations require 

scrutiny from a supply chain perspective. This includes understanding the connections of those

components/systems that are directly interconnected with system integrators, external service providers,

and, in some cases, suppliers. Ensure that proper service-level agreements are in place to ensure 

compliance to interconnect requirements defined by the organization. Examples of such connections can 

include:

a. A shared development and operational environment between the organization and system 

integrator;

b. Product update/patch management connection to an off-the-shelf supplier; and 

c. Data request and retrieval transactions in a processing system residing on an external service 

provider shared environment. 

TIER: 3

Control enhancements:

(3) INFORMATION SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | UNCLASSIFIED NON-NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM

CONNECTIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization ensures that any connections within their ICT supply 

chain infrastructure, including any connections to their system integrator and external service provider 

infrastructures, are appropriately protected with boundary protection mechanisms including strict 

mediation of communications across the organization and its supply chain. Any information sharing 

across these boundaries needs to be vetted and mediated to ensure appropriate sharing practices that 

meet the organization’s information-sharing policies. 

TIER: 3

(4) SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | CONNECTIONS TO PUBLIC NETWORKS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that system integrators and external 

service providers within their ICT supply chain infrastructure appropriately protect connections to 

public networks. Implement appropriate processes for review and inspection, evidence gathering, and 

incident management. 

TIER: 3

(5) INFORMATION SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | RESTRICTIONS ON EXTERNAL SYSTEM

CONNECTIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that the system integrators and external 

service providers within their ICT supply chain infrastructure appropriately protect connections to 

external information systems. Implement appropriate processes for review and inspection, evidence 

gathering, and incident management. Ensure that configurations at the external boundaries and the 
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interfaces through which organizations are communicating with their system integrators, suppliers, and 

external service providers are monitored and audited periodically. 

TIER: 3

CA-5 PLAN OF ACTION AND MILESTONES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations need to ensure that their plan of actions and milestones

include both information systems and the ICT supply chain infrastructure. The organization should include 

in its plan of actions and milestones relevant weaknesses, impact of weaknesses on information systems or

the ICT supply chain infrastructure, any remediation to address weaknesses, and any continuous monitoring 

activities.

TIER: 2, 3

CA-6 SECURITY AUTHORIZATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Authorizing officials should include ICT supply chain considerations in 

authorization decisions. To accomplish this, ICT supply chain risks and compensating controls documented 

in ICT SCRM Plans or system security plans should be included in the decision-making process. Risks 

should be determined and associated compensating controls selected based on output from criticality, 

threat, and vulnerability analyses.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

CA-7 CONTINUOUS MONITORING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: For ICT SCRM-specific guidance on this control, see Chapter 2.2.4 of this 

publication.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(3) CONTINUOUS MONITORING | TREND ANALYSES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Information gathered during continuous monitoring/trend analysis

serves as input into ICT SCRM decisions including criticality analysis, vulnerability and threat 

analysis, and risk assessment. It also provides information that can be used in incident response and 

potentially can identify an ICT supply chain compromise, including insider threat.

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FAMILY: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

[FIPS 200] specifies the Configuration Management minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) establish and maintain baseline configurations and inventories of 

organizational information systems (including hardware, software, firmware, and 

documentation) throughout the respective system development life cycles; and (ii) establish and 

enforce security configuration settings for information technology products employed in 

organizational information systems. 

Configuration Management helps track systems, components, and documentation within the ICT supply 

chain infrastructure. This is important for knowing what changes were made to those systems, 

components, and documentation, who made the changes, and who authorized the changes. Basically, 

configuration management provides the tools to establish the chain of custody for systems, components, 

and documentation. Configuration management also provides evidence for ICT supply chain compromise 

investigations when determining which changes were authorized and which were not, which can provide 

useful information. Organizations should apply configuration management controls to their own systems 

and encourage use of configuration management controls by their system integrators, suppliers, and 

external service providers. 

CM-1 CONFIGURATION MANGEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Configuration management impacts nearly every aspect of the ICT supply 

chain infrastructure. When defining configuration management policy and procedures, organizations should 

address the full SDLC. This should include procedures for introducing and removing components to and 

from the organization’s information system boundary. Configuration Management policy should consider 

configuration items, data retention for configuration items and corresponding metadata, and tracking of the 

configuration item and its metadata. The organization should coordinate with system integrators and 

external service providers regarding the configuration management policy.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

CM-2 BASELINE CONFIGURATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should establish a baseline configuration of both the 

information system and the ICT supply chain infrastructure including documenting, formally reviewing,

and securing the agreement of stakeholders. The baseline configuration must take into consideration the 

organization’s operational environment and any relevant system integrator, supplier, and external service 

provider involvement within the organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure. If the system integrator, for 

example, uses the existing organization’s infrastructure, appropriate measures should be taken to establish a 

baseline that reflects an appropriate set of agreed-upon criteria for access and operation.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(1) BASELINE CONFIGURATION | REVIEWS AND UPDATES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Regular reviews and updates of baseline configurations are critical for 

traceability and provenance.

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(6) BASELINE CONFIGURATION | DEVELOPMENT AND TEST ENVIRONMENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should maintain a baseline configuration of system 

integrators’ and external service providers’ development and test environments within the ICT supply 

chain infrastructure as well as the configuration of interfaces with system integrators, external service 

providers, and, in some cases, suppliers.

TIER: 2, 3

CM-3 CONFIGURATION CHANGE CONTROL

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should determine, implement, monitor, and audit 

configuration settings and change controls within the ICT supply chain infrastructure. This control supports 

traceability for ICT SCRM. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control enhancements CM-3 (1), (2), and (4) are 

mechanisms that can be used for ICT SCRM to collect and manage change control data.

TIER: 2, 3

CM-4 SECURITY IMPACT ANALYSIS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should take under consideration changes to the information 

system and ICT supply chain infrastructure to determine whether the impact of these changes warrants 

additional protection to maintain an acceptable level of ICT supply chain risk. Ensure that stakeholders 

such as system engineers and system security engineers are included in the impact analysis activities to 

provide their perspectives for ICT SCRM. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control enhancement CM-4 (1) is a 

mechanism that can be used to protect the information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure from 

vulnerabilities that may be introduced through the test environment.

TIER: 3

CM-5 ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that requirements regarding physical and 

logical access restrictions for changes to the information system or the ICT supply chain infrastructure are

defined and included in the organization’s implementation of access restrictions. Examples include access 

restriction for changes to centrally managed processes for software component updates and the deployment

of updates or patches.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(1) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | AUTOMATED ACCESS ENFORCEMENT / AUDITING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should implement mechanisms to ensure automated

access enforcement and auditing of the information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure. 

TIER: 3 

(2) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | REVIEW SYSTEM CHANGES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should define a set of system changes that are critical to 

the protection of the information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure. These changes may be 

defined based on a criticality analysis (including components, processes, and functions) and where 

vulnerabilities exist that are not yet remediated (e.g., due to resource constraints).

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(3) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | SIGNED COMPONENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control aids in verifying that the acquired ICT components 

(hardware or software) are genuine and valid.

TIER: 3

(6) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | LIMIT LIBRARY PRIVILEGES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should note that software libraries may be considered 

configuration items, access to which should be managed and controlled.

TIER: 3

CM-6 CONFIGURATION SETTINGS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should oversee the function of modifying configuration 

settings for their ICT supply chain infrastructure. Methods of oversight include periodic verification, 

reporting, and review. Resulting information may be shared with various parties within the ICT supply 

chain infrastructure on a need-to-know basis. Changes should be tested and approved before they are 

implemented. Configuration settings should be monitored and audited to alert designated organizational 

personnel when a change has occurred.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(1) CONFIGURATION SETTINGS | AUTOMATED CENTRAL MANAGEMENT / APPLICATION /

VERIFICATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should employ automated mechanisms within the 

ICT supply chain infrastructure to manage, apply, and verify configuration settings.

TIER: 3

(2) CONFIGURATION SETTINGS | RESPOND TO UNAUTHORIZED CHANGES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that designated security or IT 

personnel are alerted regarding unauthorized changes to the ICT supply chain infrastructure 

configuration settings. For a more comprehensive view, a specific, predefined set of ICT SCRM 

stakeholders should assess the ICT SCRM impact of unauthorized changes in the ICT supply chain. 

When impact is assessed, relevant stakeholders should help define and implement appropriate 

mitigation strategies to ensure a comprehensive resolution.

TIER: 3 

CM-7 LEAST FUNCTIONALITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Least functionality reduces the attack surface of ICT supply chain risks. 

Organizations should select components that allow the flexibility and option for specifying and 

implementing least functionality.

TIER: 3

Control enhancements:

(4) LEAST FUNCTIONALITY | UNAUTHORIZED SOFTWARE/BLACKLISTING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should define requirements and deploy appropriate 

processes to specify software that is not allowed. This can be aided by defining a requirement to not 

use disreputable software. 
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TIER: 2, 3

(5) LEAST FUNCTIONALITY | AUTHORIZED SOFTWARE/WHITELISTING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should define requirements and deploy appropriate 

processes to specify allowable software. This can be aided by defining a requirement to use only 

reputable software. This can include requirements for alerts when new software and updates to 

software are introduced into the organization’s environment. An example of such requirements is to 

allow open source software only if the code is available for an organization’s evaluation. 

TIER: 3

CM-8 INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that critical component assets within the 

information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure are included in the asset inventory. The inventory 

should include information for critical component accountability including licensing, version numbers, 

supplier, system owner, machine names, network addresses, etc.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(1) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | UPDATES DURING INSTALLATIONS / REMOVALS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When installing, updating or removing an information system or ICT 

supply chain infrastructure component, the organization needs to update the inventory to ensure 

traceability for tracking critical components. In addition, the information system’s configuration needs

to be updated to ensure an accurate inventory of supply chain protections.

TIER: 3

(2) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should implement automated maintenance 

mechanisms to ensure that changes to component inventory for the information system and ICT supply 

chain infrastructure are monitored for installation, update, and removal. When automated maintenance 

is performed with a predefined frequency and with the automated collation of relevant inventory 

information about each defined component, the organization should ensure that updates are available to 

relevant stakeholders for evaluation. Predefined frequencies for data collection should be less 

predictable in order to reduce the risk of an insider threat bypassing security mechanisms. 

TIER: 3

(4) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | ACCOUNTABILITY INFORMATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that accountability information is 

collected for information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure components. The 

system/component inventory information should identify those individuals who originate an

acquisition as well as intended end users, including any associated personnel who may administer or 

use the system/components.

TIER: 3

(6) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | ASSESSED CONFIGURATIONS / APPROVED

DEVIATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Assessed configurations and approved deviations must be documented 

and tracked. Any changes to the baseline configurations of ICT supply chain infrastructure require a 
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review by relevant stakeholders to ensure that the changes do not result in increased ICT supply chain 

risk.

TIER: 3

(7) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | CENTRALIZED REPOSITORY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations may choose to implement centralized inventories that 

include components from all organizational information systems including the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and information system components. Centralized repositories of inventories provide 

opportunities for efficiencies in accounting for ICT supply chain infrastructure and information system 

components. Such repositories may also help organizations to rapidly identify the location and 

responsible individuals of components that have been compromised, breached, or are otherwise in need 

of mitigation actions. The organization should ensure that centralized inventories include supply chainspecific information required for proper component accountability (e.g., supply chain relevance and 

ICT supply chain infrastructure or system component owner).

TIER: 3

(8) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | AUTOMATED LOCATION TRACKING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When employing automated mechanisms for tracking of information 

system components by geographic location, the organization should take into consideration

information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure tracking needs to ensure accurate supply chain 

component inventory.

TIER: 2, 3

(9) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | ASSIGNMENT OF COMPONENTS TO SYSTEMS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When assigning components to systems, the organization should 

ensure that the information system and the ICT supply chain infrastructure with all relevant 

components are inventoried, marked, and properly assigned. This facilitates quick inventory of all 

components relevant to information systems and the ICT supply chain infrastructure and enables 

tracking of components that are considered critical and require differentiating treatment as part of the 

information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure protection activities.

TIER: 3

CM-9 CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PLAN

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that ICT SCRM considerations are 

incorporated into the configuration management planning activities.

TIER: 2, 3.

Control enhancements:

(1) CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PLAN | ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that all relevant roles are defined to 

address configuration management activities for ICT information systems and the ICT supply chain

infrastructure. Organizations should consider whether the following ICT supply chain activities are 

appropriately included in the configuration management plan: development, test, market analysis, 

Request for Proposal development and review/approval, procurement, integration, sustainment, and 

maintenance. 

TIER: 2, 3
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CM-10 SOFTWARE USAGE RESTRICTIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that licenses for software used within their 

ICT supply chain infrastructure are tracked and maintained.

Control enhancements:

(1) SOFTWARE USAGE RESTRICTIONS | OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When considering software, organizations should review all options 

and corresponding risks including open source or commercially licensed components. When using

open source software (OSS), the organization should understand and review the open source 

communities’ typical procedures regarding provenance, configuration management, sources, binaries, 

reusable frameworks, reusable libraries’ availability for testing and use, and any other information that 

may impact ICT supply chain risk. Numerous open source solutions are currently in use by 

organizations, including in integrated development environments (IDEs) and web servers. The 

organization should:

a) Track the use of OSS and associated documentation;

b) Ensure that the use of OSS adheres to the licensing terms;

c) Document and monitor the distribution of software as it relates to licensing agreement to 

control copying and distribution; and

d) Evaluate and periodically audit the OSS’s ICT supply chain as provided by the open source 

developer (e.g., information regarding provenance, configuration management, use of

reusable libraries, etc.). This evaluation can be done reasonably easily by the organization 

through obtaining existing and often public documents as well as using experience based on 

software update and download processes in which the organization may have participated.

TIER: 2, 3

CM-11 USER-INSTALLED SOFTWARE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement extends to organizational information system users 

within the ICT supply chain infrastructure who are not employed by the organization. These users may be

system integrators, suppliers, or external service providers.

TIER: 2, 3
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FAMILY: CONTINGENCY PLANNING

[FIPS 200] specifies the Contingency Planning minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must establish, maintain, and effectively implement plans for emergency 

response, backup operations, and post-disaster recovery for organizational information 

systems to ensure the availability of critical information resources and continuity of operations 

in emergency situations. 

ICT supply chain concerns of contingency planning include planning for alternative suppliers of system 

components, alternative suppliers of systems and services, denial of service attacks to the supply chain, 

and planning for alternate delivery routes for critical system components. Additionally, many techniques 

used for contingency planning, such as alternative processing sites, have their own ICT supply chains 

including their own specific ICT supply chain risks. Organizations should ensure that they understand and 

manage ICT supply chain risks and dependencies related to the contingency planning activities as 

necessary. 

CP-1 CONTIGENCY PLANNING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should integrate ICT supply chain concerns into the 

contingency planning policy. The policy should cover ICT information systems and the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and address: 

a. Unplanned component failure and subsequent replacement;

b. Planned replacement related to feature improvements, maintenance, upgrades, and modernization; 

and

c. Product unavailability. 

TIER: 1, 2, 3

CP-2 CONTIGENCY PLAN

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should define and implement a contingency plan for the 

ICT supply chain infrastructure so that there is no loss of data or operations. Contingencies should be put in 

place for the ICT supply chain infrastructure (including processes) and information systems (especially 

critical components) to ensure protection against compromise and to provide appropriate failover.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(2) CONTINGENCY PLAN | CAPACITY PLANNING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement helps availability of the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure or information system components.

TIER: 2, 3

(7) CONTINGENCY PLAN | COORDINATE WITH EXTERNAL SERVICE PROVIDERS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that information systems and ICT supply 

chain infrastructure components provided by an external service provider have appropriate failover to 

reduce service interruption. Organizations should ensure that contingency planning requirements are 

defined as part of the service-level agreement. The agreement may have specific terms addressing 

critical components and functionality support in case of denial of service to ensure continuity of 
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operation. Organizations should coordinate with external service providers to identify service 

providers’ existing contingency plan practices and build on them as required by the organization’s

mission and business needs. Such coordination will aid in cost reduction and efficient implementation.

TIER: 3

(8) CONTINGENCY PLAN | IDENTIFY CRITICAL ASSETS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Ensure that critical assets (including hardware, software, and

personnel) are identified to ensure that appropriate contingency planning requirements are defined and 

applied to ensure continuity of operation. A key step in this process is to complete a criticality analysis 

on components, functions, and processes to identify all critical assets. See Chapter 2, Criticality 

Analysis.

TIER: 3

CP-6 ALTERNATE STORAGE SITE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When managed by system integrators or external service providers, 

alternate storage sites are considered within an organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure. 

Organizations should apply appropriate ICT supply chain controls to those storage sites.

TIER: 2, 3

(1) ALTERNATE STORAGE SITE | SEPARATION FROM PRIMARY SITE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement helps resiliency of ICT supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 2, 3

CP-7 ALTERNATE PROCESSING SITE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When managed by system integrators or external service providers, 

alternate storage sites are considered within an organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure. 

Organizations should apply appropriate ICT supply chain controls to those processing sites.

TIER: 2, 3

CP-8 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should consider alternate telecommunication service 

providers for their ICT supply chain infrastructure and to support critical information systems.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(3) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | SEPARATION OF PRIMARY / ALTERNATE PROVIDERS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Separation of primary and alternate providers supports ICT supply 

chain resilience.

TIER: 2, 3
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(4) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | PROVIDER CONTINGENCY PLAN

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: For ICT SCRM, system integrator and external service provider 

contingency plans should provide separation in infrastructure, service, process, and personnel, where 

appropriate.

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FAMILY: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

[FIPS 200] specifies the Identification and Authentication minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must identify information system users, processes acting on behalf of users, or 

devices and authenticate (or verify) the identities of those users, processes, or devices, as a 

prerequisite to allowing access to organizational information systems. 

NIST SP 800-161, Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Federal Information Systems and 

Organizations, expands the FIPS 200 identification and authentication control family to include

identification and authentication of components, in addition to individuals (users) and processes acting on 

behalf of individuals within the ICT supply chain infrastructure. Identification and authentication is 

critical for ICT SCRM because it provides traceability of individuals, processes acting on behalf of 

individuals, and specific systems/components in an organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure. 

Identification and authentication is required to appropriately manage ICT supply chain risks to both 

reduce risks of ICT supply chain compromise and to help have needed evidence in case of ICT supply 

chain compromise.

IA-1 IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENCITCATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should enhance their identity and access management 

policies to ensure that critical roles within the ICT supply chain infrastructure are defined and that the 

organization's critical systems, components, and processes are identified for traceability. This should 

include the identity of critical components that may not have been considered under identification and 

authentication in the past. Note that providing identification for all items within the supply chain would be 

cost-prohibitive, and discretion should be used.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

IA-2 IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION (ORGANIZATIONAL USERS)

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that identification and authentication is 

defined for organizational users accessing the information system or ICT supply chain infrastructure. An 

organizational user may include employees as well as individuals deemed to have the equivalent status of 

employees (e.g., contractors, guest researchers, etc.) and may include system integrators fulfilling

contractor roles. Criteria such as “duration in role” can aid in defining which identification and 

authentication mechanisms are used. The organization may choose to define a set of roles and associate a

level of authorization to ensure proper implementation.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

IA-4 IDENTIFIER MANAGEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Identifiers allow for greater traceability. Within the organization's supply 

chain infrastructure, identifiers should be assigned to systems, individuals, documentation, devices, and 

components. In some cases, identifiers may be maintained throughout a system's life cycle, from concept to 

retirement, but at a minimum throughout the system's life within the organization. 

For software development, identifiers should be assigned for those components that have achieved 

configuration item recognition. For devices and operational systems, identifiers should be assigned when 

the items enter the organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure, such as when they are transferred to the 

organization’s ownership or control through shipping and receiving or via download.
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System integrators, suppliers, and external service providers typically use their own identifiers for tracking 

within their own ICT supply chain infrastructures. Organizations should correlate those identifiers with the 

organization-assigned identifiers for traceability and accountability. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control

IA-3 enhancements (4) and (5) are mechanisms that can be used to manage identities.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(6) IDENTIFIER MANAGEMENT | CROSS-ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement helps traceability and provenance of elements 

within the ICT supply chain infrastructure, through the coordination of identifier management among 

the organization and its system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. This includes 

information systems and components as well as individuals engaged in ICT supply chain infrastructure 

activities. 

TIER: 1, 2, 3

IA-5 AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control facilitates traceability and non-repudiation throughout the 

ICT supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(5) AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT | CHANGE AUTHENTICATORS PRIOR TO DELIVERY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement provides verification of chain of custody within the 

organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 3

(9) AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT | CROSS-ORGANIZATION CREDENTIAL MANGEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement facilitates provenance and chain of custody within 

the organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 3

IA-8 IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION (NON-ORGANIZATIONAL USERS)

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: System integrators, external services providers, and suppliers have the 

potential to engage the organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure for service delivery 

(development/integration services, product support, etc.). Organizations should manage the establishment, 

auditing, use, and revocation of identification and authentication of non-organizational users within the ICT 

supply chain infrastructure. Organizations should ensure promptness in performing identification and 

authentication activities, especially in the case of revocation management, to help mitigate against ICT 

supply chain risks such as insider threat.

TIER: 2, 3
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FAMILY: INCIDENT RESPONSE

[FIPS 200] specifies the Incident Response minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) establish an operational incident handling capability for organizational 

information systems that includes adequate preparation, detection, analysis, containment, 

recovery, and user response activities; and (ii) track, document, and report incidents to 

appropriate organizational officials and/or authorities. 

ICT supply chain compromises may span the acquirer, system integrators, suppliers, and external service 

provider systems and organizations. Organizations should ensure that their incident response controls 

address ICT supply chain concerns including how information about incidents will be shared with system 

integrators, suppliers, and external service integrators. Incident response will help determine whether an 

incident is related to the ICT supply chain. 

IR-1 INCIDENT RESPONSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should integrate ICT SCRM considerations into incident 

response policy and procedures. ICT supply chain-related incidents and those cybersecurity incidents that 

may complicate or impact ICT supply chain concerns must be defined in the policy. Individuals working 

within specific mission and system environments need to recognize ICT supply chain-related incidents. 

Incident response policy should state when and how incidents should be handled, reported, and managed.

Additionally, the policy should define when, how, and with whom to communicate (i.e., stakeholders or 

partners) within the broader ICT supply chain in the event of an incident. Bidirectional communication 

with ICT supply chain partners should be defined in agreements with system integrators, suppliers, and 

external service providers to inform all involved parties of an ICT supply chain incident. Incident 

information may also be shared with organizations such as the FBI, US CERT (United States Computer 

Emergency Readiness Team), and the NCCIC (National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration 

Center) as appropriate. Depending on the severity of the incident, the need for accelerated communications 

up and down the supply chain may be necessary. Appropriate agreements should be put in place with 

system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers to ensure speed of communication, response, 

corrective actions, and other related activities.

In Tiers 2 and 3, procedures and organization-specific incident response methods must be in place, training 

completed (consider including IPSec and any appropriate threat briefing in training), and coordinated 

communication established throughout the ICT supply chain infrastructure to ensure an efficient and

coordinated incident response effort.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

IR-4 INCIDENT HANDLING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance provided in control 

enhancements.

Control enhancements:

(6) INCIDENT HANDLING | INSIDER THREATS - SPECIFIC CAPABILITIES

Supplemental Guidance: This enhancement helps limit exposure of the ICT SCRM infrastructure to 

insider threats.

TIER: 1, 2, 3
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(7) INCIDENT HANDLING | INSIDER THREATS - INTRA-ORGANIZATION COORDINATION

Supplemental Guidance: This enhancement helps limit exposure of ICT SCRM infrastructure to insider 

threats.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

(10) INCIDENT HANDLING | SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: A number of organizations may be involved in managing incidents 

and responses for supply chain security. After an initial processing of the incident is completed and a 

decision is made to take action (in some cases, the action may be “no action”), the organization may 

need to coordinate with their system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers to facilitate

communications, incident response, root cause, and corrective actions activities. Organizations should 

securely share information through a coordinated set of personnel in key roles to allow for a more 

comprehensive incident handling approach. Selecting system integrators, suppliers, and external 

service providers with mature capabilities for supporting ICT supply chain incident handling is 

important for reducing ICT supply chain risk. If transparency for incident handling is limited due to the 

nature of the relationship, define a set of acceptable criteria in the agreement (e.g., contract). A review 

(and potential revision) of the agreement is recommended, based on the lessons learned from previous 

incidents. 

TIER: 2

IR-6 INCIDENT REPORTING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance provided in control 

enhancement IR-6 (3).

Control enhancements:

(3) INCIDENT REPORTING | COORDINATION WITH SUPPLY CHAIN

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Communications of security incident information from the 

organization to system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers or vice-verse requires 

protection. The organization should ensure that information is reviewed and approved for sending 

based on its agreements with the suppliers. Any escalation of or exception from this reporting should 

be clearly defined in the agreement. The organization should ensure that incident reporting data is 

adequately protected for transmission and received by approved individuals only.

TIER: 3

IR-9 INFORMATION SPILLAGE RESPONSE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The ICT supply chain is vulnerable to information spillage. The 

organization should include ICT supply chain-related information spills in its information spillage response 

plan. This may require coordination with system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. The 

details of how this coordination is to be conducted should be included in the agreement (e.g., contract). See 

SA-4.

TIER: 3
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FAMILY: MAINTENANCE

[FIPS 200] specifies the Maintenance minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) perform periodic and timely maintenance on organizational 

information systems; and (ii) provide effective controls on the tools, techniques, mechanisms, 

and personnel used to conduct information system maintenance.

Maintenance is frequently performed by an entity that is different from the organization. As such, 

maintenance becomes part of the ICT supply chain. Maintenance includes performing updates and 

replacements. This document can be applied to a maintenance situation including assessing the ICT 

supply chain risks, selecting ICT SCRM controls, implementing these controls, and monitoring them. 

MA-1 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that ICT supply chain concerns are included 

in maintenance policies and procedures for all organizational information systems and the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure. With many maintenance contracts, information on mission, organization, and systemspecific objectives and requirements is shared between the organization and its system integrators, 

suppliers, or external service providers, allowing for vulnerabilities and opportunities for attack. In many 

cases, the maintenance of systems is outsourced to a system integrator and as such, appropriate measures 

must be taken. Even when maintenance is not outsourced, the upgrades and patches, frequency of 

maintenance, replacement parts, and other aspects of system maintenance are affected by the supply chain. 

Maintenance policies should be defined both for the information system and the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure. The maintenance policy should reflect controls based on a risk assessment (including 

criticality analysis), including controls such as remote access, roles and attributes of maintenance personnel 

that have access, the frequency of updates, duration of contract, logistical path used for updates or 

maintenance, and monitoring and audit mechanisms. The maintenance policy should state which tools are 

explicitly allowed or not allowed. For example, in the case of software maintenance, source code, test 

cases, and other item accessibility to maintain a system or components should be stated in the contract. 

Maintenance policies should be refined and augmented at each tier. At Tier 1, the policy should define 

allowed maintenance activities. At Tier 2, the policy should reflect the mission operation’s needs and 

critical functions. At Tier 3 it should reflect the specific system needs. The requirements in Tier 1, such as 

nonlocal maintenance, should flow to Tiers 2 and 3; for example, when nonlocal maintenance is not 

allowed by Tier 1, it should also not be allowed at Tiers 2 and 3.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

MA-2 CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance is provided in control 

enhancement MA-2 (2).

Control enhancements:

(2) CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE |AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that all automated maintenance activities 

for the ICT supply chain infrastructure are controlled and managed according to the maintenance 

policy. Examples of automated maintenance activities can include COTS product patch updates, call 
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home features with failure notification feedback, etc. Managing these activities may require 

establishing staging processes with appropriate supporting mechanisms to provide vetting or filtering 

as appropriate. Staging processes may be especially important for critical systems and components. 

TIER: 3

MA-3 MAINTENANCE TOOLS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Maintenance tools are considered part of the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure. They also have an ICT supply chain of their own. ICT SCRM should be considered when the 

organization acquires or upgrades a maintenance tool (e.g., an update to development environment or 

testing tool), including during the selection, ordering, storage, and integration of the maintenance tool. The 

organization should also consider ICT SCRM when evaluating replacement parts for maintenance tools. 

This control may be performed at both Tiers 2 and 3, depending on how an agency handles the acquisition, 

operations, and oversight of maintenance tools.

TIER: 2, 3. 

Control enhancements:

(1) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | INSPECT TOOLS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should deploy acceptance testing to verify that the 

maintenance tools of the ICT supply chain infrastructure are as expected. Maintenance tools should be 

authorized with appropriate paperwork, verified as claimed through initial verification, and tested for 

stated functionality.

TIER: 3

(2) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | INSPECT MEDIA

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should verify that the media containing diagnostic 

and test programs of the ICT supply chain infrastructure are as expected and provide only required 

functions. Media should be authorized with appropriate paperwork, verified as claimed through initial 

verification, and tested for stated functionality. 

TIER: 3

(3) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Unauthorized removal of ICT maintenance tools from the ICT supply 

chain infrastructure may introduce ICT supply chain risk including, for example, unauthorized 

modification, replacement with counterfeit, or malware insertion while the tool is outside of the 

organization’s control. ICT maintenance tools can include integrated development environment (IDE), 

testing, or vulnerability scanning. For ICT SCRM, it is important that organizations should explicitly 

authorize, track, and audit any removal of maintenance tools. Once ICT tools are allowed access to an 

organization/information system, they should remain the property/asset of the information system 

owner and tracked if removed and used elsewhere in the organization. ICT maintenance tools either

currently in use or in storage should not be allowed to leave the organization’s premises until they are 

properly vetted for removal.

TIER: 3

MA-4 NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Nonlocal maintenance may be provided by system integrators or external 

service providers. Appropriate protections should be in place to manage associated risks.

TIER: 2, 3
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Control enhancements:

(2) NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE | DOCUMENT NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should document types of maintenance tools which 

may or may not be used nonlocally and verify that the maintenance tools used are as expected and 

provide only required functions (e.g., by using acceptance testing). Maintenance tools should be 

authorized with appropriate paperwork, verified as claimed through initial verification, and tested for 

stated functionality.

TIER: 2, 3

(3) NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE | COMPARABLE SECURITY / SANITIZATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Should any nonlocal maintenance or diagnostic services be performed 

to ICT components or information systems by a system integrator, supplier, or external service 

provider, the organization should ensure that:

 Appropriate measures are taken to verify that the nonlocal environment meets appropriate 

security levels for maintenance and diagnostics per agreements between the organization and 

vendor;

 Appropriate levels of sanitizing are completed to remove any organization-specific data 

residing in components; and

 Appropriate diagnostics are completed to ensure that components are sanitized, preventing

malicious insertion prior to returning to the organizational information system and or ICT 

supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 2, 3

MA-5 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Maintenance personnel may be employed by a system integrator, supplier, 

or external service provider. As such, appropriate protections should be in place to manage associated risks.

TIER: 2, 3

MA-6 TIMELY MAINTENANCE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: For spare parts, replacement parts, or alternate sources, the organization

should ensure appropriate lead times to purchase through original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or 

authorized distributors. If OEMs are not available, it is preferred to acquire from authorized distributors. If 

an OEM or an authorized distributor is not available and the only alternative is to purchase from a nonauthorized distributor or secondary market, a risk assessment should be performed, including a revisit of 

criticality and threat analysis to identify additional risk mitigations to be used. For example, the 

organization should check the source of supply for history of counterfeits, inappropriate practices, or a 

criminal record. See Chapter 2 for criticality and threat analysis details. 

TIER: 3

MA-7 MAINTENANCE MONITORING AND INFORMATION SHARING 

Control: The organization monitors the status of systems and components, and communicates out-of-bounds 

and out-of-spec performance to [Assignment: organization-defined system integrators, suppliers, or 

external service providers].

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Tracking failure rates of components provides useful information to the 

acquirer to help plan for contingencies, alternate sources of supply, and replacements. Failure rates are also 
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useful for monitoring quality and reliability of systems and components. This information provides useful 

feedback to system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers for corrective action and

continuous improvement. In Tier 2, agencies should track and communicate the failure rates to suppliers 

(OEM and/or an authorized distributor). The failure rates and the issues that can indicate failures including 

root causes should be identified by an agency’s technical personnel (e.g., developers, administrators, or 

maintenance engineers) in Tier 3 and communicated to Tier 2. These individuals are able to verify the 

problem and identify technical alternatives. 

Related Control: IR-4(10)

TIER: 3
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FAMILY: MEDIA PROTECTION

[FIPS 200] specifies the Media Protection minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) protect information system media, both paper and digital; (ii) limit 

access to information on information system media to authorized users; and (iii) sanitize or 

destroy information system media before disposal or release for reuse. 

Media itself can be a component traversing the ICT supply chain or containing information about the 

organization’s ICT supply chain. This includes both physical and logical media including, for example, 

system documentation on paper or in electronic files, shipping and delivery documentation with acquirer 

information, memory sticks with software code, or complete routers or servers that include permanent 

media. The information contained on the media may be sensitive or proprietary information. Additionally, 

the media is used throughout the SDLC, from concept to disposal. Organizations should ensure that the 

Media Protection controls are applied to both an organization’s media and the media received from 

system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers throughout the SDLC.

MP-1 MEDIA PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: A number of documents and information on a variety of physical and 

electronic media is disseminated throughout the ICT supply chain. This information may contain a variety 

of sensitive information and intellectual property from the acquirer, system integrator, supplier, and 

external service provider and should be appropriately protected. Media protection policies and procedures 

should address ICT supply chain concerns including media in the organization’s ICT supply chain 

infrastructure. 

TIER: 1, 2

MP-5 MEDIA TRANSPORT 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should consider ICT supply chain risks when 

transporting media, either by organizational or non-organizational personnel or organizations. Some of the 

techniques to protect media during transport and storage include cryptographic techniques and approved 

custodian services.

TIER: 1, 2

MP-6 MEDIA SANITIZATION 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Media is used throughout the SDLC. Media traversing or residing in the 

ICT supply chain may originate anywhere including from system integrators, suppliers, and external 

service providers. It can be new, refurbished, or reused. Media sanitization is critical to ensure that 

information is removed before the media is used, reused or discarded. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4, Security 

and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations, control enhancements MP-6 (1), 

(2), (3), (7), and (8) provide mechanisms for performing media sanitization.

TIER: 2, 3
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FAMILY: PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

[FIPS 200] specifies the Physical and Environmental Protection minimum security requirement as 

follows:

Organizations must: (i) limit physical access to information systems, equipment, and the 

respective operating environments to authorized individuals; (ii) protect the physical plant and 

support infrastructure for information systems; iii) provide supporting utilities for information 

systems; (iv) protect information systems against environmental hazards; and (v) provide 

appropriate environmental controls in facilities containing information systems.

ICT supply chains span the physical and logical world. Physical factors include, for example, weather and 

road conditions that may have an impact to transporting ICT components (or devices) from one location 

to another between system integrators, suppliers, and organizations. If not properly addressed as a part of 

the ICT SCRM risk management processes, physical and environmental risks may have a negative impact 

on the organization’s ability to receive critical components in a timely manner, which may in turn impact 

their ability to perform mission operations. Organizations should integrate physical and environmental 

protection controls into the ICT supply chain infrastructure to mitigate such risks and ensure that there are 

no gaps. It should be noted that the degree of physical and environmental protection required throughout 

the ICT supply chain is greatly dependent on the degree of integration between acquirer and system 

integrator/supplier/external service provider organizations, systems, and processes.

PE-1 PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should integrate ICT supply chain risks into physical and 

environmental protection policy and procedures. The degree of such protection required throughout the ICT 

supply chain is greatly dependent on the degree of integration between the organization and its system 

integrator, supplier, and external service provider systems and processes. The physical and environmental 

protection policy should ensure that the physical interfaces of the ICT supply chain infrastructure have 

adequate protection and audit for such protection.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

PE-3 PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Physical access control should include individuals and organizations 

engaged in the organization’s ICT supply chain. A vetting process should be in place based on 

organizational-defined requirements and policy prior to granting access to the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and any relevant elements. Access establishment, maintenance, and revocation processes 

should meet organizational access control policy rigor. The speed of revocation for system integrators, 

external services providers, and suppliers needing access to physical facilities should be managed in 

accordance with the activities performed in their contracts. Prompt revocation is critical when either 

individual or organizational need no longer exists. 

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(5) PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL | TAMPER PROTECTION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Tamper protection is critical for reducing ICT supply chain risks in 

hardware. The organization should implement validated tamper protections techniques within the 

supply chain infrastructure. The organization should also verify tamper protection mechanisms 

provided by integrators, suppliers, and external service providers.
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TIER: 2, 3

PE-6 MONITORING PHYSICAL ACCESS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Individuals physically accessing the organization’s facilities, including the

ICT supply chain infrastructure, may be employed by system integrators, suppliers, and external service 

providers. The organization should monitor these individuals’ activities to reduce associated ICT supply 

chain risks.

TIER: 3

PE-16 DELIVERY AND REMOVAL

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control enhancement reduces ICT supply chain risks introduced 

during the physical delivery and removal of hardware components from the organization’s information 

systems or ICT supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 3

PE-17 ALTERNATE WORK SITE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should consider the ICT supply chain risks associated 

with organizational employees or system integrator personnel within or accessing the supply chain 

infrastructure using alternate work sites. This can include work from home or other non-work locations.

TIER: 3

PE-18 LOCATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Physical and environmental hazards have an impact on the availability of 

systems and components that are or will be acquired and physically transported to the organization’s

locations. For example, organizations should consider the location of information system components 

critical for agency operations when planning for alternative suppliers for these components. See CP-6 and 

CP-7.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

PE-20 ASSET MONITORING AND TRACKING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should use asset location technologies to track system 

and components transported between protected areas, or in storage awaiting implementation, testing, 

maintenance, or disposal. Methods include RFID or digital signatures. These technologies help protect 

against:

a. Diverting system or component for counterfeit replacement;

b. Loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability of system or component function and data 

(including data contained within the component and data about the component); and

c. Interrupting supply chain and logistics processes for critical components.

Asset location technologies also help gather data that can be used later for incident management.

TIER: 2, 3
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FAMILY: PLANNING

[FIPS 200] specifies the Planning minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must develop, document, periodically update, and implement security plans for 

organizational information systems that describe the security controls in place or planned for 

the information systems and the rules of behavior for individuals accessing the information 

systems. 

ICT SCRM concerns should influence security planning, including such activities as security architecture, 

coordination with other organizational entities, and development of System Security Plans. When 

acquiring ICT products and services from system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers, 

organizations may be sharing facilities with those organizations, having employees of these entities on the 

organization’s premises, or use information systems that belong to those entities. In these and other 

applicable situations, organizations should coordinate their security planning activities with these entities 

to ensure appropriate protection of an organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure, as well as of the 

information systems and components traversing the ICT supply chain. When establishing security 

architectures, organizations should provide for component and supplier diversity to manage the ICT 

supply chain-related risks of suppliers going out of business or stopping the production of specific 

components. Finally, as stated in Chapter 2, organizations may integrate ICT SCRM controls into System 

Security Plans for individual systems. 

PL-1 SECURITY PLANNING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Security planning policy and procedures should include ICT supply chain 

risk management considerations. This includes security policy, operational policy, and procedures for ICT 

supply chain risk management to shape the requirements and the follow-on implementation of operational 

systems. 

TIER: 1

PL-2 SYSTEM SECURITY PLAN

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The system security plan should include ICT supply chain considerations. 

The organization may choose to develop a stand-alone ICT SCRM plan for an individual system. The

system security plan and/or system-level ICT SCRM plan provide inputs into the ICT SCRM plan(s) at 

Tier 1 and Tier 2 (Chapter 2 provides guidance on the ICT SCRM plan.). Controls in this publication 

(NIST SP 800-161) should be used for the ICT SCRM portion of the system security plan.

TIER: 3

Control enhancements:

(3) SYSTEM SECURITY PLAN | PLAN / COORDINATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL ENTITIES 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: In addition to coordinating within the organization, the organization

should coordinate with system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. For example, 

building and operating a system requires a significant amount of coordination and collaboration 

between the organization and system integrator personnel. Such coordination and collaboration should 

be addressed in the system security plan. The system security plans should also take into account that 

suppliers or external service providers may not be able to customize to the acquirer’s requirements.
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TIER: 2

PL-8 INFORMATION SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Information security architecture defines and directs implementation of 

security methods, mechanisms, and capabilities to both the ICT supply chain infrastructure and the 

information system. The organization should ensure that the information security architecture is well 

understood by system engineers and system security engineers.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(2) INFORMATION SECURITY ARCHITECTURE | SUPPLIER DIVERSITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Supplier diversity provides options for addressing information 

security and ICT supply chain concerns. The organization should consider this control as it relates to

system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. 

The organization should plan for potential replacement of system integrators, supplier or external 

service providers in case one is no longer able to meet the organization’s requirements (e.g., company 

goes out of business or does not meet contractual obligations). 

Consider supplier diversity for off-the-shelf (commercial or government) components during

acquisition security assessments. Evaluation of alternatives should include, for example, feature parity, 

standards interfaces, commodity components, and ability to provide multiple delivery paths.

TIER: 2, 3
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FAMILY: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

FIPS 200 does not specify Program Management minimum security requirements.

[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] states that “the information security program management controls ... are 

typically implemented at the organization level and not directed at individual organizational information 

systems.” Those controls apply to the entire organization (i.e., federal agency) and support the 

organization’s overarching information security program. Program management controls support and 

provide inputs and feedback to organization-wide ICT SCRM activities.

PM-1 INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM PLAN

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: As part of information security program planning, the organization should 

document common ICT SCRM controls. A separate ICT SCRM plan may be developed to document ICT 

SCRM controls that address organization, program, and system-specific needs. The information security 

program plan and the associated common controls addressing Tiers 1 and 2 can provide additional 

foundational practices to support the ICT SCRM plan. For Tier 3, use the existing system security plan to 

incorporate ICT SCRM controls or develop a separate ICT SCRM plan. In Tier 3, ensure that the full 

SDLC is covered from the ICT supply chain perspective.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

PM-2 SENIOR INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Senior information security officer responsibilities should include ICT 

SCRM and cross-organizational coordination and collaboration with other senior personnel within the 

organization such as the CIO, the head of facilities/physical security, and the risk executive (function). 

TIER: 1, 2, 3

PM-3 INFORMATION SECURITY RESOURCES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that ICT supply chain requirements are 

integrated into major IT investments to ensure that the funding is appropriately allocated through the capital 

planning and investment request process. For example, should RFID infrastructure be required to improve 

ICT SCRM for the ICT supply chain infrastructure and to ensure efficiency, appropriate IT investments are 

likely required to ensure successful planning and implementation to meet such needs. Other examples 

include any investment into the development or test environment in which critical components are 

developed and tested. In such a case, funding and resources are needed to ensure acquisition and 

maintenance of ICT supply chain infrastructure components that assure critical components meet their ICT 

SCRM requirements to support the organization mission.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

PM-11 MISSION/BUSINESS PROCESS DEFINITION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When addressing mission/business process definitions, the organization 

should ensure that ICT supply chain activities are incorporated into the support processes for achieving the 

mission success. For example, a system supporting a critical mission function that has been designed and 

implemented for easy removal and replacement should a component fail may require the use of somewhat 

unreliable hardware components. An ICT supply chain activity may need to be defined to ensure that the

supplier makes component spare parts readily available if replacement is needed. 

TIER: 1, 2, 3
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PM-12 INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: An insider threat program should include considerations for the ICT 

supply chain infrastructure.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

PM-16 THREAT AWARENESS PROGRAM

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: When addressing supply chain threat awareness, knowledge should be

shared between stakeholders within the boundaries of the organization’s information sharing policy.

TIER: 1, 2, 3
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FAMILY: PERSONNEL SECURITY

[FIPS 200] specifies the Personnel Security minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) ensure that individuals occupying positions of responsibility within 

organizations (including third-party service providers) are trustworthy and meet established 

security criteria for those positions; (ii) ensure that organizational information and information 

systems are protected during and after personnel actions such as terminations and transfers; 

and (iii) employ formal sanctions for personnel failing to comply with organizational security 

policies and procedures. 

Personnel that have access to an organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure should be covered by the 

organization’s personnel security controls. These personnel include acquisition and contracting 

professionals, program managers, supply chain and logistics professionals, shipping and receiving staff, 

information technology professionals, quality professionals, mission and business owners, system owners, 

and information security engineers. Organizations should also work with system integrators and external 

service providers to ensure that they apply appropriate personnel security controls to their personnel that 

interact with the organization’s ICT supply chain, as appropriate.

PS-1 PERSONNEL SECURITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: At each tier, personnel security policy and procedures need to define the 

roles for the acquirer personnel who manage and execute ICT supply chain infrastructure security activities. 

These roles also need to state acquirer personnel responsibilities with regards to relationships with system 

integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Policies and procedures need to consider the full 

system development life cycle of systems and the roles and responsibilities needed to address the various 

supply chain infrastructure activities. 

Tier 1: Applicable roles include risk executive, CIO, CISO, contracting, logistics, delivery/receiving, 

acquisition security, and other functions providing supporting ICT supply chain activities.

Tier 2: Applicable roles include program executive and individuals within the acquirer organization 

responsible for program success (e.g., Program Manager and other individuals). 

Tier 3: Applicable roles include system engineers or system security engineers throughout the operational 

system life cycle from requirements definition, development, test, deployment, maintenance, updates, 

replacements, delivery/receiving, and IT. 

NOTE: Roles for system integrator, supplier, and external service provider personnel responsible for the 

success of the program should be noted in an agreement between acquirer and these parties (e.g., contract). 

Related control: SA-4.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

PS-6 ACCESS AGREEMENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should define and document access agreements for 

system integrators, external service providers, and suppliers. Access agreements should state the 

appropriate level of access by system integrators, external providers, and suppliers to the information 

system and ICT supply chain infrastructure. Additionally, terms of access should be consistent with the 

organization’s information security policy. The organization should deploy audit mechanisms to review, 
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monitor, update, and track access by these parties in accordance with the access agreement. As personnel 

vary over time, the organization should implement a timely and rigorous personnel security update process 

for the access agreements. 

When ICT products and services are provided by an entity within the organization, there may be an existing 

access agreement in place. When such an agreement does not exist, it should be established.

NOTE: While the audit mechanisms may be implemented in Tier 3, the agreement process with required 

updates should be implemented at Tier 2 as a part of program management activities.

TIER: 2

PS-7 THIRD-PARTY PERSONNEL SECURITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Third-party personnel may become part of the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and as such, must meet the same personnel security requirements as those participating in 

ICT supply chain infrastructure as organizational personnel. Examples of such third-party personnel can 

include the system integrator, supplier, or external service provider personnel used for delivery, or supplier 

maintenance personnel brought in to address component technical issues not solvable by the organization 

or system integrator.

TIER: 2
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FAMILY: PROVENANCE

Provenance is a new control family, developed specifically to address ICT supply chain concerns. 

All systems and components originate somewhere and may be changed throughout their existence. The 

recording of system and component origin along with the history of, the changes to, and the recording of 

who made the changes is called “provenance.” Acquirers and their system integrators should maintain the 

provenance of systems and components under their control to understand where the systems and 

components originated, their change history while under government control, and who might have had an 

opportunity to change them. Provenance allows for changes from the baselines of systems and 

components to be reported to specific stakeholders. Creating and maintaining provenance within the ICT 

supply chain helps government agencies to achieve greater traceability in case of an adverse event and is 

critical for understanding and mitigating risks.

COTS suppliers (e.g., OEMs or authorized distributors) and external service providers may use 

provenance to demonstrate that the source of goods (e.g., computer hardware or software) are genuine and 

not counterfeit.

Provenance is a new control and is likely to require additional resources to implement. Although some

suppliers may collect and preserve certain aspects of component provenance for their solutions, they may 

not be able to share such data due to varying sensitivities. Criteria for collecting and preserving 

component provenance may be determined based on how critical the component may be and the reason 

for keeping provenance, such as intellectual property.

Provenance is a control that requires careful consideration for the level of rigor and implementation. 

Agencies should assess the need for better understanding the level of effort that may be required for the 

acquirers’ ICT supply chain to provide this data because the cost/resource may likely be reflected in the 

cost to the acquirer. Factors driving up cost include the collection, documentation, and storage for such 

data, which may require additional protection if there are intellectual or security properties to protect. 

Continued conversations and strengthened relationships between the acquirer and its supply chain (e.g.,

integrators, suppliers, and external service providers) can help to enable a conversation for scoping the 

need and the supply chain assurance the data may be able to provide the organization. 

The organization should keep in mind that some suppliers have comprehensive provenance practices and 

systems that may go above and beyond the organization’s requirements. The organizations should work 

with suppliers to understand the extent of their provenance practices and how they meet the organization's 

needs.

PV-1 PROVENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Control: The organization: 

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates the provenance policy and procedures for [Assignment: 

organization-defined information systems, or components or the ICT supply chain infrastructure];

and 

b. Reviews and updates the current organization or mission provenance policy and procedures every 

[Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Provenance policy can be included in the overall information security 

policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple program security policies reflecting 

the complex nature of organizations. The procedures can be established for the security program in general 

and individual information systems. These policy procedures should address purpose, scope, roles, 

responsibilities, management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance to 
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support managing the information and documentation describing systems/components within information 

systems or the ICT supply chain infrastructure.

The provenance policy should stipulate that information related to the tracking of the metadata (analytics) 

associated with provenance of tools, data, and processes should be collected, processed, stored, and 

disseminated in a controlled and protected manner equal to or greater than that of the individual items for 

which provenance is maintained. It should include:

a. Procedures for proposing, evaluating, and justifying relevant changes to system/component provenance 

for their impact on components, processes, systems, missions, and exposure to supply chain risks;

b. Allocation of responsibilities for the creation, maintenance, and monitoring of provenance are 

documented;

c. Methods for tracking relevant purchasing, shipping, receiving, or transfer activities, including records 

of reviewer signatures for comparison; 

d. Processes for transferring provenance responsibility for systems or components between organizations 

across physical and logical boundaries including any approvals required, e.g., from system integrator 

or supplier to acquirer. This may include the identification of key personnel for the handling of 

information; and 

e. Procedures for tracking and documenting chain of custody of the system or component.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

Control enhancements: None

PV-2 TRACKING PROVENANCE AND DEVELOPING A BASELINE

Control: The organization: 

a. Provides unique identification for the provenance document for tracking as it traverses the ICT 

supply chain;

b. Develops methods to document, monitor, and maintain valid provenance baselines for systems and 

components of the information system or component and the ICT supply chain infrastructure;

c. Tracks, documents, and disseminates to relevant supply ICT chain participants changes to the 

provenance;

d. Tracks individuals and processes that have access and make changes to the provenance of 

components, tools, data, and processes in the information system or the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure; and 

e. Ensures non-repudiation of provenance information and the provenance change records including 

when, what, and to whom. 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Tracking of provenance helps to detect unauthorized tampering and 

modification throughout the ICT supply chain, especially during repairs/refurbishing, for example, by 

comparing the updated provenance with the original baseline provenance. Tracking of provenance 

baselines should be performed through using configuration management mechanisms. Organizations should 

ensure the timely collection of provenance and change information to provide as near real-time traceability 

as possible. 

Examples include documenting, monitoring, and maintaining valid baselines for spare parts, development 

changes, and warehoused items throughout the SDLC.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(1) TRACKING PROVENANCE AND DEVELOPING A BASELINE | AUTOMATED AND REPEATABLE

PROCESSES
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Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should use a variety of repeatable methods for 

tracking changes to provenance including the number and frequency of changes, reduction of “on/off” 

processes and procedures, and human error. These methods can be both manual and automated. For 

example, configuration management databases can be used for the tracking of changes to software 

modules, hardware components, and documentation. Related Controls: CM-3, CM-5, CM-6, CM-6 (1), 

CM-6 (2), CM-8, CM-8 (4), CM-8 (6), CM-8 (7), CM-8 (8), CM-8 (9), CM-9, CM-10 (1), CM-11, Sa12 (14)

TIER: 3

PV-3 AUDITING ROLES RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVENANCE

Control: The organization: 

1) Audits and verifies provenance activities performed by [Assignment: Organization-defined 

individuals granted access to the creation, maintenance, or monitoring of provenance]; and

2) Protects provenance audit records.

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: These may include both automated and manual systems. Audits of 

provenance should be performed using access control and audit mechanisms. Related Controls: AU -10 (1), 

AU -10 (2), AU -10 (3), AU -10 (4), SA-12 (11)

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements: None
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FAMILY: RISK ASSESSMENT

[FIPS 200] specifies the Risk Assessment minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must periodically assess the risk to organizational operations (including 

mission, functions, image, or reputation), organizational assets, and individuals, resulting from 

the operating of organizational information systems and the associated processing, storage, or 

transmission of organizational information.

NIST SP 800-161 provides guidance for managing an organization’s ICT supply chain risks and 

expands this control to integrate ICT supply chain risk assessment activities, as described in Chapter 2.

RA-1 RISK ASSESSMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Risk assessments should be performed at the organization, 

mission/program, and system levels of the organization. The system-level risk assessment should include 

both the ICT supply chain infrastructure (e.g., development and testing environments, and delivery

systems) and the information system/components traversing the ICT supply chain. A criticality analysis 

will ensure that mission-critical functions and components are given higher priority due to their impact to 

the mission, if compromised. The policy should include ICT supply chain-relevant roles applicable to 

performing and coordinating risk assessments across the organization (see Chapter 2 for the listing and 

description of roles). Applicable roles within acquirer, system integrator, external service providers, and 

supplier organizations should be defined.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

RA-2 SECURITY CATEGORIZATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Security categorization is critical to ICT SCRM at Tiers 1, 2, and 3. In 

addition to FIPS 199 categorization, for ICT SCRM, security categorization should be based on the 

criticality analysis. See Chapter 2 and SA-15[3] for a detailed description of criticality analysis.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

RA-3 RISK ASSESSMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Risk assessments should include consideration of criticality, threats, 

vulnerabilities, likelihood, and impact, as described in detail in Chapter 2, Integration of ICT SCRM into 

Risk Management. Data to be reviewed and collected includes ICT SCRM-specific roles, processes, and 

results of system/component implementation and acceptance. Risk assessments should be performed at 

Tiers 1, 2, and 3. Risk assessments at Tier 1 should be primarily a synthesis of various risk assessments 

performed at Tiers 2 and 3 and used for understanding the overall organizational impact. 

TIER: 1, 2, 3
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FAMILY: SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION

[FIPS 200] specifies the System and Services Acquisition minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) allocate sufficient resources to adequately protect organizational 

information systems; (ii) employ system development life cycle processes that incorporate 

information security considerations; (iii) employ software usage and installation restrictions; 

and (iv) ensure that third-party providers employ adequate security measures to protect 

information, applications, and/or services outsourced from the organization.

System and services acquisition is how organizations acquire ICT products and services. These controls 

address an acquirer’s activities, as well as the system integrator, supplier, and external service provider 

activities. They address both physical and logical aspects of ICT supply chain security, from tamper 

resistance and detection to SDLC and security engineering principles. ICT supply chain concerns are 

already prominently addressed in [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4]. NIST SP 800-161 adds further detail and 

refinement to these controls. 

SA-1 SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The system and services acquisition policy should address changes of

ownership or control, and any requirements to be communicated to system integrators, suppliers, and 

external service providers. ICT supply chains evolve continuously through mergers and acquisitions, joint 

ventures, and other partnership agreements. The policy should help organizations to understand these 

changes and use this information within their ICT SCRM activities. Organizations can obtain such status 

through, for example, monitoring public announcements about company activities or any communications 

initiated by a system integrator, supplier, or external service provider. 

TIER: 1, 2, 3

SA-2 ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should consider ICT supply chain requirements in the 

allocation of resources.

TIER: 1, 2

SA-3 SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: There is a strong relationship between the SDLC activities and ICT supply 

chain activities. The organization should ensure that ICT supply chain security considerations are 

integrated into the SDLC for information systems and the ICT supply chain infrastructure. In addition to 

traditional SDLC activities, such as requirements and design, less traditional activities also should be 

considered in the SDLC, such as inventory management, acquisition and procurement, and logical delivery 

of systems and components. See Chapter 2.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

SA-4 ACQUISITION PROCESS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: To integrate ICT SCRM into the organization’s acquisition process, the 

organization should ensure that the following acquisition-related requirements, descriptions, and criteria are 

addressed in agreements. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control enhancements SA-4 (1), (2), (3), (6) and (7)

provide further acquisition process mechanisms.
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a. Establish baseline and tailor-able ICT supply chain security requirements to apply to system 

integrators, suppliers, and external service providers; 

b. Define requirements that cover regulatory requirements (i.e., telecommunications or IT), technical 

requirements, chain of custody, transparency and visibility, sharing information on information 

and supply chain security incidents throughout the supply chain, rules for disposal or retention of 

elements such as components, data, or intellectual property, and other relevant requirements;

c. Define requirements for critical elements in the ICT supply chain to demonstrate a capability to 

remediate emerging vulnerabilities based on open source information and other sources;

d. Identify requirements for managing intellectual property ownership and responsibilities for 

elements such as software code, data and information, the manufacturing/development/integration 

environment, designs, and proprietary processes when provided to the organization for review or 

use;

e. Define requirements for the expected life span of the system and which element may be in a

critical path based on their life span. Establish a plan for any migration that can be required in 

support of continued system and mission operations and ensure that the system integrator, 

supplier, or external service provider can provide insights into their plans for the end-of-life of 

components. Establish a plan for acquisition of spare parts to ensure adequate supply;

f. Work with the supplier, system integrator, or external service provider to identify and define 

existing and acceptable incident response and information sharing processes, including inputs on 

vulnerabilities from other organizations within their supply chains;

g. Define requirements for functional properties and implementation information, as well as any 

development methods, techniques, or practices which may be relevant;

h. Establish and maintain verification procedures and criteria for delivered products and services;

i. Ensure that the continuous monitoring plan includes supply chain aspects in its criteria. Include

the monitoring of functions/ports/protocols in use. See Chapter 2;

j. Monitor system integrators’ and external service providers’ information systems located within the 

supply chain infrastructure. Monitor and evaluate the acquired work processes and work products 

where applicable;

k. Report information security weaknesses and vulnerabilities detected during the use of ICT 

products or services to appropriate stakeholders, including OEMs where relevant;

l. Review and confirm that the delivered product or service complies with the agreement on an 

ongoing basis; and

m. Articulate any circumstances when secondary market components may be permitted.

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Control enhancements:

(5) ACQUISITION PROCESS | SYSTEM / COMPONENT / SERVICE CONFIGURATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: If an organization needs to purchase components, they need to ensure 

that the product specifications are “fit for purpose” and meet the organization’s requirements, whether 

purchasing directly from the OEM, channel partners, or secondary market.

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(7) ACQUISITION PROCESS | NIAP-APPROVED PROTECTION PROFILES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control enhancement requires that the organization build, 

procure, and/or use U.S. government protection profile-certified information assurance components

when possible. NIAP certification can be achieved for OTS (COTS and GOTS).

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SA-5 INFORMATION SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Information system documentation should include ICT SCRM concerns

(e.g., ICT SCRM plan).

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SA-8 SECURITY ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The following security engineering techniques are helpful in managing 

ICT supply chain risks:

a. Anticipate the maximum possible ways that the ICT product or service can be misused and abused 

in order to help identify how to protect the product or system from such uses. Address intended 

and unintended use scenarios in architecture and design; 

b. Design information systems and components based on the organization’s risk tolerance as 

determined by risk assessments (see Chapter 2);

c. Document and gain management acceptance and approval for risks that are not fully mitigated;

d. Limit the number, size, and privilege levels of critical elements; using criticality analysis will aid 

in determining which elements or functions are critical. See criticality analysis in Chapter 2;

e. Use security mechanisms that help to reduce opportunities to exploit ICT supply chain 

vulnerabilities, including, for example, encryption, access control, identity management, and 

malware or tampering discovery;

f. Design information system components and elements to be difficult to disable (e.g., tamperproofing techniques) and, if disabled, trigger notification methods such as audit trails, tamper 

evidence, or alarms; 

g. Design delivery mechanisms (e.g., downloads for software) to avoid unnecessary exposure or 

access to the ICT supply chain infrastructure and the information systems/components traversing 

ICT supply chain during delivery; and

h. Design relevant validation mechanisms to be used during implementation and operation.

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SA-9 EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEM SERVICES 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance is provided in control 

enhancements.

Control enhancements:

(1) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | RISK ASSESSMENTS / ORGANIZATIONAL APPROVALS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: See Chapter 2, Assess, and Appendices E and F.

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(3) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | ESTABLISH / MAINTAIN CHAIN OF TRUST WITH PROVIDERS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Relationships with providers (“providers” within the context of this 

enhancement may include system integrators or external service providers) should meet the following 

supply chain security requirements: 

a. Requirements definition is complete and reviewed for accuracy and completeness including the

assignment of criticality to various components as well as defining operational concepts and 

associated scenarios for intended and unintended use in requirements;

b. Requirements are based on needs, relevant compliance drivers, criticality analysis, and ICT supply 

chain risk assessment;
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c. Threats, vulnerabilities, and associated risks are identified and documented based on likelihood of 

occurrence and impact to the defined system, component, and processes used across the system’s 

SDLC;

d. Organizational data and information integrity, confidentiality, and availability requirements are 

defined and shared with the system integrator or external service provider as appropriate;

e. Consequences of noncompliance with ICT supply chain security requirements and information

system security requirements are defined and documented; and

f. Requirements for service contract completion and what defines the end of the system integrator or 

external service provider relationship. This is important to know for re-compete, potential change 

in provider, and also to manage system end-of-life processes.

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(4) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | CONSISTENT INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: “Providers” in the context of this enhancement may include system 

integrators, suppliers, and external service providers.

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(5) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | PROCESSING, STORAGE, AND SERVICE LOCATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Location may belong to the system integrator or external service 

provider. Appropriate protections should be in place to address associated ICT SCRM risks.

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SA-10 DEVELOPER CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Developer configuration management is critical for reducing ICT supply 

chain risks. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4, Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems 

and Organizations, control enhancements SA-10 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (6) provide specific mechanisms 

for implementing this control.

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SA-11 DEVELOPER SECURITY TESTING AND EVALUATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Depending on the origins of components, this control may be implemented 

differently. For OTS (off-the-shelf) components, the acquirer should request proof that the supplier (OEM) 

has performed such testing as part of their quality/security processes. When the acquirer has control over 

the application and the development processes, they should require this testing as part of the SDLC. In 

addition to the specific types of testing activities described in the enhancements, examples of ICT SCRMrelevant testing include: testing for counterfeits, verifying the origins of components, examining 

configuration settings prior to integration, and testing interfaces. These types of tests may require 

significant resources and should be prioritized based on criticality, threat and vulnerability analyses 

(described in Chapter 2), and the effectiveness of testing techniques. Organizations may also require thirdparty testing as part of developer security testing. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control enhancements SA-11 

(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), and (8) provide specific mechanisms for implementation.

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SA-12 SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control is focused on ICT supply chain protection during acquisition.

NIST SP 800-161 comprehensively addresses ICT SCRM across the entire SDLC, including acquisition.

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Control enhancements:

(1) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | ACQUISITION STRATEGIES / TOOLS / METHODS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should implement various acquisition strategies, 

tools and methods to ensure the integrity and traceability of ICT supply chain infrastructure and supply 

systems/components. Examples of tools and methods include obscuring the end-use of components 

from the supplier using blind or filtered buys. Other examples include incentive programs to system 

integrators, suppliers, or external services providers to ensure that they provide verification of integrity 

as well as traceability. More detail is provided in supplemental guidance in NIST 800-53 Revision 4, 

SA-12(1).

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(2) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | SUPPLIER REVIEWS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should define and implement a supplier review 

program to analyze system integrator, supplier, and external services provider activities where 

relevant. Usually, an agreement is reached between the organization and system integrators, suppliers,

and/or external services providers that guides the level of traceability and visibility achievable. 

Organizations should be cautious in scoping the review program, as there are costs associated with data 

collection and keeping, managing, and analyzing the data for relevance once obtained. See NIST 800-

53 Revision 4, SA-12(2) for more detail. 

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(5) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | LIMITATION OF HARM

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: A number of supply chain activities may be used to limit exposure of 

operational and supply chain data that may be used by adversaries against the organization. Some 

examples include avoiding purchasing custom configurations or ensuring that a diverse set of suppliers 

is used to reduce the possibility of single point of failure or threat. See NIST 800-53 Revision 4, SA12(3) for more detail. 

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(7) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | ASSESSMENTS PRIOR TO SELECTION / ACCEPTANCE / UPDATE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization may use multiple methods of assessment prior to 

selecting supply chain components used in the organization’s information system or ICT supply chain 

infrastructure. The selection of assessment method depends on the level of depth and breadth required

for component selection. The organization should ensure that a balance of requirements and budgets 

are used so that adequate assessment measures are defined and implemented. See NIST 800-53 

Revision 4, SA-12(7) for more detail on the types of assessments available for use prior to selection.

Also, the organization may leverage existing federal mechanisms, (e.g., Defense Microelectronics 

Activity (DMEA) accreditation for Trusted Suppliers).

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(8) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | USE OF ALL-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Ensure that all-source threat and vulnerability information includes 

any available foreign ownership and control (FOCI) data. Review this data periodically as mergers and 

acquisitions, if affecting a supplier, may impact both threat and vulnerability information and therefore

SCRM.

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(9) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | OPERATIONS SECURITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and information system are scoped as part of organizational operations security (OPSEC)

requirements. Criticality, threat, and vulnerability analyses can provide inputs into OPSEC 

requirements to ensure that supply chain aspects are included for implementing requirements. See 

Chapter 2 regarding criticality analysis, threat analysis, and vulnerability analysis as well as NIST 800-

53 Revision 4, SA-12(9) for more detail.

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(10) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | VALIDATE AS GENUINE AND NOT ALTERED

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Examples of unauthorized modifications include the deployment of a 

patch or an upgrade by a maintenance team prior to staging processes to verify impact of upgrade to 

operational environment.

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(11) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | PENETRATION TESTING/ANALYSIS, OF ELEMENT PROCESS AND 

ACTORS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: An example of a validation procedure may be the use of digital 

signature by an OEM to prove that the software delivered is from its originating source. When digital 

signatures are used for this purpose, the organization should ensure, when receiving such software, that 

the signed upgrade/download was not altered. 

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(12) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL AGREEMENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Inter-organizational agreements with system integrators, suppliers, 

and external service providers should ensure that appropriate communications are established. The 

organization should leverage the criticality analysis to identify when such agreements are necessary.

The communications should allow for early notifications of various supply chain-related events. 

Events can include:

a. Compromises (both information system and supply chain);

b. Changes or updates to roadmaps, new component development, updates to components, endof-life decisions; 

c. The addition, replacement, and removal of system integrator personnel supporting 

organizational information system and supply chain infrastructure efforts; and 

d. Infrastructure changes within external service providers such as any new operating system 

rollout, hardware upgrades, or replacements due to field failures, or data store architecture 

shifts.

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(13) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | CRITICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should define critical information system 

components to protect the ICT supply chain infrastructure and the information system (see Chapter 2, 

Criticality Analysis). A number of supply chain mitigations can be put in place including multisource 

supply, stockpiling of spare components for critical component end of life as a short-term fix prior to 

redesign, etc. Critical information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure components should be 

reassessed periodically to integrate the changes that may occur during the SDLC.

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(14) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | IDENTITY AND TRACEABILITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that elements, processes, and actors 

participating in its ICT supply chain infrastructure and managing its information system are adequately 

identified and monitored. Identifying and monitoring may need to be scoped to critical activities, thus 

helping to scope both cost and resources. Identification of components should include inventorying any 

open source software (OSS) components to ensure full traceability and to ensure a cross-reference and 

match to known trusted repositories. 

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(15) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | PROCESSES TO ADDRESS WEAKNESSES OR DEFICIENCIES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should ensure that as they collect a variety of evidence 

resulting from information system ICT supply chain infrastructure assessment, this evidence is 

documented and integrated into the risk management process to provide inputs to criticality, threat, and 

vulnerability analyses. This feedback provides input for ensuring that ICT supply chain protections 

keep pace with the changes to the ICT supply chain. 

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SA-13 TRUSTWORTHINESS

SA-13

Supplemental Guidance: The organization should ensure that both the information system and the ICT supply 

chain infrastructure are designed, developed, and implemented with an explicit definition of 

trustworthiness. With the use of system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers, defining the 

requirements to support confidentiality, integrity, and availability of supply chain information is all the 

more important for ICT SCRM. These ICT SCRM requirements must include a clear definition of supply 

chain disruptions, human errors, purposeful attacks, and other risks. Processes and procedures must be 

defined as part of the requirements activities to ensure that not only components of the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and the information system are predictably behaving, but that the processes and procedures 

also support the requirements for trustworthiness. Examples of areas of concern include: 

 The exchange of components from one supplier to another due to a lack of availability;

 Movement of developers and testers in an SDLC from one program to another due to the system 

integrator’s internal needs; and

 The change of processing and storage platforms in an approved external service provider’s hosting 

environment.

Maintaining trustworthiness is an ongoing process and can be a potentially resource-consuming effort. The 

organization should understand where best to apply this control as driven by the prioritization results of a

criticality analysis (see SA-14 and Chapter 2). 

SA-14 CRITICALITY ANALYSIS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: For systems in the architectural design process step, perform componentlevel security categorization to support the system-level criticality analysis. This will ensure the 

confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system and the mission it supports. See Chapter 2, Criticality 

Analysis.

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SA-15 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that the ICT supply chain infrastructure 

(development process, standards, tools, etc.) is appropriately identified, analyzed for criticality, and 

appropriately protected from ICT supply chain risks. The organization’s development/maintenance, test, 

and deployment environments should all be considered in regards to this control. The tools included in this 

control can be manual or automated. Use of automated tools aids thoroughness, efficiency, and scale of 

analysis that helps address ICT supply chain risks in the development process. Additionally, the output of 

such activities and tools provides useful inputs for ICT SCRM processes described in Chapter 2. This 

control has applicability to both the internal organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure as well as 

applicable system integrators. NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control SA-15 enhancements (1), (2), (5), (6), 

and (7) provide further detail on mechanisms and techniques that will aid in completion of activities 

described in Chapter 2.

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Control enhancements:

(3) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | CRITICALITY ANALYSIS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement identifies critical components within the 

information system. This provides detail and clarity to shape the ICT supply chain activities that need 

to be implemented for critical components. This criticality analysis provides useful inputs into the ICT 

SCRM Criticality Analysis described in Chapter 2.

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(4) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | THREAT MODELING / VULNERABILITY

ANALYSIS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement provides threat modeling/vulnerability analysis for 

the information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure. This provides further detail and clarity to 

shape the ICT supply chain activities that need to be implemented for critical components. This 

analysis provides useful inputs into the ICT SCRM threat and vulnerability analysis described in 

Chapter 2.

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(8) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | REUSE OF THREAT / VULNERABILITY

INFORMATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This enhancement encourages developers to inform ongoing 

development efforts through reuse of threat and vulnerability information produced by prior 

development efforts and lessons learned from using the tools. This provides further detail and clarity to 

shape ICT SCRM activities.

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SA-16 DEVELOPER-PROVIDED TRAINING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control includes training the individuals responsible for ICT supply 

chain infrastructure and the information system developed within the ICT supply chain infrastructure. It 

also includes individuals who select information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure components 

and should influence the choices made regarding those components. Developer training should include ICT 

SCRM material to ensure that developers are aware of potential threats and vulnerabilities when 

developing, testing, and maintaining hardware and software. 

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SA-17 DEVELOPER SECURITY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control facilitates the use of ICT SCRM information to influence 

information system architecture, design, and component selection decisions, including security functions. 

Examples include identifying components that compose information system architecture and design, or 

selecting specific components to ensure availability through multiple supplier or component selections. 

NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control enhancements SA-17 (1) and (2) provide further details on 

implementing this control.

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SA-18 TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Tamper-resistance techniques can reduce counterfeits, reverse engineering

and modifications to software and hardware in the ICT supply chain. Examples of tamper-resistance 

techniques include re-tarring of chips to avoid rebranding of discarded chips, or digital signatures to help 

non-repudiation of software. 

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Control enhancements:

(1) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | MULTIPLE PHASES OF SDLC

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: To ensure that ICT components are not salvaged, reclaimed, otherwise 

used, or previously rejected for any reason, organizations may require documentation (certifications, 

packing slips, etc.) that is continuous in that it enables the tracing of handling and delivery back to the 

supplier (OEM).

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(2) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | INSPECTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, OR

DEVICES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should examine inconsistencies in tracking and 

labeling of delivered ICT components to identify counterfeit components, for example:

a. Mismatched lot and the date code;

b. Absent or mismatched manufacturer’s logo and label on the ICT component and its 

documentation;

c. Mismatched bar code and printed part number; and

d. Inconsistent descriptions between package materials and datasheet descriptions.

These comparisons can be done via visual inspections, or a variety of pattern-matching techniques 

used in supply chain logistics.

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(3) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | RETURN POLICY 

Control: The organization defines and implements a return policy [Assignment: organization-defined 

information systems, system components, or devices] [upon [Assignment: organization-defined 

indicator failure against tamper resistance criteria]]. 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should implement a return policy for ICT components 

used in ICT supply chain infrastructure or information systems. Should ICT components fail tamper-
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resistance and detection criteria, components should be promptly processed for return along with 

appropriate documentation regarding the failure. Organizations should report information regarding the 

failure and return to appropriate organizations (e.g., Government-Industry Data Exchange Program, 

which is also known by its acronym, GIDEP). Ensure that the data describing the failure is sent

separately from the ICT component. Additionally, ensure that both failure metadata and the ICT 

component are adequately protected during return to ensure against potential inappropriate access that

impact supplier or organizations’ confidentiality and integrity. 

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SA-19 COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations should include in their 

anti-counterfeit policy and procedures, a means to help ensure that the components acquired and used are 

authentic and have not been subject to tampering. In many circumstances, the most effective method to 

help ensure authenticity is to acquire needed components only from OEMs, their authorized resellers, or 

other trusted sources. However, limiting eligibility to these sources for all acquisitions may not be 

compatible with market availability, organizational needs, acquisition rules, socioeconomic procurement 

preferences, or principles of open competition. If an organization chooses other sources, it should obtain 

assurances of the provider’s ability to verify, through documentation or other means, the integrity, security, 

and quality of the components being acquired. Such assurances are especially important when acquiring 

obsolete, refurbished, or otherwise out-of-production components. If such assurances are not obtainable, 

organizations should create a risk response plan to address any additional risks to organizational missions 

or business operations.

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Control enhancements:

(1) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | ANTI-COUNTERFEIT TRAINING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Counterfeits represent a major ICT supply chain risk. Training 

personnel to recognize and manage counterfeits in the supply chain will help to improve the integrity 

and authenticity of the organization’s information systems and ICT supply chain infrastructure.

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(2) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | CONFIGURATION CONTROL FOR COMPONENT SERVICE / REPAIR

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Organizations may be at risk to ICT supply chain compromise through 

component service and repair processes. The organization should manage risks associated with 

component repair including the repair process and any replacements, updates, and revisions of 

hardware and software components within the ICT supply chain infrastructure.

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(3) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | COMPONENT DISPOSAL

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that ICT components can be disposed 

of without exposing organization, mission, or operational information, which may lead to a future ICT 

supply chain compromise. This includes:

a. Considering the transmission of sensitive data (mission, user, operational system) to 

unauthorized parties or unspecified parties during disposal activities;

b. Monitoring and documenting the chain of custody through the destruction process;

c. Training disposal service personnel to ensure accurate delivery of service against disposal 

policy and procedure; the training should include OPSEC and appropriate threat briefing; and
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d. Implementing assessment procedures for the verification of disposal processes with a 

frequency that fits organizational/mission needs. 

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(4) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | ANTI-COUNTERFEIT SCANNING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should scan for counterfeit components within the 

information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure. Examples of techniques to be used can 

include automated visual scanning techniques for hardware and checking for digital signatures in 

software.

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SA-20 CUSTOMIZED DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL COMPONENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization may decide, based on their ICT SCRM risk assessment,

that they require customized development of certain critical components. This control provides additional 

guidance on this activity.

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SA-21 DEVELOPER SCREENING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should implement screening processes for their internal 

developers. For system integrators who may be providing key developers that address critical components,

the organization should ensure that appropriate processes for developer screening have been used.

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Control enhancements:

(1) DEVELOPER SCREENING| VALIDATION OF SCREENING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Internal developer screening should be validated. Organizations may 

validate system integrator developer screening by requesting summary data from the system integrator 

to be provided post-validation.

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SA-22 UNSUPPORTED SYSTEM COMPONENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Acquiring products directly from qualified original equipment 

manufacturers (OEMs) or their authorized distributors and resellers significantly reduces many ICT supply 

chain risks. In the case of unsupported system components, the organization should consider using 

authorized distributors with an ongoing relationship with the supplier of the unsupported system 

components.

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Control Enhancements:

(1) UNSUPPORTED SYSTEM COMPONENTS | ALTERNATIVE SOURCES FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should consider, when purchasing alternate sources 

for continued support, acquiring directly from vetted original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) or 

their authorized distributors and resellers. Decisions about using alternate sources require input from 

the organization’s engineering resources regarding the differences in alternate component options. For

example, if an alternative is to acquire an open source software component, what are the open source 

community development, test, acceptance, and release processes? 
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FAMILY: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

[FIPS 200] specifies the System and Communications Protection minimum security requirement as 

follows:

Organizations must: (i) monitor, control, and protect organizational communications (i.e., 

information transmitted or received by organizational information systems) at the external 

boundaries and key internal boundaries of the information systems; and (ii) employ 

architectural designs, software development techniques, and systems engineering principles 

that promote effective information security within organizational information systems. 

An organization’s communications infrastructure is composed of ICT components and systems, which 

have their own ICT supply chains and also support an organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure. 

These communications connect an organization’s systems with system integrator and occasionally 

supplier systems. An organization’s communications may be provided by system integrators or external 

service providers. 

SC-1 SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: System and communications protection policies and procedures should 

address ICT supply chain infrastructure security. Organization-level and program-specific policies help to 

set the requirements of communication and how the infrastructure is established to meet these 

requirements. Policies and procedures should include the coordination of communications among and 

across multiple organizational entities within the organization as well as communications methods and 

infrastructure used between the organization and its system integrators, suppliers, and external service 

providers. 

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SC-4 INFORMATION IN SHARED RESOURCES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization may share information system resources with system 

integrators or external service providers. Protecting information in shared resources in support of various 

supply chain activities is challenging when outsourcing key operations. Organizations may either share too 

much, increasing their risk, or share too little, making it difficult for the system integrator or external 

service provider to be efficient in their service delivery. The organization should work with developers to 

define a structure/process of information sharing including the data shared, method of sharing, and to 

whom (the specific roles) it is provided. Appropriate privacy and clearance requirements should be 

considered in the information sharing process. 

TIER: 2, 3

SC-5 INFORMATION IN SHARED RESOURCES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance is provided in control 

enhancement SC-5 (2).

Control enhancements:

(2) DENIAL OF SERVICE PROTECTION | EXCESS CAPACITY / BANDWIDTH / REDUNDANCY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should include requirements for excess capacity, 

bandwidth, and redundancy into agreements with system integrators, suppliers, and external service 

providers.
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TIER: 2

SC-7 BOUNDARY PROTECTION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should implement appropriate monitoring mechanisms 

and processes at the boundaries between the agency systems and system integrator, supplier, and external 

services provider systems. Provisions for boundary protections should be incorporated into agreements with 

system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. There may be multiple interfaces throughout 

the ICT supply chain infrastructure and the SDLC. Appropriate vulnerability, threat, and risk assessments

should be performed to ensure proper boundary protections for both supply chain components as well as 

supply chain information flow. The vulnerability, threat, and risk assessment can aid in scoping boundary 

protection to a relevant set of criteria and help manage associated costs. Further detail is provided in 

Chapter 2.

TIER: 2

Control enhancements:

(13) BOUNDARY PROTECTION | ISOLATION OF SECURITY TOOLS / MECHANISMS / SUPPORT

COMPONENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should provide separation and isolation of 

development, test, and security assessment tools, and operational environments and relevant 

monitoring tools within the ICT supply chain infrastructure. If a compromise or information leakage 

happens in any one environment, the other environments should still be protected through the 

separation/isolation mechanisms or techniques.

TIER: 3

(19) BOUNDARY PROTECTION | BLOCKS COMMUNICATION FROM NON-ORGANIZATIONALLY

CONFIGURED HOSTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control is relevant to ICT SCRM as it applies to external service 

providers.

TIER: 3

SC-8 TRANSMISSION CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTEGRITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Requirements for transmission confidentiality and integrity should be 

integrated into agreements with system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Acquirers, 

system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers may repurpose existing security mechanisms 

(e.g., authentication, authorization, or encryption) to achieve organizational confidentiality and integrity

requirements. The degree of protection should be based on the sensitivity of information to be transmitted

and the relationship between the organization and the system integrator, supplier, or external service 

provider.

TIER: 2, 3

SC-18 MOBILE CODE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should consider the use of this control in various 

applications of mobile code within their ICT supply chain infrastructure. Examples include acquisition 

processes such as electronic transmission of ICT supply chain information (e.g., email), receipt of software 

components, logistics information management in RFID, or transport sensors infrastructure. 

TIER: 3

Control enhancements:
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(2) MOBILE CODE | ACQUISITION / DEVELOPMENT / USE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should employ rigorous supply chain protection 

techniques in the acquisition, development, and use of mobile code to be deployed in the information 

system. Examples include ensuring that mobile code originates from vetted sources when acquired, that 

vetted system integrators are used for the development of custom mobile code or prior to installing, and 

that verification processes are in place for acceptance criteria prior to install in order to verify the source 

and integrity of code. Note that mobile code can be both code for ICT supply chain infrastructure

components (e.g., RFID device applications) or for information systems/components. 

TIER: 3

SC-27 PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT APPLICATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Platform-independent applications for ICT SCRM can make the ICT 

SCRM application more resilient to changes.

TIER: 2, 3

SC-28 PROTECTION OF INFORMATION AT REST

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should include provisions for protection of information 

at rest into their agreements with system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers. Conversely, 

the organization should also ensure that they provide appropriate protections within the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure for data at rest for the system integrator, supplier, and external service provider information, 

such as source code, testing data, blueprints, and intellectual property information. This control should be 

applied throughout the SDLC including during requirements, development, manufacturing, test, inventory 

management, maintenance, and disposal.

TIER: 2, 3

SC-29 HETEROGENEITY 

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Heterogeneity techniques include use of different operating systems, 

virtualization techniques, and multiple sources of supply. Multiple sources of supply can improve 

component availability and reduce the impact of an ICT supply chain compromise. In case of an ICT 

supply chain compromise, an alternative source of supply will allow the organizations to quickly switch to 

an alternative system/component which may not be affected by the compromise. Also, heterogeneous 

components decrease the attack surface by limiting the impact to the subset of the infrastructure that is 

using vulnerable components.

TIER: 2, 3

SC-30 CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Concealment and misdirection techniques for ICT SCRM include the 

establishment of random resupply times, concealment of location, random change of fake location used,

and random change/shifting of information storage into alternate servers/storage mechanisms. 

TIER: 3

Control enhancements:

(2) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | RANDOMNESS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Supply chain processes are necessarily structured with predictable, 

measurable, and repeatable processes for the purpose of efficiency and cost reduction. This opens up 

the opportunity for potential breach. In order to protect against compromise, the organization should 
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employ techniques to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets in the 

organization’s information systems or ICT supply chain infrastructure (e.g., randomly switching 

among several delivery organizations or routes, or changing the time and date of receiving supplier 

software updates if previously predictably scheduled).

TIER: 2, 3

(3) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | CHANGE PROCESSING / STORAGE LOCATIONS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Changes in processing or storage locations can be used to protect

downloads, deliveries, or associated supply chain metadata. The organization may leverage such 

techniques within the ICT supply chain infrastructure to create uncertainty into the activities targeted 

by adversaries. Establishing a few process changes and randomizing the use of them, whether it is for 

receiving, acceptance testing, storage, or other supply chain activities, can aid in reducing the 

likelihood of a supply chain event. 

TIER: 2, 3

(4) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | MISLEADING INFORMATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization can convey misleading information as part of 

concealment and misdirection efforts to protect both the ICT supply chain infrastructure and the

information system. Examples of such efforts in security include honeynets or virtualized 

environments. Infrastructure implementations can be leveraged in conveying misleading information. 

These may be considered advanced techniques requiring experienced resources to effectively 

implement them.

TIER: 2, 3

(5) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | CONCEALMENT OF SYSTEM / COMPONENTS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization may employ various concealment and misdirection 

techniques to protect information about the information system and ICT supply chain infrastructure.

For example, delivery of critical components to a central or trusted third-party depot can be used to

conceal or misdirect any information regarding the component use or the organization using the 

component. Separating components from their associated information into differing physical and 

electronic delivery channels and obfuscating the information through various techniques can be used to 

conceal information and reduce the opportunity for potential loss of confidentiality of the component 

or its use, condition, etc.

TIER: 2, 3

SC-36 DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING AND STORAGE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Processing and storage can be distributed both across the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure and across the SDLC, and the organization should ensure that these techniques are applied in 

both contexts. The following activities can use distributed processing and storage: development, 

manufacturing, configuration management, test, maintenance, and operations.

TIER: 2, 3

SC-37 OUT-OF-BAND CHANNELS

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM-specific supplemental guidance is provided in control 

enhancement SC-37 (1).

Control enhancements:
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(1) OUT-OF-BAND CHANNELS | ENSURE DELIVERY / TRANSMISSION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should employ security safeguards to ensure that 

only specific individuals or information systems receive the information about the information system

or ICT supply chain infrastructure. For example, proper credentialing and authorization documents 

should be requested and verified prior to the release of critical components such as custom chips, 

custom software, or information during delivery. 

TIER: 2, 3

SC-38 OPERATIONS SECURITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that appropriate ICT supply chain threat 

and vulnerability information is obtained from and provided to the operational security processes within the 

ICT supply chain infrastructure.

Tier: 2, 3
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FAMILY: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

[FIPS 200] specifies the System and Information Integrity minimum security requirement as follows:

Organizations must: (i) identify, report, and correct information and information system flaws 

in a timely manner; (ii) provide protection from malicious code at appropriate locations within 

organizational information systems; and (iii) monitor information system security alerts and 

advisories and take appropriate actions in response. 

System and information integrity for systems and components traversing the ICT supply chain 

infrastructure is critical for managing ICT supply chain risks. Insertion of malicious code and counterfeits 

are two primary examples of ICT supply chain risks, both of which can be at least partially addressed by 

deploying system and information integrity controls. Organizations should ensure that adequate system 

and information integrity protections are considered as part of ICT supply chain risk management.

SI-1 SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should include ICT SCRM considerations in system and 

information integrity policy and procedures, including ensuring that program-specific requirements for 

employing various integrity verification tools and techniques are clearly defined. System and information 

integrity for information systems and components and the ICT supply chain infrastructure is critical for 

managing ICT supply chain risks. Insertion of malicious code and counterfeits are two primary examples of 

ICT supply chain risks, both of which can be at least partially addressed by deploying system and 

information integrity controls.

TIER: 1, 2, 3

SI-2 FLAW REMEDIATION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Output of flaw remediation activities provides useful input into ICT 

SCRM processes described in Chapter 2.

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(5) FLAW REMEDIATION | AUTOMATIC SOFTWARE / FIRMWARE UPDATES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should specify the various software assets within its 

infrastructure that require automated updates (both indirect and direct). This specification of assets 

should be defined from criticality analysis results, which provide information on critical and 

noncritical functions and components (see Chapter 2). A centralized patch management process may

be employed to provide a buffer for evaluating and managing updates prior to deployment. Those 

software assets that require direct updates from a supplier should only accept updates originating 

directly from the OEM unless specifically deployed by the acquirer, such as with a centralized patch 

management process.

TIER: 2

SI-4 INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control includes monitoring of vulnerabilities resulting from past ICT 

supply chain compromises, such as malicious code implanted during software development and set to 

activate after deployment. Information system monitoring is frequently performed by external service 
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providers. Service-level agreements with these providers should be structured to appropriately reflect this 

control. 

TIER: 1, 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(17) INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING | INTEGRATED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS SI-4 (17)

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: Information system monitoring information may be correlated with 

that of system integrators, suppliers, and external service providers, if appropriate. The results of 

correlating monitoring information may point to ICT supply chain compromises.

TIER: 2, 3

(19) INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING | INDIVIDUALS POSING GREATER RISK SI-4 (19)

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization may implement vetting processes to ensure that

employees meet requirements to participate in the ICT supply chain infrastructure or in developing, 

testing, or operating of information systems and components. The organization can leverage human 

resource records, intelligence agencies, law enforcement organizations, and other credible sources for 

vetting organizations’ personnel.

TIER: 2, 3

SI-5 SECURITY ALERTS, ADVSORIES, AND DIRECTIVES

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should evaluate security alerts, advisories, and directives 

for ICT supply chain impact and follow up if needed.

TIER: 2, 3

SI-7 SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: This control applies to the information system and ICT supply chain 

infrastructure. The integrity of the ICT supply chain infrastructure should be systematically tested and 

verified to ensure that it remains as required so that the information systems/components traversing through 

it are not impacted by unanticipated changes. The integrity of information systems and components should 

also be tested and verified. Applicable verification tools include: digital signature or checksum verification, 

acceptance testing for physical components, confining software to limited privilege environments such as

sandboxes, code execution in contained environments prior to use, and ensuring that if only binary or 

machine-executable code is available, it is obtained directly from the OEM or a verified supplier or 

distributer. Mechanisms for this control are discussed in detail in NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 control 

enhancements SI-7 (11), (12), and (13).

TIER: 2, 3

Control enhancements:

(14) SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY | BINARY OR MACHINE EXECUTABLE

CODE

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should obtain binary or machine-executable code 

directly from the OEM/developer or other verified source.

TIER: 2, 3

(15) SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY | CODE AUTHENTICATION
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Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: The organization should ensure that code authentication mechanisms 

such as digital signatures are implemented to assure the integrity of software, firmware, and 

information of the ICT supply chain infrastructure and information system.

TIER: 3

SI-12 INFORMATION OUTPUT HANDLING AND RETENTION

Supplemental ICT SCRM Guidance: ICT SCRM concerns should be included as operational requirements, 

especially when system integrator, supplier, and external service provider sensitive and proprietary 

information is concerned.

TIER: 3
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APPENDIX A

ICT SCRM CONTROL SUMMARY

This appendix lists the ICT SCRM controls in this publication and maps them to their corresponding 

[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] controls as appropriate. Table A-1 indicates those controls that are defined in 

NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 as “High Baseline” requirements. Some ICT SCRM controls were added to 

this baseline in order to create a baseline for ICT SCRM. Additionally, because ICT SCRM is an 

organization-wide activity that requires selection and implementation of controls at the organization, 

mission, and system levels (Tiers 1, 2, and 3 of the organization according to [NIST SP 800-39]), Table 

A-1 indicates the organizational tiers in which the controls should be implemented. The table highlights 

ICT SCRM controls and enhancements not in [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] in red, viz., MA-7, PV-1, PV-2, 

PV-2(1), PV-3, and SA-18(3).

Table A-1: ICT SCRM Control Summary

CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

AC-1 ACCESS CONTROL POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

AC-2 ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT X X X X

AC-3 ACCESS ENFORCEMENT X X X X

AC-3 (8) ACCESS ENFORCEMENT | REVOCATION OF ACCESS 

AUTHORIZATIONS X X X

AC-3 (9) ACCESS ENFORCEMENT | CONTROLLED RELEASE X X X

AC-4 INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT X X X X

AC-4 (6) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | METADATA X X X

AC-4 (17) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | DOMAIN 

AUTHENTICATION X X

AC-4 (19) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | VALIDATION OF 

METADATA X X

AC-4 (21) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | PHYSICAL / 

LOGICAL SEPARATION OF INFORMATION FLOWS X

AC-5 SEPARATION OF DUTIES X X X X

(AC-6) (LEAST PRIVILEGE) (X) (N/A)

AC-6(6)

LEAST PRIVILEGE | PRIVILEGED ACCESS BY NONORGANIZATIONAL USERS X X X

AC-17 REMOTE ACCESS X X X X

AC-17 (6) REMOTE ACCESS | PROTECTION OF INFORMATION X X X

AC-18 WIRELESS ACCESS X X X X X

AC-19 ACCESS CONTROL FOR MOBILE DEVICES X X X X

AC-20 USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS X X X X X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

AC-20 (1) USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | LIMITS ON 

AUTHORIZED USE X X X X

AC-20 (3)

USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | NONORGANIZATIONALLY OWNED SYSTEMS / COMPONENTS / 

DEVICES

X X

AC-21 INFORMATION SHARING X X X X

AC-22 PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE CONTENT X X X X

AC-24 ACCESS CONTROL DECISIONS X X X

AT-1

SECURITY AWARENESS AND TRAINING POLICY AND 

PROCEDURES X X X X

(AT-3) (ROLE-BASED SECURITY TRAINING) (X) (N/A)

AT-3 (2) SECURITY TRAINING | PHYSICAL SECURITY CONTROLS X X

AU-1

AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY POLICY AND 

PROCEDURES X X X X X

AU-2 AUDIT EVENTS X X X X X

AU-6 AUDIT REVIEW, ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING X X X X

AU-6 (9)

AUDIT REVIEW, ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING | 

CORRELATION WITH INFORMATION FROM NONTECHNICAL 

SOURCES

X X

AU-10 NON-REPUDIATION X X X

AU-10 (1) NON-REPUDIATION | ASSOCIATION OF IDENTITIES X X

AU-10 (2) NON-REPUDIATION | VALIDATE BINDING OF INFORMATION 

PRODUCER IDENTITY X X X

AU-10 (3) NON-REPUDIATION | CHAIN OF CUSTODY X X X

AU-12 AUDIT GENERATION X X X X

AU-13 MONITORING FOR INFORMATION DISCLOSURE X X X

AU-16 CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL AUDITING X X X

AU-16 (2) CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL AUDITING | SHARING OF AUDIT 

INFORMATION X X X

CA-1

SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZATION 

POLICIES AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

CA-2 SECURITY ASSESSMENTS X X X X

CA-2 (2) SECURITY ASSESSMENTS | SPECIALIZED ASSESSMENTS X X X

CA-2 (3) SECURITY ASSESSMENTS | EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS X X

CA-3 SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS X X X

CA-3 (3) SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | UNCLASSIFIED NONNATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEM CONNECTIONS X

CA-3 (4) SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | CONNECTIONS TO PUBLIC 

NETWORKS X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

CA-3 (5) SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | RESTRICTIONS ON 

EXTERNAL SYSTEM CONNECTIONS X X X

CA-5 PLAN OF ACTION AND MILESTONES X X X X

CA-6 SECURITY AUTHORIZATION X X X X X

CA-7 CONTINUOUS MONITORING X X X X X

CA-7 (3) CONTINUOUS MONITORING | TREND ANALYSES X X

CM-1

CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT POLICY AND 

PROCEDURES X X X X X

CM-2 BASELINE CONFIGURATION X X X X

CM-2 (1) BASELINE CONFIGURATION | REVIEWS AND UPDATES X X X X

CM-2 (6) BASELINE CONFIGURATION | DEVELOPMENT AND TEST 

ENVIRONMENTS X X X

CM-3 CONFIGURATION CHANGE CONTROL X X X X

CM-4 SECURITY IMPACT ANALYSIS X X X

CM-5 ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE X X X X

CM-5 (1) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | AUTOMATED 

ACCESS ENFORCEMENT / AUDITING X X X

CM-5 (2) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | REVIEW SYSTEM 

CHANGES X X X X

CM-5 (3) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | SIGNED 

COMPONENTS X X X

CM-5 (6) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | LIMIT LIBRARY 

PRIVILEGES X X

CM-6 CONFIGURATION SETTINGS X X X X

CM-6 (1) CONFIGURATION SETTINGS | AUTOMATED CENTRAL

MANAGEMENT / APPLICATION / VERIFICATION X X X

CM-6 (2) CONFIGURATION SETTINGS | RESPOND TO 

UNAUTHORIZED CHANGES X X X

CM-7 LEAST FUNCTIONALITY X X X

CM-7 (4) LEAST FUNCTIONALITY | UNAUTHORIZED SOFTWARE / 

BLACKLISTING X X X

CM-7 (5) LEAST FUNCTIONALITY | AUTHORIZED SOFTWARE / 

WHITELISTING X X X

CM-8 INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY X X X X

CM-8 (1) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | 

UPDATES DURING INSTALLATIONS / REMOVALS X X X

CM-8 (2) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | 

AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE X X X

CM-8 (4) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | 

ACCOUNTABILITY INFORMATION X X X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

CM-8 (6) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | 

ASSESSED CONFIGURATIONS / APPROVED DEVIATIONS X X

CM-8 (7) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | 

CENTRALIZED REPOSITORY X X

CM-8 (8) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | 

AUTOMATED LOCATION TRACKING X X X

CM-8 (9) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | 

ASSIGNMENT OF COMPONENTS TO SYSTEMS X X

CM-9 CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PLAN X X X X

CM-9 (1) CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PLAN | ASSIGNMENT OF 

RESPONSIBILITY X X X

CM-10 SOFTWARE USAGE RESTRICTIONS X X

CM-10 (1) SOFTWARE USAGE RESTRICTIONS | OPEN SOURCE 

SOFTWARE X X X

CM-11 USER-INSTALLED SOFTWARE X X X X

CP-1 CONTINGENCY PLANNING POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

CP-2 CONTINGENCY PLAN X X X X

CP-2 (2) CONTINGENCY PLAN | CAPACITY PLANNING X X X

CP-2 (7) CONTINGENCY PLAN | COORDINATE WITH EXTERNAL 

SERVICE PROVIDERS X X

CP-2 (8) CONTINGENCY PLAN | IDENTIFY CRITICAL ASSETS X X X

CP-6 ALTERNATE STORAGE SITE X X X X

CP-7 ALTERNATE PROCESSING SITE X X X X

CP-8 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES X X X X

CP-8 (3) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | SEPARATION OF 

PRIMARY / ALTERNATE PROVIDERS X X X X

CP-8 (4) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | PROVIDER 

CONTINGENCY PLAN X X X X

IA-1

IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION POLICY 

AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

IA-2

IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION 

(ORGANIZATIONAL USERS) X X X X X

IA-4 IDENTIFIER MANAGEMENT X X X X

IA-4 (6) IDENTIFIER MANAGEMENT | CROSS-ORGANIZATION 

MANAGEMENT X X X X

IA-5 AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT X X X

IA-5 (5) AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT | CHANGE 

AUTHENTICATORS PRIOR TO DELIVERY X X

IA-5 (9) AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT | CROSS-ORGANIZATION 

CREDENTIAL MANAGEMENT X X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

IA-8

IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION (NONORGANIZATIONAL USERS) X X X X

IR-1 INCIDENT RESPONSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

(IR-4) (INCIDENT HANDLING) (X) (N/A)

IR-4 (6)

INCIDENT HANDLING | INSIDER THREATS - SPECIFIC 

CAPABILITIES X X

IR-4 (7)

INCIDENT HANDLING | INSIDER THREATS – INTRAORGANIZATION COORDINATION X X

IR-4 (10) INCIDENT HANDLING | SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION X X

(IR-6) (INCIDENT REPORTING) (X) (N/A)

IR-6 (3) INCIDENT REPORTING | COORDINATION WITH SUPPLY 

CHAIN X X

IR-9 INFORMATION SPILLAGE RESPONSE X X

MA-1 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

(MA-2) (CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE) (X) (N/A)

MA-2 (2) CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE | AUTOMATED 

MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES X X X

MA-3 MAINTENANCE TOOLS X X X X

MA-3 (1) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | INSPECT TOOLS X X X

MA-3 (2) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | INSPECT MEDIA X X X

MA-3 (3) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED 

REMOVAL X X X

MA-4 NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE X X X X

MA-4 (2) NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE | DOCUMENT NONLOCAL 

MAINTENANCE X X X X

MA-4 (3)

NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE | COMPARABLE SECURITY / 

SANITIZATION X X X X

MA-5 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL X X X X

MA-6 TIMELY MAINTENANCE X X X

MA-7

MAINTENANCE MONITORING AND INFORMATION 

SHARING N/A X X

MP-1 MEDIA PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X

MP-5 MEDIA TRANSPORT X X X X

MP-6 MEDIA SANITIZATION X X X X

PE-1

PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 

POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

PE-3 PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL X X X X

PE-3 (5) PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL | TAMPER PROTECTION X X X

PE-6 MONITORING PHYSICAL ACCESS X X X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

PE-16 DELIVERY AND REMOVAL X X X

PE-17 ALTERNATE WORK SITE X X X

PE-18 LOCATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS X X X X X

PE-20 ASSET MONITORING AND TRACKING X X X

PL-1 SECURITY PLANNING POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X

PL-2 SYSTEM SECURITY PLAN X X X

PL-2 (3) SYSTEM SECURITY PLAN | PLAN / COORDINATE WITH 

OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL ENTITIES X X X

PL-8 INFORMATION SECURITY ARCHITECTURE X X X X

PL-8 (2) INFORMATION SECURITY ARCHITECTURE | SUPPLIER 

DIVERSITY X X X

PM-1 INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM PLAN X X X X

PM-2 SENIOR INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER X X X X

PM-3 INFORMATION SECURITY RESOURCES X X X X

PM-11 MISSION/BUSINESS PROCESS DEFINITION X X X X

PM-12 MISSION/BUSINESS PROCESS DEFINITION X X X X

PM-16 THREAT AWARENESS PROGRAM X X X X

PS-1 PERSONNEL SECURITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

PS-6 ACCESS AGREEMENTS X X X

PS-7 THIRD-PARTY PERSONNEL SECURITY X X X

PV-1 PROVENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES N/A X X X

PV-2

TRACKING PROVENANCE AND DEVELOPING A 

BASELINE N/A X X

PV-2 (1) TRACKING PROVENANCE AND DEVELOPING A BASELINE | 

AUTOMATED AND REPEATABLE PROCESSES N/A X

PV-3 AUDITING ROLES RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVENANCE N/A X X

RA-1 RISK ASSESSMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

RA-2 SECURITY CATEGORIZATION X X X X X

RA-3 RISK ASSESSMENT X X X X X

SA-1

SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION POLICY AND 

PROCEDURES X X X X X

SA-2 ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES X X X X

SA-3 SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE X X X X X

SA-4 ACQUISITION PROCESS X X X X X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

SA-4 (5) ACQUISITION PROCESS | SYSTEM / COMPONENT / SERVICE 

CONFIGURATIONS X X

SA-4 (7) ACQUISITION PROCESS | NIAP-APPROVED PROTECTION 

PROFILES X X

SA-5 INFORMATION SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION X X X

SA-8 SECURITY ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES X X X X X

(SA-9) (EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEM SERVICES) (X) (N/A)

SA-9 (1) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | RISK ASSESSMENTS / 

ORGANIZATIONAL APPROVALS X X X

SA-9 (3) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | ESTABLISH / 

MAINTAIN TRUST RELATIONSHIP WITH PROVIDERS X X X X

SA-9 (4) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | CONSISTENT 

INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS AND PROVIDERS X X

SA-9 (5) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | PROCESSING, 

STORAGE, AND SERVICE LOCATION X X

SA-10 DEVELOPER CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT X X X X

SA-11 DEVELOPER SECURITY TESTING AND EVALUATION X X X X X

SA-12 SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION X X X X X

SA-12 (1) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | ACQUISITION STRATEGIES / 

TOOLS / METHODS X X X X

SA-12 (2) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | SUPPLIER REVIEWS X X X

SA-12 (5) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | LIMITATION OF HARM X X X

SA-12 (7) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | ASSESSMENTS PRIOR TO 

SELECTION / ACCEPTANCE / UPDATE X X X

SA-12 (8) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | USE OF ALL-SOURCE 

INTELLIGENCE X X

SA-12 (9) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | OPERATIONS SECURITY X X X

SA-12 (10) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | VALIDATE AS GENUINE AND 

NOT ALTERED X X X

SA-12 (11) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | PENETRATION TESTING / 

ANALYSIS OF ELEMENTS, PROCESSES, AND ACTORS X X

SA-12 (12) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL 

AGREEMENTS X X X

SA-12 (13) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | CRITICAL INFORMATION 

SYSTEM COMPONENTS X X X

SA-12 (14) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | IDENTITY AND 

TRACEABILITY X X X

SA-12 (15) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | PROCESSES TO ADDRESS 

WEAKNESSES OR DEFICIENCIES X X

SA-13 TRUSTWORTHINESS X X X

SA-14 CRITICALITY ANALYSIS X X X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

SA-15 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS X X X X

SA-15 (3) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | 

CRITICALITY ANALYSIS X X X

SA-15 (4) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS |

THREAT MODELING / VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS X X X

SA-15 (8) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | 

REUSE OF THREAT / VULNERABILITY INFORMATION X X

SA-16 DEVELOPER-PROVIDED TRAINING X X X X

SA-17 DEVELOPER SECURITY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN X X X X

SA-18 TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION X X X X

SA-18 (1) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | MULTIPLE PHASES 

OF SDLC X X X

SA-18 (2) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | INSPECTION OF 

INFORMATION SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, OR DEVICES X X X

SA-18 (3) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | RETURN POLICY N/A X X X

SA-19 COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY X X X

SA-19 (1) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | ANTI-COUNTERFEIT 

TRAINING X X X

SA-19 (2) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | CONFIGURATION CONTROL 

FOR COMPONENT SERVICE / REPAIR X X X

SA-19 (3) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | COMPONENT DISPOSAL X X X

SA-19 (4) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | ANTI-COUNTERFEIT 

SCANNING X X X

SA-20 CUSTOMIZED DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL 

COMPONENTS X X

SA-21 DEVELOPER SCREENING X X X

SA-21 (1) DEVELOPER SCREENING | VALIDATION OF SCREENING X X X

SA-22 UNSUPPORTED SYSTEM COMPONENTS X X X

SA-22 (1) UNSUPPORTED SYSTEM COMPONENTS | ALTERNATIVE 

SOURCES FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT X X X

SC-1

SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION 

POLICY AND PROCEDURES X X X X X

SC-4 INFORMATION IN SHARED RESOURCES X X X X

SC-5 DENIAL OF SERVICE PROTECTION X X X

SC-5 (2) DENIAL OF SERVICE PROTECTION | EXCESS CAPACITY / 

BANDWIDTH / REDUNDANCY X

SC-7 BOUNDARY PROTECTION X X X

SC-7 (13) BOUNDARY PROTECTION | ISOLATION OF SECURITY TOOLS 

/ MECHANISMS / SUPPORT COMPONENTS X
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CNTL NO.

CONTROL NAME 800-53 REV. 4 

HIGH BASELINE

SCRM 

BASELINE

TIERS

CONTROL ENHANCEMENT NAME 1 2 3

SC-7 (19) BOUNDARY PROTECTION | BLOCKS COMMUNICATION 

FROM NON-ORGANIZATIONALLY CONFIGURED HOSTS X

SC-8 TRANSMISSION CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTEGRITY X X X X

SC-18 MOBILE CODE X X X

SC-18 (2) MOBILE CODE | ACQUISITION / DEVELOPMENT / USE X X

SC-27 PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT APPLICATIONS X X

SC-28 PROTECTION OF INFORMATION AT REST X X X X

SC-29 HETEROGENEITY X X X

SC-30 CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION X

SC-30 (2) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | RANDOMNESS X X

SC-30 (3) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | CHANGE 

PROCESSING / STORAGE LOCATIONS X X

SC-30 (4) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | MISLEADING 

INFORMATION X X

SC-30 (5) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | CONCEALMENT OF 

SYSTEM COMPONENTS X X

SC-36 DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING AND STORAGE X X

(SC-37) (OUT-OF-BAND CHANNELS) (N/A)

SC-37 (1) OUT-OF-BAND CHANNELS | ENSURE DELIVERY / 

TRANSMISSION X X

SC-38 OPERATIONS SECURITY X X X

SI-1

SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY POLICY AND 

PROCEDURES X X X X X

SI-2 FLAW REMEDIATION X X X X

SI-2 (5) FLAW REMEDIATION | AUTOMATIC SOFTWARE / FIRMWARE 

UPDATES X X

SI-4 INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING X X X X X

SI-4 (17) INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING | INTEGRATED 

SITUATIONAL AWARENESS X X

SI-4 (19) INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING | INDIVIDUALS 

POSING GREATER RISK X X X

SI-5 SECURITY ALERTS, ADVISORIES, AND DIRECTIVES X X X X

SI-7

SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION 

INTEGRITY X X X X

SI-7 (14) SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY | 

BINARY OR MACHINE-EXECUTABLE CODE X X X X

SI-7 (15) SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY | 

CODE AUTHENTICATION X X

SI-12 INFORMATION HANDLING AND RETENTION X X X
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APPENDIX B

NIST SP 800-53 ICT SCRM-RELEVANT CONTROLS

This appendix provides a list of the information security controls from NIST Special Publication 800-53 

Revision 4 that are directly relevant and apply to supply chain security. The list is categorized 

alphabetically by existing information security control families. The specific controls within those 

families are ordered numerically. Note: Control families Program Management (PM) and Planning (PL) 

are listed separately, as they are considered an oversight activity and ordered as such in NIST SP 800-53 

Revision 4. The controls in this publication are linked to the Chapter 3 SCRM guidance to provide an 

expanded description and frame of reference to the SCRM guidance. 

FAMILY: ACCESS CONTROL

AC-1 ACCESS CONTROL POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. An access control policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the access control policy and associated access 

controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Access control policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Access control procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the AC family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AC-1 MOD AC-1 HIGH AC-1

AC-2 ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Identifies and selects the following types of information system accounts to support organizational 

missions/business functions: [Assignment: organization-defined information system account types];
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b. Assigns account managers for information system accounts;

c. Establishes conditions for group and role membership;

d. Specifies authorized users of the information system, group and role membership, and access 

authorizations (i.e., privileges) and other attributes (as required) for each account;

e. Requires approvals by [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] for requests to create 

information system accounts;

f. Creates, enables, modifies, disables, and removes information system accounts in accordance with 

[Assignment: organization-defined procedures or conditions];

g. Monitors the use of, information system accounts;

h. Notifies account managers:

1. When accounts are no longer required;

2. When users are terminated or transferred; and

3. When individual information system usage or need-to-know changes;

i. Authorizes access to the information system based on:

1. A valid access authorization;

2. Intended system usage; and

3. Other attributes as required by the organization or associated missions/business functions;

j. Reviews accounts for compliance with account management requirements [Assignment: organizationdefined frequency]; and

k. Establishes a process for reissuing shared/group account credentials (if deployed) when individuals are 

removed from the group.

Supplemental Guidance: Information system account types include, for example, individual, shared, group, 

system, guest/anonymous, emergency, developer/manufacturer/vendor, temporary, and service. Some of 

the account management requirements listed above can be implemented by organizational information 

systems. The identification of authorized users of the information system and the specification of access 

privileges reflects the requirements in other security controls in the security plan. Users requiring 

administrative privileges on information system accounts receive additional scrutiny by appropriate 

organizational personnel (e.g., system owner, mission/business owner, or chief information security officer) 

responsible for approving such accounts and privileged access. Organizations may choose to define access 

privileges or other attributes by account, by type of account, or a combination of both. Other attributes 

required for authorizing access include, for example, restrictions on time-of-day, day-of-week, and pointof-origin. In defining other account attributes, organizations consider system-related requirements (e.g., 

scheduled maintenance, system upgrades) and mission/business requirements, (e.g., time zone differences, 

customer requirements, remote access to support travel requirements). Failure to consider these factors 

could affect information system availability. Temporary and emergency accounts are accounts intended for 

short-term use. Organizations establish temporary accounts as a part of normal account activation 

procedures when there is a need for short-term accounts without the demand for immediacy in account 

activation. Organizations establish emergency accounts in response to crisis situations and with the need for 

rapid account activation. Therefore, emergency account activation may bypass normal account 

authorization processes. Emergency and temporary accounts are not to be confused with infrequently used 

accounts (e.g., local logon accounts used for special tasks defined by organizations or when network 

resources are unavailable). Such accounts remain available and are not subject to automatic disabling or 

removal dates. Conditions for disabling or deactivating accounts include, for example: (i) when 

shared/group, emergency, or temporary accounts are no longer required; or (ii) when individuals are 

transferred or terminated. Some types of information system accounts may require specialized training. 

Relate control: AC-3, AC-4, AC-5, AC-6, AC-10, AC-17, AC-19, AC-20, AU-9, IA-2, IA-4, IA-5, IA-8, 

CM-5, CM-6, CM-11, MA-3, MA-4, MA-5, PL-4, SC-13. 
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References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AC-2 MOD AC-2 (1) (2) (3) (4) HIGH AC-2 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (12) (13)

AC-3 ACCESS ENFORCEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system enforces approved authorizations for logical access to information and 

system resources in accordance with applicable access control policies.

Supplemental Guidance: Access control policies (e.g., identity-based policies, role-based policies, attributebased policies) and access enforcement mechanisms (e.g., access control lists, access control matrices, 

cryptography) control access between active entities or subjects (i.e., users or processes acting on behalf of 

users) and passive entities or objects (e.g., devices, files, records, domains) in information systems. In 

addition to enforcing authorized access at the information system level and recognizing that information 

systems can host many applications and services in support of organizational missions and business 

operations, access enforcement mechanisms can also be employed at the application and service level to 

provide increased information security. Relate control: AC-2, AC-4, AC-5, AC-6, AC-16, AC-17, AC-18, 

AC-19, AC-20, AC-21, AC-22, AU-9, CM-5, CM-6, CM-11, MA-3, MA-4, MA-5, PE-3.

AC-3 (8) ACCESS ENFORCEMENT | REVOCATION OF ACCESS AUTHORIZATIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system enforces the revocation of access authorizations resulting from changes 

to the security attributes of subjects and objects based on [Assignment: organization-defined rules 

governing the timing of revocations of access authorizations].

Supplemental Guidance: Revocation of access rules may differ based on the types of access revoked. For 

example, if a subject (i.e., user or process) is removed from a group, access may not be revoked until 

the next time the object (e.g., file) is opened or until the next time the subject attempts a new access to 

the object. Revocation based on changes to security labels may take effect immediately. Organizations 

can provide alternative approaches on how to make revocations immediate if information systems 

cannot provide such capability and immediate revocation is necessary.

AC-3 (9) ACCESS ENFORCEMENT | CONTROLLED RELEASE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system does not release information outside of the established system boundary 

unless:

a. The receiving [Assignment: organization-defined information system or system component] 

provides [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards]; and

b. ([Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] are used to validate the 

appropriateness of the information designated for release.

Supplemental Guidance: Information systems can only protect organizational information within the 

confines of established system boundaries. Additional security safeguards may be needed to ensure 

that such information is adequately protected once it is passed beyond the established information 

system boundaries. Examples of information leaving the system boundary include transmitting 

information to an external information system or printing the information on one of its printers. In 

cases where the information system is unable to make a determination of the adequacy of the 

protections provided by entities outside its boundary, as a mitigating control, organizations determine 

procedurally whether the external information systems are providing adequate security. The means 

used to determine the adequacy of the security provided by external information systems include, for 

example, conducting inspections or periodic testing, establishing agreements between the organization 
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and its counterpart organizations, or some other process. The means used by external entities to protect 

the information received need not be the same as those used by the organization, but the means 

employed are sufficient to provide consistent adjudication of the security policy to protect the 

information. This control enhancement requires information systems to employ technical or procedural 

means to validate the information prior to releasing it to external systems. For example, if the 

information system passes information to another system controlled by another organization, technical 

means are employed to validate that the security attributes associated with the exported information are 

appropriate for the receiving system. Alternatively, if the information system passes information to a 

printer in organization-controlled space, procedural means can be employed to ensure that only 

appropriately authorized individuals gain access to the printer. This control enhancement is most 

applicable when there is some policy mandate (e.g., law, Executive Order, directive, or regulation) that 

establishes policy regarding access to the information, and that policy applies beyond the realm of a 

particular information system or organization.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AC-3 MOD AC-3 HIGH AC-3

AC-4 INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system enforces approved authorizations for controlling the flow of information 

within the system and between interconnected systems based on [Assignment: organization-defined 

information flow control policies].

Supplemental Guidance: Information flow control regulates where information is allowed to travel within an 

information system and between information systems (as opposed to who is allowed to access the 

information) and without explicit regard to subsequent accesses to that information. Flow control 

restrictions include, for example, keeping export-controlled information from being transmitted in the clear 

to the Internet, blocking outside traffic that claims to be from within the organization, restricting web 

requests to the Internet that are not from the internal web proxy server, and limiting information transfers 

between organizations based on data structures and content. Transferring information between information 

systems representing different security domains with different security policies introduces risk that such 

transfers violate one or more domain security policies. In such situations, information owners/stewards 

provide guidance at designated policy enforcement points between interconnected systems. Organizations 

consider mandating specific architectural solutions when required to enforce specific security policies. 

Enforcement includes, for example: (i) prohibiting information transfers between interconnected systems 

(i.e., allowing access only); (ii) employing hardware mechanisms to enforce one-way information flows; 

and (iii) implementing trustworthy regarding mechanisms to reassign security attributes and security labels.

Organizations commonly employ information flow control policies and enforcement mechanisms to control 

the flow of information between designated sources and destinations (e.g., networks, individuals, and 

devices) within information systems and between interconnected systems. Flow control is based on the 

characteristics of the information and/or the information path. Enforcement occurs, for example, in 

boundary protection devices (e.g., gateways, routers, guards, encrypted tunnels, firewalls) that employ rule 

sets or establish configuration settings that restrict information system services, provide a packet-filtering 

capability based on header information, or message-filtering capability based on message content (e.g., 

implementing key word searches or using document characteristics). Organizations also consider the 

trustworthiness of filtering/inspection mechanisms (i.e., hardware, firmware, and software components) 

that are critical to information flow enforcement. Control enhancements 3 through 22 primarily address 

cross-domain solution needs which focus on more advanced filtering techniques, in-depth analysis, and 

stronger flow enforcement mechanisms implemented in cross-domain products, for example, highassurance guards. Such capabilities are generally not available in commercial off-the-shelf information 
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technology products. Related controls: AC-3, AC-17, AC-19, AC-21, CM-6, CM-7, SA-8, SC-2, SC-5, SC7, SC-18.

AC-4(6) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | METADATA [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system enforces information flow control based on [Assignment: organizationdefined metadata].

Supplemental Guidance: Metadata is information used to describe the characteristics of data. Metadata 

can include structural metadata describing data structures (e.g., data format, syntax, and semantics) or 

descriptive metadata describing data contents (e.g., age, location, telephone number). Enforcing 

allowed information flows based on metadata enables simpler and more effective flow control. 

Organizations consider the trustworthiness of metadata with regard to data accuracy (i.e., knowledge 

that the metadata values are correct with respect to the data), data integrity (i.e., protecting against 

unauthorized changes to metadata tags), and the binding of metadata to the data payload (i.e., ensuring 

sufficiently strong binding techniques with appropriate levels of assurance). Related controls: AC-16, 

SI-7.

AC-4 (17) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | DOMAIN AUTHENTICATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system uniquely identifies and authenticates source and destination points by 

[Selection (one or more): organization, system, application, individual] for information transfer.

Supplemental Guidance: Attribution is a critical component of a security concept of operations. The 

ability to identify source and destination points for information flowing in information systems, allows 

the forensic reconstruction of events when required, and encourages policy compliance by attributing 

policy violations to specific organizations/individuals. Successful domain authentication requires that 

information system labels distinguish among systems, organizations, and individuals involved in 

preparing, sending, receiving, or disseminating information. Related controls: IA-2, IA-3, IA-4, IA-5.

AC-4 (19) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | VALIDATION OF METADATA [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL] 

The information system, when transferring information between different security domains, 

applies the same security policy filtering to metadata as it applies to data payloads.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement requires the validation of metadata and the data to 

which the metadata applies. Some organizations distinguish between metadata and data payloads (i.e., 

only the data to which the metadata is bound). Other organizations do not make such distinctions, 

considering metadata and the data to which the metadata applies as part of the payload. All information 

(including metadata and the data to which the metadata applies) is subject to filtering and inspection.

AC-4 (21) INFORMATION FLOW ENFORCEMENT | PHYSICAL / LOGICAL SEPARATION OF 

INFORMATION FLOWS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system separates information flows logically or physically using [Assignment: 

organization-defined mechanisms and/or techniques] to accomplish [Assignment: organizationdefined required separations by types of information].

Supplemental Guidance: Enforcing the separation of information flows by type can enhance protection by 

ensuring that information is not commingled while in transit and by enabling flow control by 

transmission paths perhaps not otherwise achievable. Types of separable information include, for 
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example, inbound and outbound communications traffic, service requests and responses, and 

information of differing security categories.

References: Web: ucdmo.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD AC-4 HIGH AC-4

AC-5 SEPARATION OF DUTIES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Separates [Assignment: organization-defined duties of individuals];

b. Documents separation of duties of individuals; and 

c. Defines information system access authorizations to support separation of duties.

Supplemental Guidance: Separation of duties addresses the potential for abuse of authorized privileges and 

helps to reduce the risk of malevolent activity without collusion. Separation of duties includes, for 

example: (i) dividing mission functions and information system support functions among different 

individuals and/or roles; (ii) conducting information system support functions with different individuals 

(e.g., system management, programming, configuration management, quality assurance and testing, and 

network security); and (iii) ensuring security personnel administering access control functions do not also 

administer audit functions. Related controls: AC-3, AC-6, PE-3, PE-4, PS-2.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD AC-5 HIGH AC-5

AC-6 LEAST PRIVILEGE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization employs the principle of least privilege, allowing only authorized accesses for 

users (or processes acting on behalf of users) which are necessary to accomplish assigned tasks in 

accordance with organizational missions and business functions.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations employ least privilege for specific duties and information systems. 

The principle of least privilege is also applied to information system processes, ensuring that the processes 

operate at privilege levels no higher than necessary to accomplish required organizational 

missions/business functions. Organizations consider the creation of additional processes, roles, and 

information system accounts as necessary, to achieve least privilege. Organizations also apply least 

privilege to the development, implementation, and operation of organizational information systems. 

Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-5, CM-6, CM-7, PL-2. 

AC-6(6) LEAST PRIVILEGE | PRIVILEGED ACCESS BY NON-ORGANIZATIONAL USERS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization prohibits privileged access to the information system by non-organizational users.

Supplemental Guidance: Related control: IA-8.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:
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P1 LOW Not Selected MOD AC-6 (1) (2) (5) (9) (10) HIGH AC-6 (1) (2) (3) (5) (9) (10)

AC-17 REMOTE ACCESS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes and documents usage restrictions, configuration/connection requirements, and 

implementation guidance for each type of remote access allowed; and

b. Authorizes remote access to the information system prior to allowing such connections.

Supplemental Guidance: Remote access is access to organizational information systems by users (or processes 

acting on behalf of users) communicating through external networks (e.g., the Internet). Remote access 

methods include, for example, dial-up, broadband, and wireless. Organizations often employ encrypted 

virtual private networks (VPNs) to enhance confidentiality and integrity over remote connections. The use 

of encrypted VPNs does not make the access non-remote; however, the use of VPNs, when adequately 

provisioned with appropriate security controls (e.g., employing appropriate encryption techniques for 

confidentiality and integrity protection) may provide sufficient assurance to the organization that it can 

effectively treat such connections as internal networks. Still, VPN connections traverse external networks, 

and the encrypted VPN does not enhance the availability of remote connections. Also, VPNs with 

encrypted tunnels can affect the organizational capability to adequately monitor network communications 

traffic for malicious code. Remote access controls apply to information systems other than public web 

servers or systems designed for public access. This control addresses authorization prior to allowing remote 

access without specifying the formats for such authorization. While organizations may use interconnection 

security agreements to authorize remote access connections, such agreements are not required by this 

control. Enforcing access restrictions for remote connections is addressed in AC-3. Related controls: AC-2, 

AC-3, AC-18, AC-19, AC-20, CA-3, CA-7, CM-8, IA-2, IA-3, IA-8, MA-4, PE-17, PL-4, SC-10, SI-4.

AC-17(6) REMOTE ACCESS | PROTECTION OF INFORMATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization ensures that users protect information about remote access mechanisms from 

unauthorized use and disclosure.

Supplemental Guidance: Related controls: AT-2, AT-3, PS-6.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-46, 800-77, 800-113, 800-114, 800-121.

Priority and Baseline Allocation: 

P1 LOW AC-17 MOD AC-17 (1) (2) (3) (4) HIGH AC-17 (1) (2) (3) (4)

AC-18 WIRELESS ACCESS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes usage restrictions, configuration/connection requirements, and implementation guidance 

for wireless access; and

b. Authorizes wireless access to the information system prior to allowing such connections.

Supplemental Guidance: Wireless technologies include, for example, microwave, packet radio (UHF/VHF), 

802.11x, and Bluetooth. Wireless networks use authentication protocols (e.g., EAP/TLS, PEAP), which 

provide credential protection and mutual authentication. Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-17, AC-19, 

CA-3, CA-7, CM-8, IA-2, IA-3, IA-8, PL-4, SI-4.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-48, 800-94, 800-97.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:
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P1 LOW AC-18 MOD AC-18 (1) HIGH AC-18 (1) (4) (5)

AC-19 ACCESS CONTROL FOR MOBILE DEVICES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes usage restrictions, configuration requirements, connection requirements, and 

implementation guidance for organization-controlled mobile devices; and

b. Authorizes the connection of mobile devices to organizational information systems.

Supplemental Guidance: A mobile device is a computing device that: (i) has a small form factor such that it 

can easily be carried by a single individual; (ii) is designed to operate without a physical connection (e.g., 

wirelessly transmit or receive information); (iii) possesses local, non-removable or removable data storage; 

and (iv) includes a self-contained power source. Mobile devices may also include voice communication 

capabilities, on-board sensors that allow the device to capture information, and/or built-in features for 

synchronizing local data with remote locations. Examples include smart phones, E-readers, and tablets. 

Mobile devices are typically associated with a single individual and the device is usually in close proximity 

to the individual; however, the degree of proximity can vary depending upon on the form factor and size of 

the device. The processing, storage, and transmission capability of the mobile device may be comparable to 

or merely a subset of desktop systems, depending upon the nature and intended purpose of the device. Due 

to the large variety of mobile devices with different technical characteristics and capabilities, organizational 

restrictions may vary for the different classes/types of such devices. Usage restrictions and specific 

implementation guidance for mobile devices include, for example, configuration management, device 

identification and authentication, implementation of mandatory protective software (e.g., malicious code 

detection, firewall), scanning devices for malicious code, updating virus protection software, scanning for 

critical software updates and patches, conducting primary operating system (and possibly other resident 

software) integrity checks, and disabling unnecessary hardware (e.g., wireless, infrared). Organizations are 

cautioned that the need to provide adequate security for mobile devices goes beyond the requirements in 

this control. Many safeguards and countermeasures for mobile devices are reflected in other security 

controls in the catalog allocated in the initial control baselines as starting points for the development of 

security plans and overlays using the tailoring process. There may also be some degree of overlap in the 

requirements articulated by the security controls within the different families of controls. AC-20 addresses 

mobile devices that are not organization-controlled. Related controls: AC-3, AC-7, AC-18, AC-20, CA-9, 

CM-2, IA-2, IA-3, MP-2, MP-4, MP-5, PL-4, SC-7, SC-43, SI-3, SI-4.

References: OMB Memorandum 06-16; NIST Special Publications 800-114, 800-124, 800-164.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AC-19 MOD AC-19 (5) HIGH AC-19 (5)

AC-20 USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization establishes terms and conditions, consistent with any trust relationships 

established with other organizations owning, operating, and/or maintaining external information systems, 

allowing authorized individuals to:

a. Access the information system from external information systems; and

b. Process, store, or transmit organization-controlled information using external information systems.

Supplemental Guidance: External information systems are information systems or components of information 

systems that are outside of the authorization boundary established by organizations and for which 

organizations typically have no direct supervision and authority over the application of required security 

controls or the assessment of control effectiveness. External information systems include, for example: (i) 

personally owned information systems/devices (e.g., notebook computers, smart phones, tablets, personal 
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digital assistants); (ii) privately owned computing and communications devices resident in commercial or 

public facilities (e.g., hotels, train stations, convention centers, shopping malls, or airports); (iii) 

information systems owned or controlled by nonfederal governmental organizations; and (iv) federal 

information systems that are not owned by, operated by, or under the direct supervision and authority of 

organizations. This control also addresses the use of external information systems for the processing, 

storage, or transmission of organizational information, including, for example, accessing cloud services 

(e.g., infrastructure as a service, platform as a service, or software as a service) from organizational 

information systems.

For some external information systems (i.e., information systems operated by other federal agencies, 

including organizations subordinate to those agencies), the trust relationships that have been established 

between those organizations and the originating organization may be such, that no explicit terms and 

conditions are required. Information systems within these organizations would not be considered external. 

These situations occur when, for example, there are pre-existing sharing/trust agreements (either implicit or 

explicit) established between federal agencies or organizations subordinate to those agencies, or when such 

trust agreements are specified by applicable laws, Executive Orders, directives, or policies. Authorized 

individuals include, for example, organizational personnel, contractors, or other individuals with authorized 

access to organizational information systems and over which organizations have the authority to impose 

rules of behavior with regard to system access. Restrictions that organizations impose on authorized 

individuals need not be uniform, as those restrictions may vary depending upon the trust relationships 

between organizations. Therefore, organizations may choose to impose different security restrictions on 

contractors than on state, local, or tribal governments.

This control does not apply to the use of external information systems to access public interfaces to 

organizational information systems (e.g., individuals accessing federal information through www.usa.gov). 

Organizations establish terms and conditions for the use of external information systems in accordance with 

organizational security policies and procedures. Terms and conditions address as a minimum: types of 

applications that can be accessed on organizational information systems from external information systems; 

and the highest security category of information that can be processed, stored, or transmitted on external 

information systems. If terms and conditions with the owners of external information systems cannot be 

established, organizations may impose restrictions on organizational personnel using those external 

systems. Related controls: AC-3, AC-17, AC-19, CA-3, PL-4, SA-9.

AC-20(1) USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | LIMITS ON AUTHORIZED USE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization permits authorized individuals to use an external information system to access 

the information system or to process, store, or transmit organization-controlled information only 

when the organization:

(a) Verifies the implementation of required security controls on the external system as 

specified in the organization’s information security policy and security plan; or

(b) Retains approved information system connection or processing agreements with the 

organizational entity hosting the external information system.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement recognizes that there are circumstances where 

individuals using external information systems (e.g., contractors, coalition partners) need to access 

organizational information systems. In those situations, organizations need confidence that the external 

information systems contain the necessary security safeguards (i.e., security controls), so as not to 

compromise, damage, or otherwise harm organizational information systems. Verification that the 

required security controls have been implemented can be achieved, for example, by third-party, 

independent assessments, attestations, or other means, depending on the confidence level required by 

organizations. Related control: CA-2.

AC-20(3) USE OF EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | NON-ORGANIZATIONALLY 

OWNED SYSTEMS / COMPONENTS / DEVICES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization [Selection: restricts; prohibits] the use of non-organizationally owned 

information systems, system components, or devices to process, store, or transmit organizational 

information.

Supplemental Guidance: Non-organizationally owned devices include devices owned by other 

organizations (e.g., federal/state agencies, contractors) and personally owned devices. There are risks 

to using non-organizationally owned devices. In some cases, the risk is sufficiently high as to prohibit 

such use. In other cases, it may be such that the use of non-organizationally owned devices is allowed 

but restricted in some way. Restrictions include, for example: (i) requiring the implementation of 

organization-approved security controls prior to authorizing such connections; (ii) limiting access to 

certain types of information, services, or applications; (iii) using virtualization techniques to limit 

processing and storage activities to servers or other system components provisioned by the 

organization; and (iv) agreeing to terms and conditions for usage. For personally owned devices, 

organizations consult with the Office of the General Counsel regarding legal issues associated with 

using such devices in operational environments, including, for example, requirements for conducting 

forensic analyses during investigations after an incident.

References: FIPS Publication 199.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AC-20 MOD AC-20 (1) (2) HIGH AC-20 (1) (2)

AC-21 INFORMATION SHARING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Facilitates information sharing by enabling authorized users to determine whether access 

authorizations assigned to the sharing partner match the access restrictions on the information for 

[Assignment: organization-defined information sharing circumstances where user discretion is 

required]; and

b. Employs [Assignment: organization-defined automated mechanisms or manual processes] to assist 

users in making information sharing/collaboration decisions.

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to information that may be restricted in some manner (e.g., 

privileged medical information, contract-sensitive information, proprietary information, personally 

identifiable information, classified information related to special access programs or compartments) based 

on some formal or administrative determination. Depending on the particular information-sharing 

circumstances, sharing partners may be defined at the individual, group, or organizational level. 

Information may be defined by content, type, security category, or special access program/compartment. 

Related control: AC-3.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW Not Selected MOD AC-21 HIGH AC-21

AC-22 PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE CONTENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Designates individuals authorized to post information onto a publicly accessible information system;
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b. Trains authorized individuals to ensure that publicly accessible information does not contain nonpublic 

information;

c. Reviews the proposed content of information prior to posting onto the publicly accessible information 

system to ensure that nonpublic information is not included; and

d. Reviews the content on the publicly accessible information system for nonpublic information 

[Assignment: organization-defined frequency] and removes such information, if discovered.

Supplemental Guidance: In accordance with federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, 

standards, and/or guidance, the general public is not authorized access to nonpublic information (e.g., 

information protected under the Privacy Act and proprietary information). This control addresses 

information systems that are controlled by the organization and accessible to the general public, typically 

without identification or authentication. The posting of information on non-organization information 

systems is covered by organizational policy. Related controls: AC-3, AC-4, AT-2, AT-3, AU-13.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P3 LOW AC-22 MOD AC-22 HIGH AC-22

AC-24 ACCESS CONTROL DECISIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization establishes procedures to ensure [Assignment: organization-defined access control 

decisions] are applied to each access request prior to access enforcement.

Supplemental Guidance: Access control decisions (also known as authorization decisions) occur when 

authorization information is applied to specific accesses. In contrast, access enforcement occurs when 

information systems enforce access control decisions. While it is very common to have access control 

decisions and access enforcement implemented by the same entity, it is not required and it is not always an 

optimal implementation choice. For some architectures and distributed information systems, different 

entities may perform access control decisions and access enforcement.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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FAMILY: AWARENESS AND TRAINING

AT-1 SECURITY AWARENESS AND TRAINING POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A security awareness and training policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, 

management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the security awareness and training policy and 

associated security awareness and training controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Security awareness and training policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Security awareness and training procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the AT family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-16, 800-50, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AT-1 MOD AT-1 HIGH AT-1

AT-3 ROLE BASED SECURITY TRAINING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization provides role-based security training to personnel with assigned security roles and 

responsibilities:

a. Before authorizing access to the information system or performing assigned duties;

b. When required by information system changes; and

c. [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] thereafter.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations determine the appropriate content of security training based on the 

assigned roles and responsibilities of individuals and the specific security requirements of organizations

and the information systems to which personnel have authorized access. In addition, organizations provide 

enterprise architects, information system developers, software developers, acquisition/procurement 

officials, information system managers, system/network administrators, personnel conducting configuration 

management and auditing activities, personnel performing independent verification and validation 

activities, security control assessors, and other personnel having access to system-level software, adequate 

security-related technical training specifically tailored for their assigned duties. Comprehensive role-based

training addresses management, operational, and technical roles and responsibilities covering physical, 

personnel, and technical safeguards and countermeasures. Such training can include for example, policies, 

procedures, tools, and artifacts for the organizational security roles defined. Organizations also provide the 

training necessary for individuals to carry out their responsibilities related to operations and supply chain 

security within the context of organizational information security programs. Role-based security training 
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also applies to contractors providing services to federal agencies. Related controls: AT-2, AT-4, PL-4, PS7, SA-3, SA-12, SA-16.

AT-3 (2) SECURITY TRAINING | PHYSICAL SECURITY CONTROLS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization provides [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] with initial and 

[Assignment: organization-defined frequency] training in the employment and operation of 

physical security controls.

Supplemental Guidance: Physical security controls include, for example, physical access control 

devices, physical intrusion alarms, monitoring/surveillance equipment, and security guards 

(deployment and operating procedures). Organizations identify personnel with specific roles and 

responsibilities associated with physical security controls requiring specialized training. Related 

controls: PE-2, PE-3, PE-4, PE-5.

References: C.F.R. Part 5 Subpart C (5 C.F.R. 930.301); NIST Special Publications 800-16, 800-50.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AT-3 MOD AT-3 HIGH AT-3
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FAMILY: AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

AU-1 AUDIT AND ACCOUNTABILITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. An audit and accountability policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, 

management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the audit and accountability policy and associated 

audit and accountability controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Audit and accountability policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Audit and accountability procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the AU family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AU-1 MOD AU-1 HIGH AU-1

AU-2 AUDIT EVENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Determines that the information system is capable of auditing the following events: [Assignment: 

organization-defined auditable events];

b. Coordinates the security audit function with other organizational entities requiring audit-related 

information to enhance mutual support and to help guide the selection of auditable events;

c. Provides a rationale for why the auditable events are deemed to be adequate to support after-the-fact 

investigations of security incidents; and

d. Determines that the following events are to be audited within the information system: [Assignment: 

organization-defined audited events (the subset of the auditable events defined in AU-2 a.) along with 

the frequency of (or situation requiring) auditing for each identified event].

Supplemental Guidance: An event is any observable occurrence in an organizational information system. 

Organizations identify audit events as those events which are significant and relevant to the security of 

information systems and the environments in which those systems operate in order to meet specific and 

ongoing audit needs. Audit events can include, for example, password changes, failed logons, or failed 

accesses related to information systems, administrative privilege usage, PIV credential usage, or third-party 

credential usage. In determining the set of auditable events, organizations consider the auditing appropriate 
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for each of the security controls to be implemented. To balance auditing requirements with other 

information system needs, this control also requires identifying that subset of auditable events that are 

audited at a given point in time. For example, organizations may determine that information systems must 

have the capability to log every file access both successful and unsuccessful, but not activate that capability 

except for specific circumstances due to the potential burden on system performance. Auditing 

requirements, including the need for auditable events, may be referenced in other security controls and 

control enhancements. Organizations also include auditable events that are required by applicable federal 

laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, and standards. Audit records can be generated at 

various levels of abstraction, including at the packet level as information traverses the network. Selecting 

the appropriate level of abstraction is a critical aspect of an audit capability and can facilitate the 

identification of root causes to problems. Organizations consider in the definition of auditable events, the 

auditing necessary to cover related events such as the steps in distributed, transaction-based processes (e.g., 

processes that are distributed across multiple organizations) and actions that occur in service-oriented 

architectures. Related controls: AC-6, AC-17, AU-3, AU-12, MA-4, MP-2, MP-4, SI-4.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-92; Web: csrc.nist.gov/pcig/cig.html, idmanagement.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AU-2 MOD AU-2 (3) HIGH AU-2 (3)

AU-6 AUDIT REVIEW, ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Reviews and analyzes information system audit records [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] 

for indications of [Assignment: organization-defined inappropriate or unusual activity]; and

b. Reports findings to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles].

Supplemental Guidance: Audit review, analysis, and reporting covers information security-related auditing 

performed by organizations including, for example, auditing that results from monitoring of account usage, 

remote access, wireless connectivity, mobile device connection, configuration settings, system component 

inventory, use of maintenance tools and nonlocal maintenance, physical access, temperature and humidity, 

equipment delivery and removal, communications at the information system boundaries, use of mobile 

code, and use of VoIP. Findings can be reported to organizational entities that include, for example, 

incident response team, help desk, information security group/department. If organizations are prohibited 

from reviewing and analyzing audit information or unable to conduct such activities (e.g., in certain 

national security applications or systems), the review/analysis may be carried out by other organizations 

granted such authority. Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-6, AC-17, AT-3, AU-7, AU-16, CA-7, CM-5, 

CM-10, CM-11, IA-3, IA-5, IR-5, IR-6, MA-4, MP-4, PE-3, PE-6, PE-14, PE-16, RA-5, SC-7, SC-18, SC19, SI-3, SI-4, SI-7.

AU-6 (9) AUDIT REVIEW, ANALYSIS, AND REPORTING | CORRELATION WITH 

INFORMATION FROM NONTECHNICAL SOURCES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization correlates information from nontechnical sources with audit information to 

enhance organization-wide situational awareness.

Supplemental Guidance: Nontechnical sources include, for example, human resources records 

documenting organizational policy violations (e.g., sexual harassment incidents, improper use of 

organizational information assets). Such information can lead organizations to a more directed 

analytical effort to detect potential malicious insider activity. Due to the sensitive nature of the 

information available from nontechnical sources, organizations limit access to such information to 

minimize the potential for the inadvertent release of privacy-related information to individuals that do 

not have a need to know. Thus, correlation of information from nontechnical sources with audit 
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information generally occurs only when individuals are suspected of being involved in a security 

incident. Organizations obtain legal advice prior to initiating such actions. Related control: AT-2.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AU-6 MOD AU-6 (1) (3) HIGH AU-6 (1) (3) (5) (6)

AU-10 NON-REPUDIATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system protects against an individual (or process acting on behalf of an individual) 

falsely denying having performed [Assignment: organization-defined actions to be covered by nonrepudiation].

Supplemental Guidance: Types of individual actions covered by non-repudiation include, for example, 

creating information, sending and receiving messages, approving information (e.g., indicating concurrence 

or signing a contract). Non-repudiation protects individuals against later claims by: (i) authors of not 

having authored particular documents; (ii) senders of not having transmitted messages; (iii) receivers of not 

having received messages; or (iv) signatories of not having signed documents. Non-repudiation services 

can be used to determine if information originated from a particular individual, or if an individual took 

specific actions (e.g., sending an email, signing a contract, approving a procurement request) or received 

specific information. Organizations obtain non-repudiation services by employing various techniques or 

mechanisms (e.g., digital signatures, digital message receipts). Related controls: SC-12, SC-8, SC-13, SC16, SC-17, SC-23.

AU-10 (1) NON-REPUDIATION | ASSOCIATION OF IDENTITIES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system:

a. Binds the identity of the information producer with the information to [Assignment: 

organization-defined strength of binding]; and

b. Provides the means for authorized individuals to determine the identity of the producer 

of the information.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement supports audit requirements that provide 

organizational personnel with the means to identify who produced specific information in the 

event of an information transfer. Organizations determine and approve the strength of the binding 

between the information producer and the information based on the security category of the 

information and relevant risk factors. Related controls: AC-4, AC-16.

AU-10 (2) NON-REPUDIATION | VALIDATE BINDING OF INFORMATION PRODUCER 

IDENTITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system:

(a) Validates the binding of the information producer identity to the information at 

[Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

(b) Performs [Assignment: organization-defined actions] in the event of a validation error.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement prevents the modification of information between 

production and review. The validation of bindings can be achieved, for example, by the use of 

cryptographic checksums. Organizations determine if validations are in response to user requests or 

generated automatically. Related controls: AC-3, AC-4, AC-16.

AU-10 (3) NON-REPUDIATION | CHAIN OF CUSTODY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The information system maintains reviewer/releaser identity and credentials within the 

established chain of custody for all information reviewed or released.

Supplemental Guidance: Chain of custody is a process that tracks the movement of evidence through its 

collection, safeguarding, and analysis life cycle by documenting each person who handled the 

evidence, the date and time it was collected or transferred, and the purpose for the transfer. If the 

reviewer is a human or if the review function is automated but separate from the release/transfer 

function, the information system associates the identity of the reviewer of the information to be 

released with the information and the information label. In the case of human reviews, this control 

enhancement provides organizational officials the means to identify who reviewed and released the 

information. In the case of automated reviews, this control enhancement ensures that only approved 

review functions are employed. Related controls: AC-4, AC-16.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH AU-10

AU-12 AUDIT GENERATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system:

a. Provides audit record generation capability for the auditable events defined in AU-2 a. at [Assignment: 

organization-defined information system components];

b. Allows [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] to select which auditable events are to 

be audited by specific components of the information system; and

c. Generates audit records for the events defined in AU-2 d. with the content defined in AU-3.

Supplemental Guidance: Audit records can be generated from many different information system components. 

The list of audited events is the set of events for which audits are to be generated. These events are 

typically a subset of all events for which the information system is capable of generating audit records. 

Related controls: AC-3, AU-2, AU-3, AU-6, AU-7.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW AU-12 MOD AU-12 HIGH AU-12 (1) (3)

AU-13 MONITORING FOR INFORMATION DISCLOSURE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization monitors [Assignment: organization-defined open source information and/or 

information sites] [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] for evidence of unauthorized disclosure of

organizational information.

Supplemental Guidance: Open source information includes, for example, social networking sites. Related 

controls: PE-3, SC-7.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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AU-16 CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL AUDITING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined methods] for coordinating 

[Assignment: organization-defined audit information] among external organizations when audit 

information is transmitted across organizational boundaries.

Supplemental Guidance: When organizations use information systems and/or services of external 

organizations, the auditing capability necessitates a coordinated approach across organizations. For 

example, maintaining the identity of individuals that requested particular services across organizational 

boundaries may often be very difficult, and doing so may prove to have significant performance 

ramifications. Therefore, it is often the case that cross-organizational auditing (e.g., the type of auditing 

capability provided by service-oriented architectures) simply captures the identity of individuals issuing 

requests at the initial information system, and subsequent systems record that the requests emanated from 

authorized individuals. Related control: AU-6.

AU-16(2) CROSS-ORGANIZATIONAL AUDITING | SHARING OF AUDIT INFORMATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization provides cross-organizational audit information to [Assignment: organization-defined 

organizations] based on [Assignment: organization-defined cross-organizational sharing agreements].

Supplemental Guidance: Because of the distributed nature of the audit information, cross-organization 

sharing of audit information may be essential for effective analysis of the auditing being performed. 

For example, the audit records of one organization may not provide sufficient information to determine 

the appropriate or inappropriate use of organizational information resources by individuals in other 

organizations. In some instances, only the home organizations of individuals have the appropriate 

knowledge to make such determinations, thus requiring the sharing of audit information among 

organizations.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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FAMILY: SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZATION

CA-1 SECURITY ASSESSMENT AND AUTHORIZATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES[BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A security assessment and authorization policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, 

responsibilities, management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and 

compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the security assessment and authorization 

policy and associated security assessment and authorization controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Security assessment and authorization policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; 

and

2. Security assessment and authorization procedures [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the CA family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-37, 800-53A, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CA-1 MOD CA-1 HIGH CA-1

CA-2 SECURITY ASSESSMENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops a security assessment plan that describes the scope of the assessment including:

1. Security controls and control enhancements under assessment;

2. Assessment procedures to be used to determine security control effectiveness; and

3. Assessment environment, assessment team, and assessment roles and responsibilities;

b. Assesses the security controls in the information system and its environment of operation [Assignment: 

organization-defined frequency] to determine the extent to which the controls are implemented 

correctly, operating as intended, and producing the desired outcome with respect to meeting 

established security requirements;

c. Produces a security assessment report that documents the results of the assessment; and

d. Provides the results of the security control assessment to [Assignment: organization-defined 

individuals or roles].
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Supplemental Guidance: Organizations assess security controls in organizational information systems and the 

environments in which those systems operate as part of: (i) initial and ongoing security authorizations; (ii) 

FISMA annual assessments; (iii) continuous monitoring; and (iv) system development life cycle activities. 

Security assessments: (i) ensure that information security is built into organizational information systems; 

(ii) identify weaknesses and deficiencies early in the development process; (iii) provide essential 

information needed to make risk-based decisions as part of security authorization processes; and (iv) ensure 

compliance to vulnerability mitigation procedures. Assessments are conducted on the implemented security 

controls from Appendix F (main catalog) and Appendix G (Program Management controls) as documented 

in System Security Plans and Information Security Program Plans. Organizations can use other types of 

assessment activities such as vulnerability scanning and system monitoring to maintain the security posture 

of information systems during the entire life cycle. Security assessment reports document assessment 

results in sufficient detail as deemed necessary by organizations, to determine the accuracy and 

completeness of the reports and whether the security controls are implemented correctly, operating as 

intended, and producing the desired outcome with respect to meeting security requirements. The FISMA 

requirement for assessing security controls at least annually does not require additional assessment 

activities to those activities already in place in organizational security authorization processes. Security 

assessment results are provided to the individuals or roles appropriate for the types of assessments being 

conducted. For example, assessments conducted in support of security authorization decisions are provided 

to authorizing officials or authorizing official designated representatives.

To satisfy annual assessment requirements, organizations can use assessment results from the following 

sources: (i) initial or ongoing information system authorizations; (ii) continuous monitoring; or (iii) system

development life cycle activities. Organizations ensure that security assessment results are current, relevant 

to the determination of security control effectiveness, and obtained with the appropriate level of assessor 

independence. Existing security control assessment results can be reused to the extent that the results are 

still valid and can also be supplemented with additional assessments as needed. Subsequent to initial 

authorizations and in accordance with OMB policy, organizations assess security controls during 

continuous monitoring. Organizations establish the frequency for ongoing security control assessments in 

accordance with organizational continuous monitoring strategies. Information Assurance Vulnerability 

Alerts provide useful examples of vulnerability mitigation procedures. External audits (e.g., audits by 

external entities such as regulatory agencies) are outside the scope of this control. Related controls: CA-5, 

CA-6, CA-7, PM-9, RA-5, SA-11, SA-12, SI-4.

Control Enhancements: 

CA-2 (2) SECURITY ASSESSMENTS | SPECIALIZED ASSESSMENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization includes as part of security control assessments, [Assignment: organizationdefined frequency], [Selection: announced; unannounced], [Selection (one or more): in-depth 

monitoring; vulnerability scanning; malicious user testing; insider threat assessment; 

performance/load testing; [Assignment: organization-defined other forms of security assessment]].

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations can employ information system monitoring, insider threat 

assessments, malicious user testing, and other forms of testing (e.g., verification and validation) to 

improve readiness by exercising organizational capabilities and indicating current performance levels 

as a means of focusing actions to improve security. Organizations conduct assessment activities in 

accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, and 

standards. Authorizing officials approve the assessment methods in coordination with the 

organizational risk executive function. Organizations can incorporate vulnerabilities uncovered during 

assessments into vulnerability remediation processes. Related controls: PE-3, SI-2.

CA-2 (3) SECURITY ASSESSMENTS | EXTERNAL ORGANIZATIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization accepts the results of an assessment of [Assignment: organization-defined 

information system] performed by [Assignment: organization-defined external organization] when 

the assessment meets [Assignment: organization-defined requirements].
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Supplemental Guidance: Organizations may often rely on assessments of specific information systems by 

other (external) organizations. Utilizing such existing assessments (i.e., reusing existing assessment 

evidence) can significantly decrease the time and resources required for organizational assessments by 

limiting the amount of independent assessment activities that organizations need to perform. The 

factors that organizations may consider in determining whether to accept assessment results from 

external organizations can vary. Determinations for accepting assessment results can be based on, for 

example, past assessment experiences one organization has had with another organization, the 

reputation that organizations have with regard to assessments, the level of detail of supporting 

assessment documentation provided, or mandates imposed upon organizations by federal legislation, 

policies, or directives.

References: Executive Order 13587; FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publications 800-37, 800-39, 800-

53A, 800-115, 800-137.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW CA-2 MOD CA-2 (1) HIGH CA-2 (1) (2)

CA-3 SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Authorizes connections from the information system to other information systems through the 

use of Interconnection Security Agreements;

b. Documents, for each interconnection, the interface characteristics, security requirements, and 

the nature of the information communicated; and

c. Reviews and updates Interconnection Security Agreements [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to dedicated connections between information systems (i.e., 

system interconnections) and does not apply to transitory, user-controlled connections such as email and 

website browsing. Organizations carefully consider the risks that may be introduced when information 

systems are connected to other systems with different security requirements and security controls, both 

within organizations and external to organizations. Authorizing officials determine the risk associated with 

information system connections and the appropriate controls employed. If interconnecting systems have the 

same authorizing official, organizations do not need to develop Interconnection Security Agreements. 

Instead, organizations can describe the interface characteristics between those interconnecting systems in 

their respective security plans. If interconnecting systems have different authorizing officials within the 

same organization, organizations can either develop Interconnection Security Agreements or describe the 

interface characteristics between systems in the security plans for the respective systems. Organizations 

may also incorporate Interconnection Security Agreement information into formal contracts, especially for 

interconnections established between federal agencies and nonfederal (i.e., private sector) organizations. 

Risk considerations also include information systems sharing the same networks. For certain technologies 

(e.g., space, unmanned aerial vehicles, and medical devices), there may be specialized connections in place

during preoperational testing. Such connections may require Interconnection Security Agreements and be 

subject to additional security controls. Related controls: AC-3, AC-4, AC-20, AU-2, AU-12, AU-16, CA-7, 

IA-3, SA-9, SC-7, SI-4.

CA-3 (3) SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | UNCLASSIFIED NON-NATIONAL SECURITY 

SYSTEM CONNECTIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization prohibits the direct connection of an [Assignment: organization-defined 

unclassified, non-national security system] to an external network without the use of [Assignment; 

organization-defined boundary protection device].
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Supplemental Guidance: Organizations typically do not have control over external networks (e.g., the 

Internet). Approved boundary protection devices (e.g., routers, firewalls) mediate communications 

(i.e., information flows) between unclassified non-national security systems and external networks. 

This control enhancement is required for organizations processing, storing, or transmitting Controlled 

Unclassified Information (CUI).

CA-3 (4) SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | CONNECTIONS TO PUBLIC NETWORKS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization prohibits the direct connection of an [Assignment: organization-defined 

information system] to a public network.

Supplemental Guidance: A public network is any network accessible to the general public including, for 

example, the Internet and organizational extranets with public access.

CA-3 (5) SYSTEM INTERCONNECTIONS | RESTRICTIONS ON EXTERNAL SYSTEM 

CONNECTIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Selection: allow-all, deny-by-exception; deny-all, permit-by-exception] 

policy for allowing [Assignment: organization-defined information systems] to connect to external 

information systems.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations can constrain information system connectivity to external 

domains (e.g., websites) by employing one of two policies with regard to such connectivity: (i) allowall, deny by exception, also known as blacklisting (the weaker of the two policies); or (ii) deny-all, 

allow by exception, also known as whitelisting (the stronger of the two policies). For either policy, 

organizations determine what exceptions, if any, are acceptable. Related control: CM-7.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publication 800-47.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CA-3 MOD CA-3 (5) HIGH CA-3 (5)

CA-5 PLAN OF ACTION AND MILESTONES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops a plan of action and milestones for the information system to document the organization’s 

planned remedial actions to correct weaknesses or deficiencies noted during the assessment of the 

security controls and to reduce or eliminate known vulnerabilities in the system; and

b. Updates existing plan of action and milestones [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] based on 

the findings from security controls assessments, security impact analyses, and continuous monitoring 

activities.

Supplemental Guidance: Plans of action and milestones are key documents in security authorization packages 

and are subject to federal reporting requirements established by OMB. Related controls: CA-2, CA-7, CM4, PM-4.

References: OMB Memorandum 02-01; NIST Special Publication 800-37.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P3 LOW CA-5 MOD CA-5 HIGH CA-5
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CA-6 SECURITY AUTHORIZATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Assigns a senior-level executive or manager as the authorizing official for the information system;

b. Ensures that the authorizing official authorizes the information system for processing before 

commencing operations; and

c. Updates the security authorization [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: Security authorizations are official management decisions, conveyed through 

authorization decision documents, by senior organizational officials or executives (i.e., authorizing 

officials) to authorize operation of information systems and to explicitly accept the risk to organizational 

operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation based on the implementation of 

agreed-upon security controls. Authorizing officials provide budgetary oversight for organizational 

information systems or assume responsibility for the mission/business operations supported by those 

systems. The security authorization process is an inherently federal responsibility and therefore, authorizing 

officials must be federal employees. Through the security authorization process, authorizing officials 

assume responsibility and are accountable for security risks associated with the operation and use of 

organizational information systems. Accordingly, authorizing officials are in positions with levels of 

authority commensurate with understanding and accepting such information security-related risks. OMB 

policy requires that organizations conduct ongoing authorizations of information systems by implementing 

continuous monitoring programs. Continuous monitoring programs can satisfy three-year reauthorization 

requirements, so separate reauthorization processes are not necessary. Through the employment of 

comprehensive continuous monitoring processes, critical information contained in authorization packages 

(i.e., security plans, security assessment reports, and plans of action and milestones) is updated on an 

ongoing basis, providing authorizing officials and information system owners with an up-to-date status of 

the security state of organizational information systems and environments of operation. To reduce the 

administrative cost of security reauthorization, authorizing officials use the results of continuous 

monitoring processes to the maximum extent possible as the basis for rendering reauthorization decisions. 

Related controls: CA-2, CA-7, PM-9, PM-10.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: OMB Circular A-130; OMB Memorandum 11-33; NIST Special Publications 800-37, 800-137.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW CA-6 MOD CA-6 HIGH CA-6

CA-7 CONTINUOUS MONITORING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control:

a. The organization develops a continuous monitoring strategy and implements a continuous 

monitoring program that includes:

b. Establishment of [Assignment: organization-defined metrics] to be monitored;

c. Establishment of [Assignment: organization-defined frequencies] for monitoring and 

[Assignment: organization-defined frequencies] for assessments supporting such monitoring;

d. Ongoing security control assessments in accordance with the organizational continuous 

monitoring strategy;

e. Ongoing security status monitoring of organization-defined metrics in accordance with the 

organizational continuous monitoring strategy;

f. Correlation and analysis of security-related information generated by assessments and monitoring;
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g. Response actions to address results of the analysis of security-related information; and

h. Reporting the security status of organization and the information system to [Assignment: 

organization-defined personnel or roles] [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: Continuous monitoring programs facilitate ongoing awareness of threats, 

vulnerabilities, and information security to support organizational risk management decisions. The terms 

continuous and ongoing imply that organizations assess/analyze security controls and information securityrelated risks at a frequency sufficient to support organizational risk-based decisions. The results of 

continuous monitoring programs generate appropriate risk response actions by organizations. Continuous 

monitoring programs also allow organizations to maintain the security authorizations of information 

systems and common controls over time in highly dynamic environments of operation with changing 

mission/business needs, threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies. Having access to security-related 

information on a continuing basis through reports/dashboards gives organizational officials the capability to 

make more effective and timely risk management decisions, including ongoing security authorization 

decisions. Automation supports more frequent updates to security authorization packages, 

hardware/software/firmware inventories, and other system information. Effectiveness is further enhanced 

when continuous monitoring outputs are formatted to provide information that is specific, measurable, 

actionable, relevant, and timely. Continuous monitoring activities are scaled in accordance with the security 

categories of information systems. Related controls: CA-2, CA-5, CA-6, CM-3, CM-4, PM-6, PM-9, RA-5, 

SA-11, SA-12, SI-2, SI-4.

CA-7 (3) CONTINUOUS MONITORING | TREND ANALYSES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs trend analyses to determine if security control implementations, the 

frequency of continuous monitoring activities, and/or the types of activities used in the 

continuous monitoring process need to be modified based on empirical data.

Supplemental Guidance: Trend analyses can include, for example, examining recent threat information 

regarding the types of threat events that have occurred within the organization or across the federal 

government, success rates of certain types of cyber attacks, emerging vulnerabilities in information 

technologies, evolving social engineering techniques, results from multiple security control 

assessments, the effectiveness of configuration settings, and findings from Inspectors General or 

auditors.

References: OMB Memorandum 11-33; NIST Special Publications 800-37, 800-39, 800-53A, 800-115, 800-137; USCERT Technical Cyber Security Alerts; DoD Information Assurance Vulnerability Alerts.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW CA-7 MOD CA-7 (1) HIGH CA-7 (1)
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FAMILY: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

CM-1 CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A configuration management policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, 

management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the configuration management policy and associated 

configuration management controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Configuration management policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Configuration management procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the CM family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CM-1 MOD CM-1 HIGH CM-1

CM-2 BASELINE CONFIGURATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization develops, documents, and maintains under configuration control, a current 

baseline configuration of the information system.

Supplemental Guidance: This control establishes baseline configurations for information systems and system 

components including communications and connectivity-related aspects of systems. Baseline 

configurations are documented, formally reviewed and agreed-upon sets of specifications for information 

systems or configuration items within those systems. Baseline configurations serve as a basis for future 

builds, releases, and/or changes to information systems. Baseline configurations include information about 

information system components (e.g., standard software packages installed on workstations, notebook 

computers, servers, network components, or mobile devices; current version numbers and patch 

information on operating systems and applications; and configuration settings/parameters), network 

topology, and the logical placement of those components within the system architecture. Maintaining 

baseline configurations requires creating new baselines as organizational information systems change over 

time. Baseline configurations of information systems reflect the current enterprise architecture. Related 

controls: CM-3, CM-6, CM-8, CM-9, SA-10, PM-5, PM-7.

Control Enhancements: 

CM-2 (1) BASELINE CONFIGURATION | REVIEWS AND UPDATES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization reviews and updates the baseline configuration of the information system:

(a) [Assignment: organization-defined frequency];

(b) When required due to [Assignment organization-defined circumstances]; and

(c) As an integral part of information system component installations and upgrades.

Supplemental Guidance: Related control: CM-5.

CM-2 (6) BASELINE CONFIGURATION | DEVELOPMENT AND TEST ENVIRONMENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization maintains a baseline configuration for information system development and 

test environments that is managed separately from the operational baseline configuration.

Supplemental Guidance: Establishing separate baseline configurations for development, testing, and 

operational environments helps protect information systems from unplanned/unexpected events related 

to development and testing activities. Separate baseline configurations allow organizations to apply the 

configuration management that is most appropriate for each type of configuration. For example, 

management of operational configurations typically emphasizes the need for stability, while 

management of development/test configurations requires greater flexibility. Configurations in the test 

environment mirror the configurations in the operational environment to the extent practicable so that 

the results of the testing are representative of the proposed changes to the operational systems. This 

control enhancement requires separate configurations but not necessarily separate physical 

environments. Related controls: CM-4, SC-3, SC-7.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-128.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CM-2 MOD CM-2 (1) (3) (7) HIGH CM-2 (1) (2) (3) (7)

CM-3 CONFIGURATION CHANGE CONTROL [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Determines the types of changes to the information system that are configuration-controlled;

b. Reviews proposed configuration-controlled changes to the information system and approves or 

disapproves such changes with explicit consideration for security impact analyses;

c. Documents configuration change decisions associated with the information system;

d. Implements approved configuration-controlled changes to the information system;

e. Retains records of configuration-controlled changes to the information system for [Assignment: 

organization-defined time period];

f. Audits and reviews activities associated with configuration-controlled changes to the information 

system; and

g. Coordinates and provides oversight for configuration change control activities through [Assignment: 

organization-defined configuration change control element (e.g., committee, board] that convenes 

[Selection (one or more): [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; [Assignment: organizationdefined configuration change conditions]].

Supplemental Guidance: Configuration change controls for organizational information systems involve the 

systematic proposal, justification, implementation, testing, review, and disposition of changes to the 

systems, including system upgrades and modifications. Configuration change control includes changes to 

baseline configurations for components and configuration items of information systems, changes to 

configuration settings for information technology products (e.g., operating systems, applications, firewalls, 

routers, and mobile devices), unscheduled/unauthorized changes, and changes to remediate vulnerabilities. 
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Typical processes for managing configuration changes to information systems include, for example, 

Configuration Control Boards that approve proposed changes to systems. For new development 

information systems or systems undergoing major upgrades, organizations consider including 

representatives from development organizations on the Configuration Control Boards. Auditing of changes 

includes activities before and after changes are made to organizational information systems and the 

auditing activities required to implement such changes. Related controls: CM-2, CM-4, CM-5, CM-6, CM9, SA-10, SI-2, SI-12.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-128.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD CM-3 (2) HIGH CM-3 (1) (2)

CM-4 SECURITY IMPACT ANALYSIS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization analyzes changes to the information system to determine potential security 

impacts prior to change implementation.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizational personnel with information security responsibilities (e.g., Information 

System Administrators, Information System Security Officers, Information System Security Managers, and 

Information System Security Engineers) conduct security impact analyses. Individuals conducting security 

impact analyses possess the necessary skills/technical expertise to analyze the changes to information 

systems and the associated security ramifications. Security impact analysis may include, for example, 

reviewing security plans to understand security control requirements and reviewing system design 

documentation to understand control implementation and how specific changes might affect the controls. 

Security impact analyses may also include assessments of risk to better understand the impact of the 

changes and to determine if additional security controls are required. Security impact analyses are scaled in 

accordance with the security categories of the information systems. Related controls: CA-2, CA-7, CM-3, 

CM-9, SA-4, SA-5, SA-10, SI-2.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-128.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW CM-4 MOD CM-4 HIGH CM-4 (1)

CM-5 ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization defines, documents, approves, and enforces physical and logical access 

restrictions associated with changes to the information system. 

Supplemental Guidance: Any changes to the hardware, software, and/or firmware components of information 

systems can potentially have significant effects on the overall security of the systems. Therefore, 

organizations permit only qualified and authorized individuals to access information systems for purposes 

of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications. Organizations maintain records of access to 

ensure that configuration change control is implemented and to support after-the-fact actions should 

organizations discover any unauthorized changes. Access restrictions for change also include software 

libraries. Access restrictions include, for example, physical and logical access controls (see AC-3 and PE3), workflow automation, media libraries, abstract layers (e.g., changes implemented into third-party 

interfaces rather than directly into information systems), and change windows (e.g., changes occur only 

during specified times, making unauthorized changes easy to discover). Related controls: AC-3, AC-6, PE3.

CM-5 (1) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | AUTOMATED ACCESS ENFORCEMENT / 

AUDITING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The information system enforces access restrictions and supports auditing of the enforcement actions.

Supplemental Guidance: Related controls: AU-2, AU-12, AU-6, CM-3, CM-6.

CM-5 (2) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | REVIEW SYSTEM CHANGES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization reviews information system changes [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency] and [Assignment: organization-defined circumstances] to determine whether 

unauthorized changes have occurred.

Supplemental Guidance: Indications that warrant review of information system changes and the specific 

circumstances justifying such reviews may be obtained from activities carried out by organizations 

during the configuration change process. Related controls: AU-6, AU-7, CM-3, CM-5, PE-6, PE-8.

CM-5 (3) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | SIGNED COMPONENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system prevents the installation of [Assignment: organization-defined software 

and firmware components] without verification that the component has been digitally signed 

using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization.

Supplemental Guidance: Software and firmware components prevented from installation unless signed 

with recognized and approved certificates include, for example, software and firmware version 

updates, patches, service packs, device drivers, and basic input output system (BIOS) updates. 

Organizations can identify applicable software and firmware components by type, by specific items, or 

a combination of both. Digital signatures and organizational verification of such signatures, is a 

method of code authentication. Related controls: CM-7, SC-13, SI-7.

CM-5 (6) ACCESS RESTRICTIONS FOR CHANGE | LIMIT LIBRARY PRIVILEGES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization limits privileges to change software resident within software libraries.

Supplemental Guidance: Software libraries include privileged programs. Related control: AC-2.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD CM-5 HIGH CM-5 (1) (2) (3)

CM-6 CONFIGURATION SETTINGS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes and documents configuration settings for information technology products employed 

within the information system using [Assignment: organization-defined security configuration 

checklists] that reflect the most restrictive mode consistent with operational requirements;

b. Implements the configuration settings;

c. Identifies, documents, and approves any deviations from established configuration settings for 

[Assignment: organization-defined information system components] based on [Assignment: 

organization-defined operational requirements]; and

d. Monitors and controls changes to the configuration settings in accordance with organizational policies 

and procedures.

Supplemental Guidance: Configuration settings are the set of parameters that can be changed in hardware, 

software, or firmware components of the information system that affect the security posture and/or 

functionality of the system. Information technology products for which security-related configuration 

settings can be defined include, for example, mainframe computers, servers (e.g., database, electronic mail, 

authentication, web, proxy, file, domain name), workstations, input/output devices (e.g., scanners, copiers, 
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and printers), network components (e.g., firewalls, routers, gateways, voice and data switches, wireless 

access points, network appliances, sensors), operating systems, middleware, and applications. Securityrelated parameters are those parameters impacting the security state of information systems including the 

parameters required to satisfy other security control requirements. Security-related parameters include, for 

example: (i) registry settings; (ii) account, file, directory permission settings; and (iii) settings for functions, 

ports, protocols, services, and remote connections. Organizations establish organization-wide configuration 

settings and subsequently derive specific settings for information systems. The established settings become 

part of the systems configuration baseline.

Common secure configurations (also referred to as security configuration checklists, lockdown and 

hardening guides, security reference guides, security technical implementation guides) provide recognized, 

standardized, and established benchmarks that stipulate secure configuration settings for specific 

information technology platforms/products and instructions for configuring those information system 

components to meet operational requirements. Common secure configurations can be developed by a 

variety of organizations including, for example, information technology product developers, manufacturers, 

vendors, consortia, academia, industry, federal agencies, and other organizations in the public and private 

sectors. Common secure configurations include the United States Government Configuration Baseline 

(USGCB) which affects the implementation of CM-6 and other controls such as AC-19 and CM-7. The 

Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) and the defined standards within the protocol (e.g., 

Common Configuration Enumeration) provide an effective method to uniquely identify, track, and control 

configuration settings. OMB establishes federal policy on configuration requirements for federal 

information systems. Related controls: AC-19, CM-2, CM-3, CM-7, SI-4.

CM-6 (1) CONFIGURATION SETTINGS | AUTOMATED CENTRAL MANAGEMENT / 

APPLICATION / VERIFICATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs automated mechanisms to centrally manage, apply, and verify 

configuration settings for [Assignment: organization-defined information system components].

Supplemental Guidance: Related controls: CA-7, CM-4.

CM-6 (2) CONFIGURATION SETTINGS | RESPOND TO UNAUTHORIZED CHANGES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to respond to 

unauthorized changes to [Assignment: organization-defined configuration settings].

Supplemental Guidance: Responses to unauthorized changes to configuration settings can include, for 

example, alerting designated organizational personnel, restoring established configuration settings, or 

in extreme cases, halting affected information system processing. Related controls: IR-4, SI-7.

References: OMB Memoranda 07-11, 07-18, 08-22; NIST Special Publications 800-70, 800-128; Web: nvd.nist.gov, 

checklists.nist.gov, www.nsa.gov. 

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CM-6 MOD CM-6 HIGH CM-6 (1) (2)

CM-7 LEAST FUNCTIONALITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Configures the information system to provide only essential capabilities; and

b. Prohibits or restricts the use of the following functions, ports, protocols, and/or services: [Assignment: 

organization-defined prohibited or restricted functions, ports, protocols, and/or services].

Supplemental Guidance: Information systems can provide a wide variety of functions and services. Some of 

the functions and services, provided by default, may not be necessary to support essential organizational 

operations (e.g., key missions, functions). Additionally, it is sometimes convenient to provide multiple 
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services from single information system components, but doing so increases risk over limiting the services 

provided by any one component. Where feasible, organizations limit component functionality to a single

function per device (e.g., email servers or web servers, but not both). Organizations review functions and 

services provided by information systems or individual components of information systems, to determine 

which functions and services are candidates for elimination (e.g., Voice Over Internet Protocol, Instant 

Messaging, auto-execute, and file sharing). Organizations consider disabling unused or unnecessary 

physical and logical ports/protocols (e.g., Universal Serial Bus, File Transfer Protocol, and Hyper Text 

Transfer Protocol) on information systems to prevent unauthorized connection of devices, unauthorized 

transfer of information, or unauthorized tunneling. Organizations can utilize network scanning tools, 

intrusion detection and prevention systems, and end-point protections such as firewalls and host-based 

intrusion detection systems to identify and prevent the use of prohibited functions, ports, protocols, and 

services. Related controls: AC-6, CM-2, RA-5, SA-5, SC-7.

Control Enhancements: 

CM-7 (4) LEAST FUNCTIONALITY | UNAUTHORIZED SOFTWARE / BLACKLISTING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Identifies [Assignment: organization-defined software programs not authorized to execute on 

the information system];

(b) Employs an allow-all, deny-by-exception policy to prohibit the execution of unauthorized 

software programs on the information system; and

(c) Reviews and updates the list of unauthorized software programs [Assignment: organizationdefined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: The process used to identify software programs that are not authorized to 

execute on organizational information systems is commonly referred to as blacklisting. Organizations 

can implement CM-7 (5) instead of this control enhancement if whitelisting (the stronger of the two 

policies) is the preferred approach for restricting software program execution. Related controls: CM-6, 

CM-8, PM-5.

CM-7 (5) LEAST FUNCTIONALITY | AUTHORIZED SOFTWARE / WHITELISTING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Identifies [Assignment: organization-defined software programs authorized to execute on the 

information system];

(b) Employs a deny-all, permit-by-exception policy to allow the execution of authorized software 

programs on the information system; and

(c) Reviews and updates the list of authorized software programs [Assignment: organizationdefined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: The process used to identify software programs that are authorized to execute on 

organizational information systems is commonly referred to as whitelisting. In addition to whitelisting, 

organizations consider verifying the integrity of white-listed software programs using, for example, 

cryptographic checksums, digital signatures, or hash functions. Verification of white-listed software 

can occur either prior to execution or at system startup. Related controls: CM-2, CM-6, CM-8, PM-5, 

SA-10, SC-34, SI-7.

References: DoD Instruction 8551.01.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CM-7 MOD CM-7 (1) (2) (4) HIGH CM-7 (1) (2) (5)
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CM-8 INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops and documents an inventory of information system components that:

1. Accurately reflects the current information system;

2. Includes all components within the authorization boundary of the information system;

3. Is at the level of granularity deemed necessary for tracking and reporting; and

4. Includes [Assignment: organization-defined information deemed necessary to achieve effective 

information system component accountability]; and

b. Reviews and updates the information system component inventory [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations may choose to implement centralized information system component 

inventories that include components from all organizational information systems. In such situations, 

organizations ensure that the resulting inventories include system-specific information required for proper 

component accountability (e.g., information system association, information system owner). Information 

deemed necessary for effective accountability of information system components includes, for example, 

hardware inventory specifications, software license information, software version numbers, component 

owners, and for networked components or devices, machine names and network addresses. Inventory 

specifications include, for example, manufacturer, device type, model, serial number, and physical location. 

Related controls: CM-2, CM-6, PM-5.

CM-8 (1) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | UPDATES DURING 

INSTALLATIONS / REMOVALS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization updates the inventory of information system components as an integral part of 

component installations, removals, and information system updates.

CM-8 (2) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | AUTOMATED 

MAINTENANCE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs automated mechanisms to help maintain an up-to-date, complete, 

accurate, and readily available inventory of information system components.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations maintain information system inventories to the extent feasible. 

Virtual machines, for example, can be difficult to monitor because such machines are not visible to the 

network when not in use. In such cases, organizations maintain as up-to-date, complete, and accurate 

an inventory as is deemed reasonable. This control enhancement can be satisfied by the 

implementation of CM-2 (2) for organizations that choose to combine information system component 

inventory and baseline configuration activities. Related control: SI-7.

CM-8 (4) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | ACCOUNTABILITY 

INFORMATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization includes in the information system component inventory information, a means 

for identifying by [Selection (one or more): name; position; role], individuals 

responsible/accountable for administering those components.

Supplemental Guidance: Identifying individuals who are both responsible and accountable for 

administering information system components helps to ensure that the assigned components are 

properly administered and organizations can contact those individuals if some action is required (e.g., 

component is determined to be the source of a breach/compromise, component needs to be 

recalled/replaced, or component needs to be relocated).

CM-8 (6) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | ASSESSED 

CONFIGURATIONS / APPROVED DEVIATIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization includes assessed component configurations and any approved deviations to 

current deployed configurations in the information system component inventory.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement focuses on configuration settings established by 

organizations for information system components, the specific components that have been assessed to 

determine compliance with the required configuration settings, and any approved deviations from 

established configuration settings. Related controls: CM-2, CM-6.

CM-8 (7) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | CENTRALIZED REPOSITORY 

[BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization provides a centralized repository for the inventory of information system 

components.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations may choose to implement centralized information system 

component inventories that include components from all organizational information systems. 

Centralized repositories of information system component inventories provide opportunities for 

efficiencies in accounting for organizational hardware, software, and firmware assets. Such 

repositories may also help organizations rapidly identify the location and responsible individuals of 

system components that have been compromised, breached, or are otherwise in need of mitigation 

actions. Organizations ensure that the resulting centralized inventories include system-specific 

information required for proper component accountability (e.g., information system association, 

information system owner).

CM-8 (8) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | AUTOMATED LOCATION 

TRACKING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs automated mechanisms to support tracking of information system 

components by geographic location.

Supplemental Guidance: The use of automated mechanisms to track the location of information system 

components can increase the accuracy of component inventories. Such capability may also help 

organizations rapidly identify the location and responsible individuals of system components that have 

been compromised, breached, or are otherwise in need of mitigation actions.

CM-8 (9) INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY | ASSIGNMENT OF 

COMPONENTS TO SYSTEMS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Assigns [Assignment: organization-defined acquired information system components] to an 

information system; and 

(b) Receives an acknowledgement from the information system owner of this assignment.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations determine the criteria for or types of information system 

components (e.g., microprocessors, motherboards, software, programmable logic controllers, and 

network devices) that are subject to this control enhancement. Related control: SA-4.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-128.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CM-8 MOD CM-8 (1) (3) (5) HIGH CM-8 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5)

CM-9 CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PLAN [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization develops, documents, and implements a configuration management plan for the 

information system that:
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a. Addresses roles, responsibilities, and configuration management processes and procedures;

b. Establishes a process for identifying configuration items throughout the system development life cycle 

and for managing the configuration of the configuration items;

c. Defines the configuration items for the information system and places the configuration items under 

configuration management; and

d. Protects the configuration management plan from unauthorized disclosure and modification. 

Supplemental Guidance: Configuration management plans satisfy the requirements in configuration 

management policies while being tailored to individual information systems. Such plans define detailed 

processes and procedures for how configuration management is used to support system development life 

cycle activities at the information system level. Configuration management plans are typically developed 

during the development/acquisition phase of the system development life cycle. The plans describe how to 

move changes through change management processes, how to update configuration settings and baselines, 

how to maintain information system component inventories, how to control development, test, and 

operational environments, and how to develop, release, and update key documents. Organizations can 

employ templates to help ensure consistent and timely development and implementation of configuration 

management plans. Such templates can represent a master configuration management plan for the 

organization at large with subsets of the plan implemented on a system by system basis. Configuration 

management approval processes include designation of key management stakeholders responsible for 

reviewing and approving proposed changes to information systems, and personnel that conduct security 

impact analyses prior to the implementation of changes to the systems. Configuration items are the 

information system items (hardware, software, firmware, and documentation) to be configuration-managed. 

As information systems continue through the system development life cycle, new configuration items may 

be identified and some existing configuration items may no longer need to be under configuration control. 

Related controls: CM-2, CM-3, CM-4, CM-5, CM-8, SA-10.

CM-9 (1) CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT PLAN | ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization assigns responsibility for developing the configuration management process to 

organizational personnel that are not directly involved in information system development.

Supplemental Guidance: In the absence of dedicated configuration management teams assigned within 

organizations, system developers may be tasked to develop configuration management processes using 

personnel who are not directly involved in system development or integration. This separation of 

duties ensures that organizations establish and maintain a sufficient degree of independence between 

the information system development and integration processes and configuration management 

processes to facilitate quality control and more effective oversight.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-128.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD CM-9 HIGH CM-9

CM-10 SOFTWARE USAGE RESTRICTIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Uses software and associated documentation in accordance with contract agreements and copyright 

laws;

b. Tracks the use of software and associated documentation protected by quantity licenses to control 

copying and distribution; and

c. Controls and documents the use of peer-to-peer file sharing technology to ensure that this capability is 

not used for the unauthorized distribution, display, performance, or reproduction of copyrighted work.
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Supplemental Guidance: Software license tracking can be accomplished by manual methods (e.g., simple 

spreadsheets) or automated methods (e.g., specialized tracking applications) depending on organizational 

needs. Related controls: AC-17, CM-8, SC-7.

Control Enhancements: 

CM-10 (1) SOFTWARE USAGE RESTRICTIONS | OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization establishes the following restrictions on the use of open source software: 

[Assignment: organization-defined restrictions].

Supplemental Guidance: Open source software refers to software that is available in both source and binary

code form. Certain software rights normally reserved for copyright holders are routinely provided under 

software license agreements that permit individuals to study, change, and improve the software. From a 

security perspective, the major advantage of open source software is that in many cases it provides 

organizations with the ability to examine the source code. However, there are also various licensing issues 

associated with open source software including, for example, the constraints on derivative use of such 

software.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW CM-10 MOD CM-10 HIGH CM-10

CM-11 USER-INSTALLED SOFTWARE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes [Assignment: organization-defined policies] governing the installation of software by 

users;

b. Enforces software installation policies through [Assignment: organization-defined methods]; and

c. Monitors policy compliance at [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: If provided the necessary privileges, users have the ability to install software in 

organizational information systems. To maintain control over the types of software installed, organizations 

identify permitted and prohibited actions regarding software installation. Permitted software installations 

may include, for example, updates and security patches to existing software and downloading applications 

from organization-approved “app stores.” Prohibited software installations may include, for example, 

software with unknown or suspect pedigrees or software that organizations consider potentially malicious. 

The policies organizations select governing user-installed software may be organization-developed or 

provided by some external entity. Policy enforcement methods include procedural methods (e.g., periodic 

examination of user accounts), automated methods (e.g., configuration settings implemented on 

organizational information systems), or both. Related controls: AC-3, CM-2, CM-3, CM-5, CM-6, CM-7, 

PL-4.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CM-11 MOD CM-11 HIGH CM-11
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FAMILY: CONTINGENCY PLANNING 

CP-1 CONTINGENCY PLANNING POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A contingency planning policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the contingency planning policy and associated 

contingency planning controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Contingency planning policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Contingency planning procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the CP family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: Federal Continuity Directive 1; NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-34, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CP-1 MOD CP-1 HIGH CP-1

CP-2 CONTINGENCY PLAN [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops a contingency plan for the information system that:

1. Identifies essential missions and business functions and associated contingency requirements;

2. Provides recovery objectives, restoration priorities, and metrics;

3. Addresses contingency roles, responsibilities, assigned individuals with contact information;

4. Addresses maintaining essential missions and business functions despite an information system 

disruption, compromise, or failure; 

5. Addresses eventual, full information system restoration without deterioration of the security 

safeguards originally planned and implemented; and

6. Is reviewed and approved by [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles];

b. Distributes copies of the contingency plan to [Assignment: organization-defined key contingency 

personnel (identified by name and/or by role) and organizational elements];

c. Coordinates contingency planning activities with incident handling activities;
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d. Reviews the contingency plan for the information system [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency];

e. Updates the contingency plan to address changes to the organization, information system, or 

environment of operation and problems encountered during contingency plan implementation, 

execution, or testing;

f. Communicates contingency plan changes to [Assignment: organization-defined key contingency 

personnel (identified by name and/or by role) and organizational elements]; and

g. Protects the contingency plan from unauthorized disclosure and modification.

Supplemental Guidance: Contingency planning for information systems is part of an overall organizational 

program for achieving continuity of operations for mission/business functions. Contingency planning 

addresses both information system restoration and implementation of alternative mission/business 

processes when systems are compromised. The effectiveness of contingency planning is maximized by 

considering such planning throughout the phases of the system development life cycle. Performing 

contingency planning on hardware, software, and firmware development can be an effective means of 

achieving information system resiliency. Contingency plans reflect the degree of restoration required for 

organizational information systems since not all systems may need to fully recover to achieve the level of 

continuity of operations desired. Information system recovery objectives reflect applicable laws, Executive 

Orders, directives, policies, standards, regulations, and guidelines. In addition to information system 

availability, contingency plans also address other security-related events resulting in a reduction in mission 

and/or business effectiveness, such as malicious attacks compromising the confidentiality or integrity of 

information systems. Actions addressed in contingency plans include, for example, orderly/graceful 

degradation, information system shutdown, fallback to a manual mode, alternate information flows, and 

operating in modes reserved for when systems are under attack. By closely coordinating contingency 

planning with incident handling activities, organizations can ensure that the necessary contingency 

planning activities are in place and activated in the event of a security incident. Related controls: AC-14, 

CP-6, CP-7, CP-8, CP-9, CP-10, IR-4, IR-8, MP-2, MP-4, MP-5, PM-8, PM-11.

Control Enhancements: 

CP-2 (2) CONTINGENCY PLAN | CAPACITY PLANNING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization conducts capacity planning so that necessary capacity for information processing, 

telecommunications, and environmental support exists during contingency operations.

Supplemental Guidance: Capacity planning is needed because different types of threats (e.g., natural 

disasters, targeted cyber attacks) can result in a reduction of the available processing, 

telecommunications, and support services originally intended to support the organizational 

missions/business functions. Organizations may need to anticipate degraded operations during 

contingency operations and factor such degradation into capacity planning.

CP-2 (7) CONTINGENCY PLAN | COORDINATE WITH EXTERNAL SERVICE PROVIDERS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization coordinates its contingency plan with the contingency plans of external service 

providers to ensure that contingency requirements can be satisfied.

Supplemental Guidance: When the capability of an organization to successfully carry out its core 

missions/business functions is dependent on external service providers, developing a timely and 

comprehensive contingency plan may become more challenging. In this situation, organizations 

coordinate contingency planning activities with the external entities to ensure that the individual plans 

reflect the overall contingency needs of the organization. Related control: SA-9.

CP-2 (8) CONTINGENCY PLAN | IDENTIFY CRITICAL ASSETS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization identifies critical information system assets supporting essential missions and 

business functions.
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Supplemental Guidance: Organizations may choose to carry out the contingency planning activities in 

this control enhancement as part of organizational business continuity planning including, for example, 

as part of business impact analyses. Organizations identify critical information system assets so that 

additional safeguards and countermeasures can be employed (above and beyond those safeguards and 

countermeasures routinely implemented) to help ensure that organizational missions/business functions 

can continue to be conducted during contingency operations. In addition, the identification of critical 

information assets facilitates the prioritization of organizational resources. Critical information system 

assets include technical and operational aspects. Technical aspects include, for example, information 

technology services, information system components, information technology products, and 

mechanisms. Operational aspects include, for example, procedures (manually executed operations) and 

personnel (individuals operating technical safeguards and/or executing manual procedures). 

Organizational program protection plans can provide assistance in identifying critical assets. Related 

controls: SA-14, SA-15.

References: Federal Continuity Directive 1; NIST Special Publication 800-34.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW CP-2 MOD CP-2 (1) (3) (8) HIGH CP-2 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (8)

CP-6 ALTERNATE STORAGE SITE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes an alternate storage site including necessary agreements to permit the storage and retrieval 

of information system backup information; and

b. Ensures that the alternate storage site provides information security safeguards equivalent to that of the 

primary site.

Supplemental Guidance: Alternate storage sites are sites that are geographically distinct from primary storage 

sites. An alternate storage site maintains duplicate copies of information and data in the event that the 

primary storage site is not available. Items covered by alternate storage site agreements include, for 

example, environmental conditions at alternate sites, access rules, physical and environmental protection 

requirements, and coordination of delivery/retrieval of backup media. Alternate storage sites reflect the 

requirements in contingency plans so that organizations can maintain essential missions/business functions 

despite disruption, compromise, or failure in organizational information systems. Related controls: CP-2, 

CP-7, CP-9, CP-10, MP-4.

CP-6 (1) ALTERNATE STORAGE SITE | SEPARATION FROM PRIMARY SITE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization identifies an alternate storage site that is separated from the primary storage site to reduce 

susceptibility to the same threats.

Supplemental Guidance: Threats that affect alternate storage sites are typically defined in organizational 

assessments of risk and include, for example, natural disasters, structural failures, hostile cyber attacks, 

and errors of omission/commission. Organizations determine what is considered a sufficient degree of 

separation between primary and alternate storage sites based on the types of threats that are of concern. 

For one particular type of threat (i.e., hostile cyber attack), the degree of separation between sites is 

less relevant. Related control: RA-3.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-34.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD CP-6 (1) (3) HIGH CP-6 (1) (2) (3)
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CP-7 ALTERNATE PROCESSING SITE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes an alternate processing site including necessary agreements to permit the transfer and 

resumption of [Assignment: organization-defined information system operations] for essential 

missions/business functions within [Assignment: organization-defined time period consistent with 

recovery time and recovery point objectives] when the primary processing capabilities are unavailable;

b. Ensures that equipment and supplies required to transfer and resume operations are available at the 

alternate processing site or contracts are in place to support delivery to the site within the organizationdefined time period for transfer/resumption; and

c. Ensures that the alternate processing site provides information security safeguards equivalent to that of 

the primary site.

Supplemental Guidance: Alternate processing sites are sites that are geographically distinct from primary 

processing sites. An alternate processing site provides processing capability in the event that the primary 

processing site is not available. Items covered by alternate processing site agreements include, for example, 

environmental conditions at alternate sites, access rules, physical and environmental protection 

requirements, and coordination for the transfer/assignment of personnel. Requirements are specifically 

allocated to alternate processing sites that reflect the requirements in contingency plans to maintain 

essential missions/business functions despite disruption, compromise, or failure in organizational 

information systems. Related controls: CP-2, CP-6, CP-8, CP-9, CP-10, MA-6.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-34.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD CP-7 (1) (2) (3) HIGH CP-7 (1) (2) (3) (4)

CP-8 TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization establishes alternate telecommunications services including necessary agreements 

to permit the resumption of [Assignment: organization-defined information system operations] for essential 

missions and business functions within [Assignment: organization-defined time period] when the primary 

telecommunications capabilities are unavailable at either the primary or alternate processing or storage 

sites.

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to telecommunications services (data and voice) for primary and 

alternate processing and storage sites. Alternate telecommunications services reflect the continuity 

requirements in contingency plans to maintain essential missions/business functions despite the loss of 

primary telecommunications services. Organizations may specify different time periods for 

primary/alternate sites. Alternate telecommunications services include, for example, additional 

organizational or commercial ground-based circuits/lines or satellites in lieu of ground-based 

communications. Organizations consider factors such as availability, quality of service, and access when 

entering into alternate telecommunications agreements. Related controls: CP-2, CP-6, CP-7.

CP-8 (3) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | SEPARATION OF PRIMARY / ALTERNATE 

PROVIDERS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization obtains alternate telecommunications services from providers that are separated from 

primary service providers to reduce susceptibility to the same threats.

Supplemental Guidance: Threats that affect telecommunications services are typically defined in 

organizational assessments of risk and include, for example, natural disasters, structural failures, 

hostile cyber/physical attacks, and errors of omission/commission. Organizations seek to reduce 
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common susceptibilities by, for example, minimizing shared infrastructure among telecommunications 

service providers and achieving sufficient geographic separation between services. Organizations may 

consider using a single service provider in situations where the service provider can provide alternate 

telecommunications services meeting the separation needs addressed in the risk assessment.

CP-8 (4) TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES | PROVIDER CONTINGENCY PLAN [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Requires primary and alternate telecommunications service providers to have contingency 

plans;

(b) Reviews provider contingency plans to ensure that the plans meet organizational 

contingency requirements; and

(c) Obtains evidence of contingency testing/training by providers [Assignment: organizationdefined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: Reviews of provider contingency plans consider the proprietary nature of such 

plans. In some situations, a summary of provider contingency plans may be sufficient evidence for 

organizations to satisfy the review requirement. Telecommunications service providers may also 

participate in ongoing disaster recovery exercises in coordination with the Department of Homeland 

Security, state, and local governments. Organizations may use these types of activities to satisfy 

evidentiary requirements related to service provider contingency plan reviews, testing, and training.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-34; National Communications Systems Directive 3-10; Web: tsp.ncs.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD CP-8 (1) (2) HIGH CP-8 (1) (2) (3) (4)
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FAMILY: IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION

IA-1 IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. An identification and authentication policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities,

management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the identification and authentication policy and 

associated identification and authentication controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Identification and authentication policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Identification and authentication procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the IA family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-63, 800-73, 800-76, 800-

78, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IA-1 MOD IA-1 HIGH IA-1

IA-2 IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION (ORGANIZATIONAL USERS) [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system uniquely identifies and authenticates organizational users (or processes 

acting on behalf of organizational users).

Supplemental Guidance: Organizational users include employees or individuals that organizations deem to have 

equivalent status of employees (e.g., contractors, guest researchers). This control applies to all accesses 

other than: (i) accesses that are explicitly identified and documented in AC-14; and (ii) accesses that occur 

through authorized use of group authenticators without individual authentication. Organizations may 

require unique identification of individuals in group accounts (e.g., shared privilege accounts) or for 

detailed accountability of individual activity. Organizations employ passwords, tokens, or biometrics to 

authenticate user identities, or in the case multifactor authentication, or some combination thereof. Access 

to organizational information systems is defined as either local access or network access. Local access is 

any access to organizational information systems by users (or processes acting on behalf of users) where 

such access is obtained by direct connections without the use of networks. Network access is access to 

organizational information systems by users (or processes acting on behalf of users) where such access is 

obtained through network connections (i.e., nonlocal accesses). Remote access is a type of network access 

that involves communication through external networks (e.g., the Internet). Internal networks include local 

area networks and wide area networks. In addition, the use of encrypted virtual private networks (VPNs) 

for network connections between organization-controlled endpoints and non-organization controlled 
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endpoints may be treated as internal networks from the perspective of protecting the confidentiality and 

integrity of information traversing the network.

Organizations can satisfy the identification and authentication requirements in this control by complying 

with the requirements in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 consistent with the specific 

organizational implementation plans. Multifactor authentication requires the use of two or more different 

factors to achieve authentication. The factors are defined as: (i) something you know (e.g., password, 

personal identification number [PIN]); (ii) something you have (e.g., cryptographic identification device, 

token); or (iii) something you are (e.g., biometric). Multifactor solutions that require devices separate from 

information systems gaining access include, for example, hardware tokens providing time-based or 

challenge-response authenticators and smart cards such as the U.S. Government Personal Identity 

Verification card and the DoD common access card. In addition to identifying and authenticating users at 

the information system level (i.e., at logon), organizations also employ identification and authentication 

mechanisms at the application level, when necessary, to provide increased information security. 

Identification and authentication requirements for other than organizational users are described in IA-8. 

Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-14, AC-17, AC-18, IA-4, IA-5, IA-8.

References: HSPD 12; OMB Memoranda 04-04, 06-16, 11-11; FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-63, 

800-73, 800-76, 800-78; FICAM Roadmap and Implementation Guidance; Web: idmanagement.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IA-2 (1) (12) MOD IA-2 (1) (2) (3) (8) (11)

(12)

HIGH IA-2 (1) (2) (3) (4) (8) (9)

(11) (12)

IA-4 IDENTIFIER MANAGEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization manages information system identifiers by:

a. Receiving authorization from [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] to assign an 

individual, group, role, or device identifier;

b. Selecting an identifier that identifies an individual, group, role, or device;

c. Assigning the identifier to the intended individual, group, role, or device;

d. Preventing reuse of identifiers for [Assignment: organization-defined time period]; and

e. Disabling the identifier after [Assignment: organization-defined time period of inactivity].

Supplemental Guidance: Common device identifiers include, for example, media access control (MAC), 

Internet protocol (IP) addresses, or device-unique token identifiers. Management of individual identifiers is 

not applicable to shared information system accounts (e.g., guest and anonymous accounts). Typically, 

individual identifiers are the user names of the information system accounts assigned to those individuals. 

In such instances, the account management activities of AC-2 use account names provided by IA-4. This 

control also addresses individual identifiers not necessarily associated with information system accounts 

(e.g., identifiers used in physical security control databases accessed by badge reader systems for access to 

information systems). Preventing reuse of identifiers implies preventing the assignment of previously used 

individual, group, role, or device identifiers to different individuals, groups, roles, or devices. Related 

controls: AC-2, IA-2, IA-3, IA-5, IA-8, SC-37.

IA-4 (6) IDENTIFIER MANAGEMENT | CROSS-ORGANIZATION MANAGEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization coordinates with [Assignment: organization-defined external organizations] for 

cross-organization management of identifiers.

Supplemental Guidance: Cross-organization identifier management provides the capability for 

organizations to appropriately identify individuals, groups, roles, or devices when conducting crossorganization activities involving the processing, storage, or transmission of information.
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References: FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-73, 800-76, 800-78.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IA-4 MOD IA-4 HIGH IA-4

IA-5 AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization manages information system authenticators by:

a. Verifying, as part of the initial authenticator distribution, the identity of the individual, group, role, or 

device receiving the authenticator;

b. Establishing initial authenticator content for authenticators defined by the organization;

c. Ensuring that authenticators have sufficient strength of mechanism for their intended use;

d. Establishing and implementing administrative procedures for initial authenticator distribution, for 

lost/compromised or damaged authenticators, and for revoking authenticators;

e. Changing default content of authenticators prior to information system installation;

f. Establishing minimum and maximum lifetime restrictions and reuse conditions for authenticators;

g. Changing/refreshing authenticators [Assignment: organization-defined time period by authenticator 

type];

h. Protecting authenticator content from unauthorized disclosure and modification;

i. Requiring individuals to take, and having devices implement, specific security safeguards to protect 

authenticators; and

j. Changing authenticators for group/role accounts when membership to those accounts changes.

Supplemental Guidance: Individual authenticators include, for example, passwords, tokens, biometrics, PKI 

certificates, and key cards. Initial authenticator content is the actual content (e.g., the initial password) as 

opposed to requirements about authenticator content (e.g., minimum password length). In many cases, 

developers ship information system components with factory default authentication credentials to allow for 

initial installation and configuration. Default authentication credentials are often well known, easily 

discoverable, and present a significant security risk. The requirement to protect individual authenticators 

may be implemented via control PL-4 or PS-6 for authenticators in the possession of individuals and by 

controls AC-3, AC-6, and SC-28 for authenticators stored within organizational information systems (e.g., 

passwords stored in hashed or encrypted formats, files containing encrypted or hashed passwords 

accessible with administrator privileges). Information systems support individual authenticator 

management by organization-defined settings and restrictions for various authenticator characteristics 

including, for example, minimum password length, password composition, validation time window for time 

synchronous one-time tokens, and number of allowed rejections during the verification stage of biometric 

authentication. Specific actions that can be taken to safeguard authenticators include, for example, 

maintaining possession of individual authenticators, not loaning or sharing individual authenticators with 

others, and reporting lost, stolen, or compromised authenticators immediately. Authenticator management 

includes issuing and revoking, when no longer needed, authenticators for temporary access such as that 

required for remote maintenance. Device authenticators include, for example, certificates and passwords. 

Related controls: AC-2, AC-3, AC-6, CM-6, IA-2, IA-4, IA-8, PL-4, PS-5, PS-6, SC-12, SC-13, SC-17, 

SC-28.

IA-5 (5) AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT | CHANGE AUTHENTICATORS PRIOR TO 

DELIVERY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization requires developers/installers of information system components to provide 

unique authenticators or change default authenticators prior to delivery/installation.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement extends the requirement for organizations to change 

default authenticators upon information system installation, by requiring developers and/or installers to 

provide unique authenticators or change default authenticators for system components prior to delivery 

and/or installation. However, it typically does not apply to the developers of commercial off-the-shelve 

information technology products. Requirements for unique authenticators can be included in 

acquisition documents prepared by organizations when procuring information systems or system 

components.

IA-5 (9) AUTHENTICATOR MANAGEMENT | CROSS-ORGANIZATION CREDENTIAL 

MANAGEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization coordinates with [Assignment: organization-defined external organizations] for 

cross-organization management of credentials.

Supplemental Guidance: Cross-organization management of credentials provides the capability for 

organizations to appropriately authenticate individuals, groups, roles, or devices when conducting 

cross-organization activities involving the processing, storage, or transmission of information.

References: OMB Memoranda 04-04, 11-11; FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-73, 800-63, 800-76, 

800-78; FICAM Roadmap and Implementation Guidance; Web: idmanagement.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IA-5 (1) (11) MOD IA-5 (1) (2) (3) (11) HIGH IA-5 (1) (2) (3) (11)

IA-8 IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION (NON-ORGANIZATIONAL USERS) [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system uniquely identifies and authenticates non-organizational users (or processes 

acting on behalf of non-organizational users).

Supplemental Guidance: Non-organizational users include information system users other than organizational 

users explicitly covered by IA-2. These individuals are uniquely identified and authenticated for accesses 

other than those accesses explicitly identified and documented in AC-14. In accordance with the EAuthentication E-Government initiative, authentication of non-organizational users accessing federal 

information systems may be required to protect federal, proprietary, or privacy-related information (with 

exceptions noted for national security systems). Organizations use risk assessments to determine 

authentication needs and consider scalability, practicality, and security in balancing the need to ensure ease 

of use for access to federal information and information systems with the need to protect and adequately 

mitigate risk. IA-2 addresses identification and authentication requirements for access to information 

systems by organizational users. Related controls: AC-2, AC-14, AC-17, AC-18, IA-2, IA-4, IA-5, MA-4, 

RA-3, SA-12, SC-8.

References: OMB Memoranda 04-04, 11-11, 10-06-2011; FICAM Roadmap and Implementation Guidance; 

FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-63, 800-116; National Strategy for Trusted Identities 

in Cyberspace; Web: idmanagement.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IA-8 (1) (2) (3) (4) MOD IA-8 (1) (2) (3) (4) HIGH IA-8 (1) (2) (3) (4)
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FAMILY: INCIDENT RESPONSE

IR-1 INCIDENT RESPONSE POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. An incident response policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the incident response policy and associated incident 

response controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Incident response policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Incident response procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the IR family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-61, 800-83, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IR-1 MOD IR-1 HIGH IR-1

IR-4 INCIDENT HANDLING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Implements an incident handling capability for security incidents that includes preparation, detection 

and analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery;

b. Coordinates incident handling activities with contingency planning activities; and

c. Incorporates lessons learned from ongoing incident handling activities into incident response 

procedures, training, and testing/exercises, and implements the resulting changes accordingly.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations recognize that incident response capability is dependent on the 

capabilities of organizational information systems and the mission/business processes being supported by 

those systems. Therefore, organizations consider incident response as part of the definition, design, and 

development of mission/business processes and information systems. Incident-related information can be 

obtained from a variety of sources including, for example, audit monitoring, network monitoring, physical 

access monitoring, user/administrator reports, and reported supply chain events. Effective incident handling 

capability includes coordination among many organizational entities including, for example, 

mission/business owners, information system owners, authorizing officials, human resources offices, 

physical and personnel security offices, legal departments, operations personnel, procurement offices, and 

the risk executive (function). Relate control: AU-6, CM-6, CP-2, CP-4, IR-2, IR-3, IR-8, PE-6, SC-5, SC-7, 

SI-3, SI-4, SI-7.
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IR-4 (6) INCIDENT HANDLING | INSIDER THREATS - SPECIFIC CAPABILITIES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization implements incident handling capability for insider threats.

Supplemental Guidance: While many organizations address insider threat incidents as an inherent part of 

their organizational incident response capability, this control enhancement provides additional 

emphasis on this type of threat and the need for specific incident handling capabilities (as defined 

within organizations) to provide appropriate and timely responses.

IR-4 (7) INCIDENT HANDLING | INSIDER THREATS - INTRA-ORGANIZATION 

COORDINATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization coordinates incident handling capability for insider threats across [Assignment: 

organization-defined components or elements of the organization].

Supplemental Guidance: Incident handling for insider threat incidents (including preparation, detection 

and analysis, containment, eradication, and recovery) requires close coordination among a variety of 

organizational components or elements to be effective. These components or elements include, for 

example, mission/business owners, information system owners, human resources offices, procurement 

offices, personnel/physical security offices, operations personnel, and risk executive (function). In 

addition, organizations may require external support from federal, state, and local law enforcement 

agencies.

IR-4 (10) INCIDENT HANDLING | SUPPLY CHAIN COORDINATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization coordinates incident handling activities involving supply chain events with 

other organizations involved in the supply chain.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations involved in supply chain activities include, for example, 

system/product developers, integrators, manufacturers, packagers, assemblers, distributors, vendors, 

and resellers. Supply chain incidents include, for example, compromises/breaches involving 

information system components, information technology products, development processes or 

personnel, and distribution processes or warehousing facilities.

References: Executive Order 13587; NIST Special Publication 800-61.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IR-4 MOD IR-4 (1) HIGH IR-4 (1) (4)

IR-6 INCIDENT REPORTING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Requires personnel to report suspected security incidents to the organizational incident response 

capability within [Assignment: organization-defined time period]; and

b. Reports security incident information to [Assignment: organization-defined authorities].

Supplemental Guidance: The intent of this control is to address both specific incident reporting requirements 

within an organization and the formal incident reporting requirements for federal agencies and their 

subordinate organizations. Suspected security incidents include, for example, the receipt of suspicious 

email communications that can potentially contain malicious code. The types of security incidents reported, 

the content and timeliness of the reports, and the designated reporting authorities reflect applicable federal 

laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidance. Current federal policy 

requires that all federal agencies (unless specifically exempted from such requirements) report security 

incidents to the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) within specified time 

frames designated in the US-CERT Concept of Operations for Federal Cyber Security Incident Handling. 

Related controls: IR-4, IR-5, IR-8.

Control Enhancements: 
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IR-6 (3) INCIDENT REPORTING | COORDINATION WITH SUPPLY CHAIN [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization provides security incident information to other organizations involved in the 

supply chain for information systems or information system components related to the incident.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations involved in supply chain activities include, for example, 

system/product developers, integrators, manufacturers, packagers, assemblers, distributors, vendors, 

and resellers. Supply chain incidents include, for example, compromises/breaches involving 

information system components, information technology products, development processes or 

personnel, and distribution processes or warehousing facilities. Organizations determine the 

appropriate information to share considering the value gained from support by external organizations 

with the potential for harm due to sensitive information being released to outside organizations of 

perhaps questionable trustworthiness.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-61: Web: www.us-cert.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW IR-6 MOD IR-6 (1) HIGH IR-6 (1)

IR-9 INFORMATION SPILLAGE RESPONSE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization responds to information spills by:

a. Identifying the specific information involved in the information system contamination;

b. Alerting [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] of the information spill using a method 

of communication not associated with the spill;

c. Isolating the contaminated information system or system component;

d. Eradicating the information from the contaminated information system or component;

e. Identifying other information systems or system components that may have been subsequently 

contaminated; and

f. Performing other [Assignment: organization-defined actions].

Supplemental Guidance: Information spillage refers to instances where either classified or sensitive 

information is inadvertently placed on information systems that are not authorized to process such 

information. Such information spills often occur when information that is initially thought to be of lower 

sensitivity is transmitted to an information system and then is subsequently determined to be of higher 

sensitivity. At that point, corrective action is required. The nature of the organizational response is 

generally based upon the degree of sensitivity of the spilled information (e.g., security category or 

classification level), the security capabilities of the information system, the specific nature of contaminated 

storage media, and the access authorizations (e.g., security clearances) of individuals with authorized 

access to the contaminated system. The methods used to communicate information about the spill after the 

fact do not involve methods directly associated with the actual spill to minimize the risk of further 

spreading the contamination before such contamination is isolated and eradicated.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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FAMILY: MAINTENANCE

MA-1 SYSTEM MAINTENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A system maintenance policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the system maintenance policy and associated 

system maintenance controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. System maintenance policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. System maintenance procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the MA family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW MA-1 MOD MA-1 HIGH MA-1

MA-2 CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE

Control: The organization:

a. Schedules, performs, documents, and reviews records of maintenance and repairs on information 

system components in accordance with manufacturer or vendor specifications and/or organizational 

requirements;

b. Approves and monitors all maintenance activities, whether performed on site or remotely and whether 

the equipment is serviced on site or removed to another location;

c. Requires that [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] explicitly approve the removal of 

the information system or system components from organizational facilities for off-site maintenance or 

repairs;

d. Sanitizes equipment to remove all information from associated media prior to removal from 

organizational facilities for off-site maintenance or repairs;

e. Checks all potentially impacted security controls to verify that the controls are still functioning 

properly following maintenance or repair actions; and

f. Includes [Assignment: organization-defined maintenance-related information] in organizational 

maintenance records.
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Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the information security aspects of the information system 

maintenance program and applies to all types of maintenance to any system component (including 

applications) conducted by any local or nonlocal entity (e.g., in-contract, warranty, in-house, software 

maintenance agreement). System maintenance also includes those components not directly associated with 

information processing and/or data/information retention such as scanners, copiers, and printers. 

Information necessary for creating effective maintenance records includes, for example: (i) date and time of 

maintenance; (ii) name of individuals or group performing the maintenance; (iii) name of escort, if 

necessary; (iv) a description of the maintenance performed; and (v) information system 

components/equipment removed or replaced (including identification numbers, if applicable). The level of 

detail included in maintenance records can be informed by the security categories of organizational 

information systems. Organizations consider supply chain issues associated with replacement components 

for information systems. Related controls: CM-3, CM-4, MA-4, MP-6, PE-16, SA-12, SI-2.

Control Enhancements: 

MA-2 (2) CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE | AUTOMATED MAINTENANCE ACTIVITIES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Employs automated mechanisms to schedule, conduct, and document maintenance and 

repairs; and

(b) Produces up-to date, accurate, and complete records of all maintenance and repair actions 

requested, scheduled, in process, and completed.

Supplemental Guidance: Related controls: CA-7, MA-3.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW MA-2 MOD MA-2 HIGH MA-2 (2)

MA-3 MAINTENANCE TOOLS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization approves, controls, and monitors information system maintenance tools.

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses security-related issues associated with maintenance tools used 

specifically for diagnostic and repair actions on organizational information systems. Maintenance tools can 

include hardware, software, and firmware items. Maintenance tools are potential vehicles for transporting 

malicious code, either intentionally or unintentionally, into a facility and subsequently into organizational 

information systems. Maintenance tools can include, for example, hardware/software diagnostic test 

equipment and hardware/software packet sniffers. This control does not cover hardware/software 

components that may support information system maintenance, yet are a part of the system, for example, 

the software implementing “ping,” “ls,” “ipconfig,” or the hardware and software implementing the 

monitoring port of an Ethernet switch. Related controls: MA-2, MA-5, MP-6.

Control Enhancements: 

MA-3 (1) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | INSPECT TOOLS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization inspects the maintenance tools carried into a facility by maintenance personnel 

for improper or unauthorized modifications.

Supplemental Guidance: If, upon inspection of maintenance tools, organizations determine that the tools 

have been modified in an improper/unauthorized manner or contain malicious code, the incident is 

handled consistent with organizational policies and procedures for incident handling. Related control: 

SI-7.

MA-3 (2) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | INSPECT MEDIA [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization checks media containing diagnostic and test programs for malicious code 

before the media are used in the information system.

Supplemental Guidance: If, upon inspection of media containing maintenance diagnostic and test 

programs, organizations determine that the media contain malicious code, the incident is handled 

consistent with organizational incident handling policies and procedures. Related control: SI-3.

MA-3 (3) MAINTENANCE TOOLS | PREVENT UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization prevents the unauthorized removal of maintenance equipment containing 

organizational information by:

(a) Verifying that there is no organizational information contained on the equipment;

(b) Sanitizing or destroying the equipment;

(c) Retaining the equipment within the facility; or

(d) Obtaining an exemption from [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] explicitly 

authorizing removal of the equipment from the facility.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizational information includes all information specifically owned by 

organizations and information provided to organizations in which organizations serve as information 

stewards.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-88.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P3 LOW Not Selected MOD MA-3 (1) (2) HIGH MA-3 (1) (2) (3)

MA-4 NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Approves and monitors nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities;

b. Allows the use of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic tools only as consistent with organizational 

policy and documented in the security plan for the information system;

c. Employs strong authenticators in the establishment of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic sessions;

d. Maintains records for nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities; and

e. Terminates session and network connections when nonlocal maintenance is completed. 

Supplemental Guidance: Nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities conducted by 

individuals communicating through a network, either an external network (e.g., the Internet) or an internal 

network. Local maintenance and diagnostic activities are those activities carried out by individuals 

physically present at the information system or information system component and not communicating 

across a network connection. Authentication techniques used in the establishment of nonlocal maintenance 

and diagnostic sessions reflect the network access requirements in IA-2. Typically, strong authentication 

requires authenticators that are resistant to replay attacks and employ multifactor authentication. Strong 

authenticators include, for example, PKI where certificates are stored on a token protected by a password, 

passphrase, or biometric. Enforcing requirements in MA-4 is accomplished in part by other controls. Relate 

control: AC-2, AC-3, AC-6, AC-17, AU-2, AU-3, IA-2, IA-4, IA-5, IA-8, MA-2, MA-5, MP-6, PL-2, SC7, SC-10, SC-17.

MA-4 (2) NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE | DOCUMENT NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization documents in the security plan for the information system, the policies and 

procedures for the establishment and use of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic connections.

MA-4 (3) NONLOCAL MAINTENANCE | COMPARABLE SECURITY / SANITIZATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

Requires that nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic services be performed from an information 

system that implements a security capability comparable to the capability implemented on the 

system being serviced; or

Removes the component to be serviced from the information system and prior to nonlocal 

maintenance or diagnostic services, sanitizes the component (with regard to organizational 

information) before removal from organizational facilities, and after the service is performed, 

inspects and sanitizes the component (with regard to potentially malicious software) before 

reconnecting the component to the information system.

Supplemental Guidance: Comparable security capability on information systems, diagnostic tools, and 

equipment providing maintenance services implies that the implemented security controls on those 

systems, tools, and equipment are at least as comprehensive as the controls on the information system 

being serviced. Related controls: MA-3, SA-12, SI-3, SI-7.

References: FIPS Publications 140-2, 197, 201; NIST Special Publications 800-63, 800-88; CNSS Policy 15.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW MA-4 MOD MA-4 (2) HIGH MA-4 (2) (3)

MA-5 MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes a process for maintenance personnel authorization and maintains a list of authorized 

maintenance organizations or personnel;

b. Ensures that non-escorted personnel performing maintenance on the information system have required 

access authorizations; and

c. Designates organizational personnel with required access authorizations and technical competence to 

supervise the maintenance activities of personnel who do not possess the required access 

authorizations. 

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to individuals performing hardware or software maintenance on 

organizational information systems, while PE-2 addresses physical access for individuals whose 

maintenance duties place them within the physical protection perimeter of the systems (e.g., custodial staff, 

physical plant maintenance personnel). Technical competence of supervising individuals relates to the 

maintenance performed on the information systems while having required access authorizations refers to 

maintenance on and near the systems. Individuals not previously identified as authorized maintenance 

personnel, such as information technology manufacturers, vendors, systems integrators, and consultants, 

may require privileged access to organizational information systems, for example, when required to 

conduct maintenance activities with little or no notice. Based on organizational assessments of risk,

organizations may issue temporary credentials to these individuals. Temporary credentials may be for onetime use or for very limited time periods. Related controls: AC-2, IA-8, MP-2, PE-2, PE-3, PE-4, RA-3.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW MA-5 MOD MA-5 HIGH MA-5 (1)
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MA-6 TIMELY MAINTENANCE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization obtains maintenance support and/or spare parts for [Assignment: organizationdefined information system components] within [Assignment: organization-defined time period] of failure.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations specify the information system components that result in increased 

risk to organizational operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, or the Nation when the 

functionality provided by those components is not operational. Organizational actions to obtain 

maintenance support typically include having appropriate contracts in place. Related controls: CM-8, CP-2, 

CP-7, SA-14, SA-15.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW Not Selected MOD MA-6 HIGH MA-6
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FAMILY: MEDIA PROTECTION

MP-1 MEDIA PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A media protection policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the media protection policy and associated media 

protection controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

Media protection policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

1. Media protection procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the MP family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW MP-1 MOD MP-1 HIGH MP-1

MP-5 MEDIA TRANSPORT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Protects and controls [Assignment: organization-defined types of information system media] during 

transport outside of controlled areas using [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards];

b. Maintains accountability for information system media during transport outside of controlled areas;

c. Documents activities associated with the transport of information system media; and

d. Restricts the activities associated with the transport of information system media to authorized 

personnel.

Supplemental Guidance: Information system media includes both digital and non-digital media. Digital media 

includes, for example, diskettes, magnetic tapes, external/removable hard disk drives, flash drives, compact 

disks, and digital video disks. Non-digital media includes, for example, paper and microfilm. This control 

also applies to mobile devices with information storage capability (e.g., smart phones, tablets, E-readers) 

that are transported outside of controlled areas. Controlled areas are areas or spaces for which organizations 

provide sufficient physical and/or procedural safeguards to meet the requirements established for protecting 

information and/or information systems.

Physical and technical safeguards for media are commensurate with the security category or classification 

of the information residing on the media. Safeguards to protect media during transport include, for 
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example, locked containers and cryptography. Cryptographic mechanisms can provide confidentiality and 

integrity protections depending upon the mechanisms used. Activities associated with transport include the

actual transport as well as those activities such as releasing media for transport and ensuring that media 

enters the appropriate transport processes. For the actual transport, authorized transport and courier 

personnel may include individuals from outside the organization (e.g., U.S. Postal Service or a commercial 

transport or delivery service). Maintaining accountability of media during transport includes, for example, 

restricting transport activities to authorized personnel, and tracking and/or obtaining explicit records of 

transport activities as the media moves through the transportation system to prevent and detect loss, 

destruction, or tampering. Organizations establish documentation requirements for activities associated 

with the transport of information system media in accordance with organizational assessments of risk to 

include the flexibility to define different record-keeping methods for the different types of media transport 

as part of an overall system of transport-related records. Related controls: AC-19, CP-9, MP-3, MP-4, RA3, SC-8, SC-13, SC-28.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publication 800-60.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD MP-5 (4) HIGH MP-5 (4)

MP-6 MEDIA SANITIZATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Sanitizes [Assignment: organization-defined information system media] prior to disposal, release out of 

organizational control, or release for reuse using [Assignment: organization-defined sanitization 

techniques and procedures] in accordance with applicable federal and organizational standards and 

policies; and

b. Employs sanitization mechanisms with the strength and integrity commensurate with the security 

category or classification of the information.

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to all information system media, both digital and non-digital, 

subject to disposal or reuse, whether or not the media is considered removable. Examples include media 

found in scanners, copiers, printers, notebook computers, workstations, network components, and mobile 

devices. The sanitization process removes information from the media such that the information cannot be 

retrieved or reconstructed. Sanitization techniques, including clearing, purging, cryptographic erase, and 

destruction, prevent the disclosure of information to unauthorized individuals when such media is reused or 

released for disposal. Organizations determine the appropriate sanitization methods recognizing that 

destruction is sometimes necessary when other methods cannot be applied to media requiring sanitization. 

Organizations use discretion on the employment of approved sanitization techniques and procedures for 

media containing information deemed to be in the public domain or publicly releasable, or deemed to have 

no adverse impact on organizations or individuals if released for reuse or disposal. Sanitization of nondigital media includes, for example, removing a classified appendix from an otherwise unclassified 

document, or redacting selected sections or words from a document by obscuring the redacted 

sections/words in a manner equivalent in effectiveness to removing them from the document. NSA 

standards and policies control the sanitization process for media containing classified information. Related 

controls: MA-2, MA-4, RA-3, SC-4.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publications 800-60, 800-88; Web: 

www.nsa.gov/ia/mitigation_guidance/media_destruction_guidance/index.shtml.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW MP-6 MOD MP-6 HIGH MP-6 (1) (2) (3)
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FAMILY: PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

PE-1 PHYSICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES 

[BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A physical and environmental protection policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, 

responsibilities, management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and 

compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the physical and environmental protection policy 

and associated physical and environmental protection controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Physical and environmental protection policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Physical and environmental protection procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the PE family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW PE-1 MOD PE-1 HIGH PE-1

PE-3 PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Enforces physical access authorizations at [Assignment: organization-defined entry/exit points to the 

facility where the information system resides] by;

1. Verifying individual access authorizations before granting access to the facility; and

2. Controlling ingress/egress to the facility using [Selection (one or more): [Assignment: 

organization-defined physical access control systems/devices]; guards];

b. Maintains physical access audit logs for [Assignment: organization-defined entry/exit points];

c. Provides [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to control access to areas within the 

facility officially designated as publicly accessible;

d. Escorts visitors and monitors visitor activity [Assignment: organization-defined circumstances 

requiring visitor escorts and monitoring];

e. Secures keys, combinations, and other physical access devices;
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f. Inventories [Assignment: organization-defined physical access devices] every [Assignment: 

organization-defined frequency]; and

g. Changes combinations and keys [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] and/or when keys are 

lost, combinations are compromised, or individuals are transferred or terminated.

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to organizational employees and visitors. Individuals (e.g., 

employees, contractors, and others) with permanent physical access authorization credentials are not 

considered visitors. Organizations determine the types of facility guards needed including, for example, 

professional physical security staff or other personnel such as administrative staff or information system 

users. Physical access devices include, for example, keys, locks, combinations, and card readers. 

Safeguards for publicly accessible areas within organizational facilities include, for example, cameras, 

monitoring by guards, and isolating selected information systems and/or system components in secured 

areas. Physical access control systems comply with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, 

policies, regulations, standards, and guidance. The Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management 

Program provides implementation guidance for identity, credential, and access management capabilities for 

physical access control systems. Organizations have flexibility in the types of audit logs employed. Audit 

logs can be procedural (e.g., a written log of individuals accessing the facility and when such access 

occurred), automated (e.g., capturing ID provided by a PIV card), or some combination thereof. Physical 

access points can include facility access points, interior access points to information systems and/or 

components requiring supplemental access controls, or both. Components of organizational information 

systems (e.g., workstations, terminals) may be located in areas designated as publicly accessible with 

organizations safeguarding access to such devices. Related controls: AU-2, AU-6, MP-2, MP-4, PE-2, PE4, PE-5, PS-3, RA-3.

Control Enhancements: 

PE-3 (5) PHYSICAL ACCESS CONTROL | TAMPER PROTECTION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to [Selection 

(one or more): detect; prevent] physical tampering or alteration of [Assignment: organizationdefined hardware components] within the information system.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations may implement tamper detection/prevention at selected hardware 

components or tamper detection at some components and tamper prevention at other components. 

Tamper detection/prevention activities can employ many types of anti-tamper technologies including, 

for example, tamper-detection seals and anti-tamper coatings. Anti-tamper programs help to detect 

hardware alterations through counterfeiting and other supply chain-related risks. Related control: SA12.

References: FIPS Publication 201; NIST Special Publications 800-73, 800-76, 800-78, 800-116; ICD 704, 705; DoDI 

5200.39; Personal Identity Verification (PIV) in Enterprise Physical Access Control System (E-PACS); Web: 

idmanagement.gov, fips201ep.cio.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW PE-3 MOD PE-3 HIGH PE-3 (1)

PE-6 MONITORING PHYSICAL ACCESS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Monitors physical access to the facility where the information system resides to detect and respond to 

physical security incidents;

b. Reviews physical access logs [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] and upon occurrence of 

[Assignment: organization-defined events or potential indications of events]; and
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c. Coordinates results of reviews and investigations with the organizational incident response capability.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizational incident response capabilities include investigations of and responses 

to detected physical security incidents. Security incidents include, for example, apparent security violations 

or suspicious physical access activities. Suspicious physical access activities include, for example: (i) 

accesses outside of normal work hours; (ii) repeated accesses to areas not normally accessed; (iii) accesses 

for unusual lengths of time; and (iv) out-of-sequence accesses. Related controls: CA-7, IR-4, IR-8.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW PE-6 MOD PE-6 (1) HIGH PE-6 (1) (4)

PE-16 DELIVERY AND REMOVAL [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization authorizes, monitors, and controls [Assignment: organization-defined types of 

information system components] entering and exiting the facility and maintains records of those items.

Supplemental Guidance: Effectively enforcing authorizations for entry and exit of information system 

components may require restricting access to delivery areas and possibly isolating the areas from the 

information system and media libraries. Related controls: CM-3, MA-2, MA-3, MP-5, SA-12.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW PE-16 MOD PE-16 HIGH PE-16

PE-17 ALTERNATE WORK SITE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Employs [Assignment: organization-defined security controls] at alternate work sites;

b. Assesses as feasible, the effectiveness of security controls at alternate work sites; and

c. Provides a means for employees to communicate with information security personnel in case of

security incidents or problems.

Supplemental Guidance: Alternate work sites may include, for example, government facilities or private 

residences of employees. While commonly distinct from alternative processing sites, alternate work sites 

may provide readily available alternate locations as part of contingency operations. Organizations may 

define different sets of security controls for specific alternate work sites or types of sites depending on the 

work-related activities conducted at those sites. This control supports the contingency planning activities of 

organizations and the federal telework initiative. Related controls: AC-17, CP-7.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-46.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW Not Selected MOD PE-17 HIGH PE-17

PE-18 LOCATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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Control: The organization positions information system components within the facility to minimize potential 

damage from [Assignment: organization-defined physical and environmental hazards] and to minimize the 

opportunity for unauthorized access.

Supplemental Guidance: Physical and environmental hazards include, for example, flooding, fire, tornados, 

earthquakes, hurricanes, acts of terrorism, vandalism, electromagnetic pulse, electrical interference, and 

other forms of incoming electromagnetic radiation. In addition, organizations consider the location of 

physical entry points where unauthorized individuals, while not being granted access, might nonetheless be 

in close proximity to information systems and therefore increase the potential for unauthorized access to 

organizational communications (e.g., through the use of wireless sniffers or microphones). Related 

controls: CP-2, PE-19, RA-3.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P3 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH PE-18

PE-20 ASSET MONITORING AND TRACKING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Employs [Assignment: organization-defined asset location technologies] to track and monitor the 

location and movement of [Assignment: organization-defined assets] within [Assignment: 

organization-defined controlled areas]; and

b. Ensures that asset location technologies are employed in accordance with applicable federal laws, 

Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidance.

Supplemental Guidance: Asset location technologies can help organizations ensure that critical assets such as 

vehicles or essential information system components remain in authorized locations. Organizations consult 

with the Office of the General Counsel and the Senior Agency Official for Privacy (SAOP)/Chief Privacy 

Officer (CPO) regarding the deployment and use of asset location technologies to address potential privacy 

concerns. Related control: CM-8.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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FAMILY: PLANNING

PL-1 SECURITY PLANNING POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A security planning policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the security planning policy and associated security 

planning controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Security planning policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Security planning procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the PL family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-18, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW PL-1 MOD PL-1 HIGH PL-1

PL-2 SYSTEM SECURITY PLAN [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops a security plan for the information system that:

1. Is consistent with the organization’s enterprise architecture;

2. Explicitly defines the authorization boundary for the system;

3. Describes the operational context of the information system in terms of missions and business 

processes;

4. Provides the security categorization of the information system including supporting rationale;

5. Describes the operational environment for the information system and relationships with or 

connections to other information systems;

6. Provides an overview of the security requirements for the system;

7. Identifies any relevant overlays, if applicable;

8. Describes the security controls in place or planned for meeting those requirements including a 

rationale for the tailoring and supplementation decisions; and

9. Is reviewed and approved by the authorizing official or designated representative prior to plan 

implementation;

b. Distributes copies of the security plan and communicates subsequent changes to the plan to 

[Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles];

c. Reviews the security plan for the information system [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; 

d. Updates the plan to address changes to the information system/environment of operation or problems 

identified during plan implementation or security control assessments; and
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e. Protects the security plan from unauthorized disclosure and modification.

Supplemental Guidance: Security plans relate security requirements to a set of security controls and control 

enhancements. Security plans also describe, at a high level, how the security controls and control 

enhancements meet those security requirements, but do not provide detailed, technical descriptions of the 

specific design or implementation of the controls/enhancements. Security plans contain sufficient 

information (including the specification of parameter values for assignment and selection statements either 

explicitly or by reference) to enable a design and implementation that is unambiguously compliant with the 

intent of the plans and subsequent determinations of risk to organizational operations and assets, 

individuals, other organizations, and the Nation if the plan is implemented as intended. Organizations can 

also apply tailoring guidance to the security control baselines in Appendix B and CNSS Instruction 1253 to 

develop overlays for community-wide use or to address specialized requirements, technologies, or 

missions/environments of operation (e.g., DoD-tactical, Federal Public Key Infrastructure, or Federal 

Identity, Credential, and Access Management, space operations). Appendix I provides guidance on 

developing overlays.

Security plans need not be single documents; the plans can be a collection of various documents including 

documents that already exist. Effective security plans make extensive use of references to policies, 

procedures, and additional documents (e.g., design and implementation specifications) where more detailed 

information can be obtained. This reduces the documentation requirements associated with security 

programs and maintains security-related information in other established management/operational areas 

related to enterprise architecture, system development life cycle, systems engineering, and acquisition. For 

example, security plans do not contain detailed contingency plan or incident response plan information but 

instead provide explicitly or by reference, sufficient information to define what needs to be accomplished 

by those plans. Related controls: AC-2, AC-6, AC-14, AC-17, AC-20, CA-2, CA-3, CA-7, CM-9, CP-2, 

IR-8, MA-4, MA-5, MP-2, MP-4, MP-5, PL-7, PM-1, PM-7, PM-8, PM-9, PM-11, SA-5, SA-17.

PL-2 (3) SYSTEM SECURITY PLAN | PLAN / COORDINATE WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL 

ENTITIES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization plans and coordinates security-related activities affecting the information 

system with [Assignment: organization-defined individuals or groups] before conducting such 

activities in order to reduce the impact on other organizational entities.

Supplemental Guidance: Security-related activities include, for example, security assessments, audits, 

hardware and software maintenance, patch management, and contingency plan testing. Advance 

planning and coordination includes emergency and nonemergency (i.e., planned or nonurgent 

unplanned) situations. The process defined by organizations to plan and coordinate security-related 

activities can be included in security plans for information systems or other documents, as appropriate. 

Related controls: CP-4, IR-4.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-18.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW PL-2 MOD PL-2 (3) HIGH PL-2 (3)

PL-8 INFORMATION SECURITY ARCHITECTURE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops an information security architecture for the information system that:

1. Describes the overall philosophy, requirements, and approach to be taken with regard to protecting 

the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of organizational information;

2. Describes how the information security architecture is integrated into and supports the enterprise 

architecture; and
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3. Describes any information security assumptions about, and dependencies on, external services;

b. Reviews and updates the information security architecture [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency] to reflect updates in the enterprise architecture; and

c. Ensures that planned information security architecture changes are reflected in the security plan, the 

security Concept of Operations (CONOPS), and organizational procurements/acquisitions.

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses actions taken by organizations in the design and development 

of information systems. The information security architecture at the individual information system level is 

consistent with and complements the more global, organization-wide information security architecture 

described in PM-7 that is integral to and developed as part of the enterprise architecture. The information 

security architecture includes an architectural description, the placement/allocation of security functionality 

(including security controls), security-related information for external interfaces, information being 

exchanged across the interfaces, and the protection mechanisms associated with each interface. In addition, 

the security architecture can include other important security-related information, for example, user roles 

and access privileges assigned to each role, unique security requirements, the types of information 

processed, stored, and transmitted by the information system, restoration priorities of information and 

information system services, and any other specific protection needs.

In today’s modern architecture, it is becoming less common for organizations to control all information 

resources. There are going to be key dependencies on external information services and service providers. 

Describing such dependencies in the information security architecture is important to developing a 

comprehensive mission/business protection strategy. Establishing, developing, documenting, and 

maintaining under configuration control, a baseline configuration for organizational information systems is 

critical to implementing and maintaining an effective information security architecture. The development of 

the information security architecture is coordinated with the Senior Agency Official for Privacy 

(SAOP)/Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) to ensure that security controls needed to support privacy 

requirements are identified and effectively implemented. PL-8 is primarily directed at organizations (i.e., 

internally focused) to help ensure that organizations develop an information security architecture for the 

information system, and that the security architecture is integrated with or tightly coupled to the enterprise 

architecture through the organization-wide information security architecture. In contrast, SA-17 is primarily 

directed at external information technology product/system developers and integrators (although SA-17 

could be used internally within organizations for in-house system development). SA-17, which is 

complementary to PL-8, is selected when organizations outsource the development of information systems 

or information system components to external entities, and there is a need to demonstrate/show consistency 

with the organization’s enterprise architecture and information security architecture. Related controls: CM2, CM-6, PL-2, PM-7, SA-5, SA-17, Appendix J.

PL-8 (2) INFORMATION SECURITY ARCHITECTURE | SUPPLIER DIVERSITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization requires that [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] allocated 

to [Assignment: organization-defined locations and architectural layers] are obtained from 

different suppliers.

Supplemental Guidance: Different information technology products have different strengths and 

weaknesses. Providing a broad spectrum of products complements the individual offerings. For 

example, vendors offering malicious code protection typically update their products at different times, 

often developing solutions for known viruses, Trojans, or worms according to their priorities and 

development schedules. By having different products at different locations (e.g., server, boundary, 

desktop) there is an increased likelihood that at least one will detect the malicious code. Related 

control: SA-12.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD PL-8 HIGH PL-8
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FAMILY: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT

PM-1 INFORMATION SECURITY PROGRAM PLAN [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops and disseminates an organization-wide information security program plan that:

1. Provides an overview of the requirements for the security program and a description of the 

security program management controls and common controls in place or planned for meeting 

those requirements;

2. Includes the identification and assignment of roles, responsibilities, management commitment, 

coordination among organizational entities, and compliance;

3. Reflects coordination among organizational entities responsible for the different aspects of 

information security (i.e., technical, physical, personnel, cyber-physical); and

4. Is approved by a senior official with responsibility and accountability for the risk being incurred to 

organizational operations (including mission, functions, image, and reputation), organizational 

assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation;

b. Reviews the organization-wide information security program plan [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency];

c. Updates the plan to address organizational changes and problems identified during plan 

implementation or security control assessments; and

d. Protects the information security program plan from unauthorized disclosure and modification.

Supplemental Guidance: Information security program plans can be represented in single documents or 

compilations of documents at the discretion of organizations. The plans document the program 

management controls and organization-defined common controls. Information security program plans 

provide sufficient information about the program management controls/common controls (including 

specification of parameters for any assignment and selection statements either explicitly or by reference) to 

enable implementations that are unambiguously compliant with the intent of the plans and a determination 

of the risk to be incurred if the plans are implemented as intended.

The security plans for individual information systems and the organization-wide information security 

program plan together, provide complete coverage for all security controls employed within the 

organization. Common controls are documented in an appendix to the organization’s information security 

program plan unless the controls are included in a separate security plan for an information system (e.g., 

security controls employed as part of an intrusion detection system providing organization-wide boundary 

protection inherited by one or more organizational information systems). The organization-wide 

information security program plan will indicate which separate security plans contain descriptions of 

common controls. 

Organizations have the flexibility to describe common controls in a single document or in multiple 

documents. In the case of multiple documents, the documents describing common controls are included as 

attachments to the information security program plan. If the information security program plan contains 

multiple documents, the organization specifies in each document the organizational official or officials 

responsible for the development, implementation, assessment, authorization, and monitoring of the 

respective common controls. For example, the organization may require that the Facilities Management 

Office develop, implement, assess, authorize, and continuously monitor common physical and 

environmental protection controls from the PE family when such controls are not associated with a 

particular information system but instead, support multiple information systems. Related control: PM-8.

References: None.
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PM-2 SENIOR INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization appoints a senior information security officer with the mission and resources to 

coordinate, develop, implement, and maintain an organization-wide information security program.

Supplemental Guidance: The security officer described in this control is an organizational official. For a 

federal agency (as defined in applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, or regulations) 

this official is the Senior Agency Information Security Officer. Organizations may also refer to this official 

as the Senior Information Security Officer or Chief Information Security Officer.

References: None.

PM-3 INFORMATION SECURITY RESOURCES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Ensures that all capital planning and investment requests include the resources needed to implement 

the information security program and documents all exceptions to this requirement;

b. Employs a business case/Exhibit 300/Exhibit 53 to record the resources required; and

c. Ensures that information security resources are available for expenditure as planned.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations consider establishing champions for information security efforts and 

as part of including the necessary resources, assign specialized expertise and resources as needed. 

Organizations may designate and empower an Investment Review Board (or similar group) to manage and 

provide oversight for the information security-related aspects of the capital planning and investment control 

process. Related controls: PM-4, SA-2.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-65.

PM-11 MISSION/BUSINESS PROCESS DEFINITION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Defines mission/business processes with consideration for information security and the resulting risk to 

organizational operations, organizational assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation; and

b. Determines information protection needs arising from the defined mission/business processes and 

revises the processes as necessary, until achievable protection needs are obtained.

Supplemental Guidance: Information protection needs are technology-independent, required capabilities to 

counter threats to organizations, individuals, or the Nation through the compromise of information (i.e., 

loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability). Information protection needs are derived from the 

mission/business needs defined by the organization, the mission/business processes selected to meet the 

stated needs, and the organizational risk management strategy. Information protection needs determine the 

required security controls for the organization and the associated information systems supporting the 

mission/business processes. Inherent in defining an organization’s information protection needs is an 

understanding of the level of adverse impact that could result if a compromise of information occurs. The 

security categorization process is used to make such potential impact determinations. Mission/business 

process definitions and associated information protection requirements are documented by the organization 

in accordance with organizational policy and procedure. Related controls: PM-7, PM-8, RA-2.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publication 800-60.

PM-12 INSIDER THREAT PROGRAM [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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Control: The organization implements an insider threat program that includes a cross-discipline insider 

threat incident handling team.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations handling classified information are required, under Executive Order

13587 and the National Policy on Insider Threat, to establish insider threat programs. The standards and 

guidelines that apply to insider threat programs in classified environments can also be employed effectively 

to improve the security of Controlled Unclassified Information in non-national security systems. Insider 

threat programs include security controls to detect and prevent malicious insider activity through the 

centralized integration and analysis of both technical and nontechnical information to identify potential 

insider threat concerns. A senior organizational official is designated by the department/agency head as the 

responsible individual to implement and provide oversight for the program. In addition to the centralized 

integration and analysis capability, insider threat programs as a minimum, prepare department/agency 

insider threat policies and implementation plans, conduct host-based user monitoring of individual 

employee activities on government-owned classified computers, provide insider threat awareness training 

to employees, receive access to information from all offices within the department/agency (e.g., human 

resources, legal, physical security, personnel security, information technology, information system security, 

and law enforcement) for insider threat analysis, and conduct self-assessments of department/agency 

insider threat posture.

Insider threat programs can leverage the existence of incident handling teams organizations may already 

have in place, such as computer security incident response teams. Human resources records are especially 

important in this effort, as there is compelling evidence to show that some types of insider crimes are often 

preceded by nontechnical behaviors in the workplace (e.g., ongoing patterns of disgruntled behavior and 

conflicts with coworkers and other colleagues). These precursors can better inform and guide 

organizational officials in more focused, targeted monitoring efforts. The participation of a legal team is 

important to ensure that all monitoring activities are performed in accordance with appropriate legislation, 

directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Related controls: AC-6, AT-2, AU-6, AU-7-

AU-10, AU-12, AU-13, CA-7, IA-4, IR-4, MP-7, PE-2, PS-3, PS-4, PS-5, PS-8, SC-7, SC-38, SI-4, PM-1, 

PM-14.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: Executive Order 13587.

PM-16 THREAT AWARENESS PROGRAM [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization implements a threat awareness program that includes a cross-organization 

information-sharing capability.

Supplemental Guidance: Because of the constantly changing and increasing sophistication of adversaries, 

especially the advanced persistent threat (APT), it is becoming more likely that adversaries may 

successfully breach or compromise organizational information systems. One of the best techniques to 

address this concern is for organizations to share threat information. This can include, for example, sharing 

threat events (i.e., tactics, techniques, and procedures) that organizations have experienced, mitigations that 

organizations have found are effective against certain types of threats, threat intelligence (i.e., indications 

and warnings about threats that are likely to occur). Threat information sharing may be bilateral (e.g., 

government-commercial cooperatives, government-government cooperatives), or multilateral (e.g., 

organizations taking part in threat-sharing consortia). Threat information may be highly sensitive requiring 

special agreements and protection, or less sensitive and freely shared. Related controls: PM-12, PM-16.

References: None
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FAMILY: PERSONNEL SECURITY

PS-1 PERSONNEL SECURITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A personnel security policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the personnel security policy and associated 

personnel security controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Personnel security policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Personnel security procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the PS family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW PS-1 MOD PS-1 HIGH PS-1

PS-6 ACCESS AGREEMENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops and documents access agreements for organizational information systems;

b. Reviews and updates the access agreements [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

c. Ensures that individuals requiring access to organizational information and information systems: 

1. Sign appropriate access agreements prior to being granted access; and

2. Re-sign access agreements to maintain access to organizational information systems when access 

agreements have been updated or [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: Access agreements include, for example, nondisclosure agreements, acceptable use 

agreements, rules of behavior, and conflict-of-interest agreements. Signed access agreements include an 

acknowledgement that individuals have read, understand, and agree to abide by the constraints associated 

with organizational information systems to which access is authorized. Organizations can use electronic 

signatures to acknowledge access agreements unless specifically prohibited by organizational policy. 

Related control: PL-4, PS-2, PS-3, PS-4, PS-8.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:
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P3 LOW PS-6 MOD PS-6 HIGH PS-6

PS-7 THIRD-PARTY PERSONNEL SECURITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Establishes personnel security requirements including security roles and responsibilities for third-party 

providers;

b. Requires third-party providers to comply with personnel security policies and procedures established 

by the organization;

c. Documents personnel security requirements;

d. Requires third-party providers to notify [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] of any 

personnel transfers or terminations of third-party personnel who possess organizational credentials 

and/or badges, or who have information system privileges within [Assignment: organization-defined 

time period]; and

e. Monitors provider compliance.

Supplemental Guidance: Third-party providers include, for example, service bureaus, contractors, and other 

organizations providing information system development, information technology services, outsourced 

applications, and network and security management. Organizations explicitly include personnel security 

requirements in acquisition-related documents. Third-party providers may have personnel working at 

organizational facilities with credentials, badges, or information system privileges issued by organizations. 

Notifications of third-party personnel changes ensure appropriate termination of privileges and credentials. 

Organizations define the transfers and terminations deemed reportable by security-related characteristics 

that include, for example, functions, roles, and nature of credentials/privileges associated with individuals 

transferred or terminated. Related controls: PS-2, PS-3, PS-4, PS-5, PS-6, SA-9, SA-21.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-35.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW PS-7 MOD PS-7 HIGH PS-7
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FAMILY: RISK ASSESSMENT

RA-1 RISK ASSESSMENT POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A risk assessment policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management 

commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the risk assessment policy and associated risk 

assessment controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. Risk assessment policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. Risk assessment procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the RA family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-30, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW RA-1 MOD RA-1 HIGH RA-1

RA-2 SECURITY CATEGORIZATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Categorizes information and the information system in accordance with applicable federal laws, 

Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance;

b. Documents the security categorization results (including supporting rationale) in the security plan for 

the information system; and

c. Ensures that the security categorization decision is reviewed and approved by the authorizing official 

or authorizing official designated representative.

Supplemental Guidance: Clearly defined authorization boundaries are a prerequisite for effective security 

categorization decisions. Security categories describe the potential adverse impacts to organizational 

operations, organizational assets, and individuals if organizational information and information systems are 

comprised through a loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability. Organizations conduct the security 

categorization process as an organization-wide activity with the involvement of chief information officers, 

senior information security officers, information system owners, mission/business owners, and information 

owners/stewards. Organizations also consider the potential adverse impacts to other organizations and, in 

accordance with the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 and Homeland Security Presidential Directives, potential 

national-level adverse impacts. Security categorization processes carried out by organizations facilitate the 

development of inventories of information assets, and along with CM-8, mappings to specific information 
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system components where information is processed, stored, or transmitted. Related controls: CM-8, MP-4, 

RA-3, SC-7.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publications 800-30, 800-39, 800-60.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW RA-2 MOD RA-2 HIGH RA-2

RA-3 RISK ASSESSMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Conducts an assessment of risk, including the likelihood and magnitude of harm, from the 

unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction of the information system 

and the information it processes, stores, or transmits;

b. Documents risk assessment results in [Selection: security plan; risk assessment report; [Assignment: 

organization-defined document]];

c. Reviews risk assessment results [Assignment: organization-defined frequency];

d. Disseminates risk assessment results to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]; and

e. Updates the risk assessment [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] or whenever there are 

significant changes to the information system or environment of operation (including the identification 

of new threats and vulnerabilities), or other conditions that may impact the security state of the system. 

Supplemental Guidance: Clearly defined authorization boundaries are a prerequisite for effective risk 

assessments. Risk assessments take into account threats, vulnerabilities, likelihood, and impact to 

organizational operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation based on the 

operation and use of information systems. Risk assessments also take into account risk from external 

parties (e.g., service providers, contractors operating information systems on behalf of the 

organization, individuals accessing organizational information systems, outsourcing entities). In 

accordance with OMB policy and related E-authentication initiatives, authentication of public users 

accessing federal information systems may also be required to protect nonpublic or privacy-related 

information. As such, organizational assessments of risk also address public access to federal 

information systems.

Risk assessments (either formal or informal) can be conducted at all three tiers in the risk management 

hierarchy (i.e., organization level, mission/business process level, or information system level) and at 

any phase in the system development life cycle. Risk assessments can also be conducted at various 

steps in the Risk Management Framework, including categorization, security control selection, security 

control implementation, security control assessment, information system authorization, and security 

control monitoring. RA-3 is noteworthy in that the control must be partially implemented prior to the 

implementation of other controls in order to complete the first two steps in the Risk Management 

Framework. Risk assessments can play an important role in security control selection processes, 

particularly during the application of tailoring guidance, which includes security control 

supplementation. Related controls: RA-2, PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: OMB Memorandum 04-04; NIST Special Publication 800-30, 800-39; Web: idmanagement.gov.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:
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P1 LOW RA-3 MOD RA-3 HIGH RA-3
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FAMILY: SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION

SA-1 SYSTEM AND SERVICES ACQUISITION POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A system and services acquisition policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, 

management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the system and services acquisition policy and 

associated system and services acquisition controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. System and services acquisition policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. System and services acquisition procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the SA family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SA-1 MOD SA-1 HIGH SA-1

SA-2 ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Determines information security requirements for the information system or information system 

service in mission/business process planning;

b. Determines, documents, and allocates the resources required to protect the information system or 

information system service as part of its capital planning and investment control process; and

c. Establishes a discrete line item for information security in organizational programming and budgeting 

documentation.

Supplemental Guidance: Resource allocation for information security includes funding for the initial 

information system or information system service acquisition and funding for the sustainment of the 

system/service. Related controls: PM-3, PM-11.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-65.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SA-2 MOD SA-2 HIGH SA-2
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SA-3 SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT LIFE CYCLE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Manages the information system using [Assignment: organization-defined system development life 

cycle] that incorporates information security considerations;

b. Defines and documents information security roles and responsibilities throughout the system 

development life cycle;

c. Identifies individuals having information security roles and responsibilities; and

d. Integrates the organizational information security risk management process into system development 

life cycle activities.

Supplemental Guidance: A well-defined system development life cycle provides the foundation for the 

successful development, implementation, and operation of organizational information systems. To apply 

the required security controls within the system development life cycle requires a basic understanding of 

information security, threats, vulnerabilities, adverse impacts, and risk to critical missions/business 

functions. The security engineering principles in SA-8 cannot be properly applied if individuals that design, 

code, and test information systems and system components (including information technology products) do 

not understand security. Therefore, organizations include qualified personnel, for example, chief 

information security officers, security architects, security engineers, and information system security 

officers in system development life cycle activities to ensure that security requirements are incorporated 

into organizational information systems. It is equally important that developers include individuals on the 

development team that possess the requisite security expertise and skills to ensure that needed security 

capabilities are effectively integrated into the information system. Security awareness and training 

programs can help ensure that individuals having key security roles and responsibilities have the 

appropriate experience, skills, and expertise to conduct assigned system development life cycle activities. 

The effective integration of security requirements into enterprise architecture also helps to ensure that 

important security considerations are addressed early in the system development life cycle and that those 

considerations are directly related to the organizational mission/business processes. This process also 

facilitates the integration of the information security architecture into the enterprise architecture, consistent 

with organizational risk management and information security strategies. Related controls: AT-3, PM-7, 

SA-8.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-37, 800-64.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SA-3 MOD SA-3 HIGH SA-3

SA-4 ACQUISITION PROCESS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization includes the following requirements, descriptions, and criteria, explicitly or by 

reference, in the acquisition contract for the information system, system component, or information system 

service in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, 

standards, guidelines, and organizational mission/business needs:

a. Security functional requirements;

b. Security strength requirements;

c. Security assurance requirements;

d. Security-related documentation requirements;
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e. Requirements for protecting security-related documentation;

f. Description of the information system development environment and environment in which the system 

is intended to operate; and

g. Acceptance criteria.

Supplemental Guidance: Information system components are discrete, identifiable information technology 

assets (e.g., hardware, software, or firmware) that represent the building blocks of an information system. 

Information system components include commercial information technology products. Security functional 

requirements include security capabilities, security functions, and security mechanisms. Security strength 

requirements associated with such capabilities, functions, and mechanisms include degree of correctness, 

completeness, resistance to direct attack, and resistance to tampering or bypass. Security assurance 

requirements include: (i) development processes, procedures, practices, and methodologies; and (ii) 

evidence from development and assessment activities providing grounds for confidence that the required 

security functionality has been implemented and the required security strength has been achieved. Security 

documentation requirements address all phases of the system development life cycle.

Security functionality, assurance, and documentation requirements are expressed in terms of security 

controls and control enhancements that have been selected through the tailoring process. The security 

control tailoring process includes, for example, the specification of parameter values through the use of 

assignment and selection statements and the specification of platform dependencies and implementation 

information. Security documentation provides user and administrator guidance regarding the 

implementation and operation of security controls. The level of detail required in security documentation is 

based on the security category or classification level of the information system and the degree to which 

organizations depend on the stated security capability, functions, or mechanisms to meet overall risk 

response expectations (as defined in the organizational risk management strategy). Security requirements 

can also include organizationally mandated configuration settings specifying allowed functions, ports, 

protocols, and services. Acceptance criteria for information systems, information system components, and 

information system services are defined in the same manner as such criteria for any organizational 

acquisition or procurement. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Section 7.103 contains information 

security requirements from FISMA. Related controls: CM-6, PL-2, PS-7, SA-3, SA-5, SA-8, SA-11, SA12.

SA-4 (5) ACQUISITION PROCESS | SYSTEM / COMPONENT / SERVICE CONFIGURATIONS[BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service to:

(a) Deliver the system, component, or service with [Assignment: organization-defined security 

configurations] implemented; and

(b) Use the configurations as the default for any subsequent system, component, or service 

reinstallation or upgrade.

Supplemental Guidance: Security configurations include, for example, the U.S. Government 

Configuration Baseline (USGCB) and any limitations on functions, ports, protocols, and services. 

Security characteristics include, for example, requiring that all default passwords have been changed. 

Related control: CM-8.

SA-4 (7) ACQUISITION PROCESS | NIAP-APPROVED PROTECTION PROFILES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Limits the use of commercially provided information assurance (IA) and IA-enabled 

information technology products to those products that have been successfully evaluated 

against a National Information Assurance partnership (NIAP)-approved Protection Profile 

for a specific technology type, if such a profile exists; and
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(b) Requires, if no NIAP-approved Protection Profile exists for a specific technology type but a 

commercially provided information technology product relies on cryptographic functionality 

to enforce its security policy, that the cryptographic module is FIPS-validated.

Supplemental Guidance: Related controls: SC-12, SC-13.

References: HSPD-12; ISO/IEC 15408; FIPS Publications 140-2, 201; NIST Special Publications 800-23, 

800-35, 800-36, 800-37, 800-64, 800-70, 800-137; Federal Acquisition Regulation; Web: www.niapccevs.org, fips201ep.cio.gov, www.acquisition.gov/far.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SA-4 (10) MOD SA-4 (1) (2) (9) (10) HIGH SA-4 (1) (2) (9) (10)

SA-5 INFORMATION SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Obtains administrator documentation for the information system, system component, or information 

system service that describes:

1. Secure configuration, installation, and operation of the system, component, or service; 

2. Effective use and maintenance of security functions/mechanisms; and

3. Known vulnerabilities regarding configuration and use of administrative (i.e., privileged) 

functions;

b. Obtains user documentation for the information system, system component, or information system 

service that describes:

1. User-accessible security functions/mechanisms and how to effectively use those security 

functions/mechanisms;

2. Methods for user interaction, which enables individuals to use the system, component, or service 

in a more secure manner; and

3. User responsibilities in maintaining the security of the system, component, or service;

c. Documents attempts to obtain information system, system component, or information system service 

documentation when such documentation is either unavailable or nonexistent and [Assignment: 

organization-defined actions] in response;

d. Protects documentation as required, in accordance with the risk management strategy; and

e. Distributes documentation to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles].

Supplemental Guidance: This control helps organizational personnel understand the implementation and 

operation of security controls associated with information systems, system components, and information 

system services. Organizations consider establishing specific measures to determine the 

quality/completeness of the content provided. The inability to obtain needed documentation may occur, for 

example, due to the age of the information system/component or lack of support from developers and 

contractors. In those situations, organizations may need to recreate selected documentation if such 

documentation is essential to the effective implementation or operation of security controls. The level of 

protection provided for selected information system, component, or service documentation is 

commensurate with the security category or classification of the system. For example, documentation 

associated with a key DoD weapons system or command and control system would typically require a 

higher level of protection than a routine administrative system. Documentation that addresses information 

system vulnerabilities may also require an increased level of protection. Secure operation of the 

information system, includes, for example, initially starting the system and resuming secure system 

operation after any lapse in system operation. Related controls: CM-6, CM-8, PL-2, PL-4, PS-2, SA-3, SA4.
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References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW SA-5 MOD SA-5 HIGH SA-5

SA-8 SECURITY ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization applies information system security engineering principles in the specification, 

design, development, implementation, and modification of the information system.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations apply security engineering principles primarily to new development 

information systems or systems undergoing major upgrades. For legacy systems, organizations apply 

security engineering principles to system upgrades and modifications to the extent feasible, given the 

current state of hardware, software, and firmware within those systems. Security engineering principles 

include, for example: (i) developing layered protections; (ii) establishing sound security policy, 

architecture, and controls as the foundation for design; (iii) incorporating security requirements into the 

system development life cycle; (iv) delineating physical and logical security boundaries; (v) ensuring that 

system developers are trained on how to build secure software; (vi) tailoring security controls to meet 

organizational and operational needs; (vii) performing threat modeling to identify use cases, threat agents, 

attack vectors, and attack patterns as well as compensating controls and design patterns needed to mitigate 

risk; and (viii) reducing risk to acceptable levels, thus enabling informed risk management decisions. 

Related controls: PM-7, SA-3, SA-4, SA-17, SC-2, SC-3.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-27.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD SA-8 HIGH SA-8

SA-9 EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEM SERVICES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Requires that providers of external information system services comply with organizational 

information security requirements and employ [Assignment: organization-defined security controls] in 

accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, 

and guidance;

b. Defines and documents government oversight and user roles and responsibilities with regard to 

external information system services; and

c. Employs [Assignment: organization-defined processes, methods, and techniques] to monitor security 

control compliance by external service providers on an ongoing basis.

Supplemental Guidance: External information system services are services that are implemented outside of 

the authorization boundaries of organizational information systems. This includes services that are used by, 

but not a part of, organizational information systems. FISMA and OMB policy require that organizations 

using external service providers that are processing, storing, or transmitting federal information or 

operating information systems on behalf of the federal government ensure that such providers meet the 

same security requirements that federal agencies are required to meet. Organizations establish relationships 

with external service providers in a variety of ways including, for example, through joint ventures, business 

partnerships, contracts, interagency agreements, lines of business arrangements, licensing agreements, and 

supply chain exchanges. The responsibility for managing risks from the use of external information system 

services remains with authorizing officials. For services external to organizations, a chain of trust requires 
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that organizations establish and retain a level of confidence that each participating provider in the 

potentially complex consumer-provider relationship provides adequate protection for the services rendered. 

The extent and nature of this chain of trust varies based on the relationships between organizations and the 

external providers. Organizations document the basis for trust relationships so the relationships can be 

monitored over time. External information system services documentation includes government, service

providers, end user security roles and responsibilities, and service-level agreements. Service-level 

agreements define expectations of performance for security controls, describe measurable outcomes, and 

identify remedies and response requirements for identified instances of noncompliance. Related controls: 

CA-3, IR-7, PS-7.

SA-9 (1) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | RISK ASSESSMENTS / ORGANIZATIONAL 

APPROVALS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Conducts an organizational assessment of risk prior to the acquisition or outsourcing of 

dedicated information security services; and

(b) Ensures that the acquisition or outsourcing of dedicated information security services is 

approved by [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles].

Supplemental Guidance: Dedicated information security services include, for example, incident 

monitoring, analysis and response, operation of information security-related devices such as firewalls, 

or key management services. Related controls: CA-6, RA-3.

SA-9 (3) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | ESTABLISH / MAINTAIN TRUST 

RELATIONSHIP WITH PROVIDERS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization establishes, documents, and maintains trust relationships with external service 

providers based on [Assignment: organization-defined security requirements, properties, factors, or 

conditions defining acceptable trust relationships].

Supplemental Guidance: The degree of confidence that the risk from using external services is at an 

acceptable level depends on the trust that organizations place in the external providers, individually or 

in combination. Trust relationships can help organization to gain increased levels of confidence that 

participating service providers are providing adequate protection for the services rendered. Such 

relationships can be complicated due to the number of potential entities participating in the consumerprovider interactions, subordinate relationships and levels of trust, and the types of interactions 

between the parties. In some cases, the degree of trust is based on the amount of direct control 

organizations are able to exert on external service providers with regard to employment of security 

controls necessary for the protection of the service/information and the evidence brought forth as to the 

effectiveness of those controls. The level of control is typically established by the terms and conditions 

of the contracts or service-level agreements and can range from extensive control (e.g., negotiating 

contracts or agreements that specify security requirements for the providers) to very limited control 

(e.g., using contracts or service-level agreements to obtain commodity servicessuch as commercial 

telecommunications services). In other cases, levels of trust are based on factors that convince 

organizations that required security controls have been employed and that determinations of control 

effectiveness exist. For example, separately authorized external information system services provided 

to organizations through well-established business relationships may provide degrees of trust in such 

services within the tolerable risk range of the organizations using the services. External service 

providers may also outsource selected services to other external entities, making the trust relationship 

more difficult and complicated to manage. Depending on the nature of the services, organizations may 

find it very difficult to place significant trust in external providers. This is not due to any inherent 

untrustworthiness on the part of providers, but to the intrinsic level of risk in the services.

SA-9 (4) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | CONSISTENT INTERESTS OF CONSUMERS 

AND PROVIDERS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to ensure that 

the interests of [Assignment: organization-defined external service providers] are consistent with 

and reflect organizational interests.

Supplemental Guidance: As organizations increasingly use external service providers, the possibility 

exists that the interests of the service providers may diverge from organizational interests. In such 

situations, simply having the correct technical, procedural, or operational safeguards in place may not 

be sufficient if the service providers that implement and control those safeguards are not operating in a 

manner consistent with the interests of the consuming organizations. Possible actions that 

organizations might take to address such concerns include, for example, requiring background checks 

for selected service provider personnel, examining ownership records, employing only trustworthy 

service providers (i.e., providers with which organizations have had positive experiences), and 

conducting periodic/unscheduled visits to service provider facilities.

SA-9 (5) EXTERNAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS | PROCESSING, STORAGE, AND SERVICE 

LOCATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization restricts the location of [Selection (one or more): information processing; 

information/data; information system services] to [Assignment: organization-defined locations] 

based on [Assignment: organization-defined requirements or conditions].

Supplemental Guidance: The location of information processing, information/data storage, or information 

system services that are critical to organizations can have a direct impact on the ability of those 

organizations to successfully execute their missions/business functions. This situation exists when 

external providers control the location of processing, storage or services. The criteria external 

providers use for the selection of processing, storage, or service locations may be different from 

organizational criteria. For example, organizations may want to ensure that data/information storage 

locations are restricted to certain locations to facilitate incident response activities (e.g., forensic 

analyses, after-the-fact investigations) in case of information security breaches/compromises. Such 

incident response activities may be adversely affected by the governing laws or protocols in the 

locations where processing and storage occur and/or the locations from which information system 

services emanate. 

References: NIST Special Publication 800-35.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SA-9 MOD SA-9 (2) HIGH SA-9 (2)

SA-10 DEVELOPER CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service to:

a. Perform configuration management during system, component, or service [Selection (one or more): 

design; development; implementation; operation];

b. Document, manage, and control the integrity of changes to [Assignment: organization-defined 

configuration items under configuration management];

c. Implement only organization-approved changes to the system, component, or service;

d. Document approved changes to the system, component, or service and the potential security impacts of 

such changes; and

e. Track security flaws and flaw resolution within the system, component, or service and report findings 

to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel].

Supplemental Guidance: This control also applies to organizations conducting internal information systems 

development and integration. Organizations consider the quality and completeness of the configuration 
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management activities conducted by developers as evidence of applying effective security safeguards. 

Safeguards include, for example, protecting from unauthorized modification or destruction, the master 

copies of all material used to generate security-relevant portions of the system hardware, software, and 

firmware. Maintaining the integrity of changes to the information system, information system component, 

or information system service requires configuration control throughout the system development life cycle 

to track authorized changes and prevent unauthorized changes. Configuration items that are placed under 

configuration management (if existence/use is required by other security controls) include: the formal 

model; the functional, high-level, and low-level design specifications; other design data; implementation 

documentation; source code and hardware schematics; the running version of the object code; tools for 

comparing new versions of security-relevant hardware descriptions and software/firmware source code 

with previous versions; and test fixtures and documentation. Depending on the mission/business needs of 

organizations and the nature of the contractual relationships in place, developers may provide configuration 

management support during the operations and maintenance phases of the life cycle. Related controls: CM3, CM-4, CM-9, SA-12, SI-2.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-128.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD SA-10 HIGH SA-10

SA-11 DEVELOPER SECURITY TESTING AND EVALUATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service to:

a. Create and implement a security assessment plan;

b. Perform [Selection (one or more): unit; integration; system; regression] testing/evaluation at 

[Assignment: organization-defined depth and coverage];

c. Produce evidence of the execution of the security assessment plan and the results of the security 

testing/evaluation;

d. Implement a verifiable flaw remediation process; and

e. Correct flaws identified during security testing/evaluation.

Supplemental Guidance: Developmental security testing/evaluation occurs at all post‐design phases of the 

system development life cycle. Such testing/evaluation confirms that the required security controls are 

implemented correctly, operating as intended, enforcing the desired security policy, and meeting 

established security requirements. Security properties of information systems may be affected by the 

interconnection of system components or changes to those components. These interconnections or changes 

(e.g., upgrading or replacing applications and operating systems) may adversely affect previously 

implemented security controls. This control provides additional types of security testing/evaluation that 

developers can conduct to reduce or eliminate potential flaws. Testing custom software applications may 

require approaches such as static analysis, dynamic analysis, binary analysis, or a hybrid of the three 

approaches. Developers can employ these analysis approaches in a variety of tools (e.g., web-based 

application scanners, static analysis tools, binary analyzers) and in source code reviews. Security 

assessment plans provide the specific activities that developers plan to carry out including the types of 

analyses, testing, evaluation, and reviews of software and firmware components, the degree of rigor to be 

applied, and the types of artifacts produced during those processes. The depth of security testing/evaluation 

refers to the rigor and level of detail associated with the assessment process (e.g., black box, gray box, or 

white box testing). The coverage of security testing/evaluation refers to the scope (i.e., number and type) of 

the artifacts included in the assessment process. Contracts specify the acceptance criteria for security 

assessment plans, flaw remediation processes, and the evidence that the plans/processes have been 

diligently applied. Methods for reviewing and protecting assessment plans, evidence, and documentation 

are commensurate with the security category or classification level of the information system. Contracts 
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may specify documentation protection requirements. Related controls: CA-2, CM-4, SA-3, SA-4, SA-5, SI2.

References: ISO/IEC 15408; NIST Special Publication 800-53A; Web: nvd.nist.gov, cwe.mitre.org, cve.mitre.org, 

capec.mitre.org.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD SA-11 HIGH SA-11

SA-12 SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization protects against supply chain threats to the information system, system 

component, or information system service by employing [Assignment: organization-defined security 

safeguards] as part of a comprehensive, defense-in-breadth information security strategy.

Supplemental Guidance: Information systems (including system components that compose those systems) 

need to be protected throughout the system development life cycle (i.e., during design, development, 

manufacturing, packaging, assembly, distribution, system integration, operations, maintenance, and 

retirement). Protection of organizational information systems is accomplished through threat awareness, by 

the identification, management, and reduction of vulnerabilities at each phase of the life cycle and the use 

of complementary, mutually reinforcing strategies to respond to risk. Organizations consider implementing 

a standardized process to address supply chain risk with respect to information systems and system 

components, and to educate the acquisition workforce on threats, risk, and required security controls. 

Organizations use the acquisition/procurement processes to require supply chain entities to implement 

necessary security safeguards to: (i) reduce the likelihood of unauthorized modifications at each stage in the 

supply chain; and (ii) protect information systems and information system components, prior to taking 

delivery of such systems/components. This control enhancement also applies to information system 

services. Security safeguards include, for example: (i) security controls for development systems, 

development facilities, and external connections to development systems; (ii) vetting development 

personnel; and (iii) use of tamper-evident packaging during shipping/warehousing. Methods for reviewing 

and protecting development plans, evidence, and documentation are commensurate with the security 

category or classification level of the information system. Contracts may specify documentation protection 

requirements. Related controls: AT-3, CM-8, IR-4, PE-16, PL-8, SA-3, SA-4, SA-8, SA-10, SA-14, SA-15, 

SA-18, SA-19, SC-29, SC-30, SC-38, SI-7.

Control Enhancements: 

SA-12 (1) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | ACQUISITION STRATEGIES / TOOLS / METHODS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined tailored acquisition strategies, 

contract tools, and procurement methods] for the purchase of the information system, system 

component, or information system service from suppliers. 

Supplemental Guidance: The use of acquisition and procurement processes by organizations early in the 

system development life cycle provides an important vehicle to protect the supply chain. Organizations 

use available all-source intelligence analysis to inform the tailoring of acquisition strategies, tools, and 

methods. There are a number of different tools and techniques available (e.g., obscuring the end use of 

an information system or system component, using blind or filtered buys). Organizations also consider 

creating incentives for suppliers who: (i) implement required security safeguards; (ii) promote 

transparency into their organizational processes and security practices; (iii) provide additional vetting 

of the processes and security practices of subordinate suppliers, critical information system 

components, and services; (iv) restrict purchases from specific suppliers or countries; and (v) provide 

contract language regarding the prohibition of tainted or counterfeit components. In addition, 

organizations consider minimizing the time between purchase decisions and required delivery to limit 

opportunities for adversaries to corrupt information system components or products. Finally, 

organizations can use trusted/controlled distribution, delivery, and warehousing options to reduce 
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supply chain risk (e.g., requiring tamper-evident packaging of information system components during 

shipping and warehousing). Related control: SA-19.

SA-12 (2) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | SUPPLIER REVIEWS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization conducts a supplier review prior to entering into a contractual agreement to 

acquire the information system, system component, or information system service. 

Supplemental Guidance: Supplier reviews include, for example: (i) analysis of supplier processes used to 

design, develop, test, implement, verify, deliver, and support information systems, system components, 

and information system services; and (ii) assessment of supplier training and experience in developing 

systems, components, or services with the required security capability. These reviews provide 

organizations with increased levels of visibility into supplier activities during the system development 

life cycle to promote more effective supply chain risk management. Supplier reviews can also help to 

determine whether primary suppliers have security safeguards in place and a practice for vetting 

subordinate suppliers, for example, second- and third-tier suppliers, and any subcontractors.

SA-12 (5) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | LIMITATION OF HARM [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to limit harm 

from potential adversaries identifying and targeting the organizational supply chain.

Supplemental Guidance: Supply chain risk is part of the advanced persistent threat (APT). Security 

safeguards and countermeasures to reduce the probability of adversaries successfully identifying and 

targeting the supply chain include, for example: (i) avoiding the purchase of custom configurations to 

reduce the risk of acquiring information systems, components, or products that have been corrupted via 

supply chain actions targeted at specific organizations; (ii) employing a diverse set of suppliers to limit 

the potential harm from any given supplier in the supply chain; (iii) employing approved vendor lists 

with standing reputations in industry, and (iv) using procurement carve outs (i.e., exclusions to 

commitments or obligations).

SA-12 (7) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | ASSESSMENTS PRIOR TO SELECTION / 

ACCEPTANCE / UPDATE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization conducts an assessment of the information system, system component, or 

information system service prior to selection, acceptance, or update.

Supplemental Guidance: Assessments include, for example, testing, evaluations, reviews, and analyses. 

Independent, third-party entities or organizational personnel conduct assessments of systems, 

components, products, tools, and services. Organizations conduct assessments to uncover unintentional 

vulnerabilities and intentional vulnerabilities including, for example, malicious code, malicious 

processes, defective software, and counterfeits. Assessments can include, for example, static analyses, 

dynamic analyses, simulations, white, gray, and black box testing, fuzz testing, penetration testing, and 

ensuring that components or services are genuine (e.g., using tags, cryptographic hash verifications, or 

digital signatures). Evidence generated during security assessments is documented for follow-on 

actions carried out by organizations. Related controls: CA-2, SA-11.

SA-12 (8) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | USE OF ALL-SOURCE INTELLIGENCE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization uses all-source intelligence analysis of suppliers and potential suppliers of the 

information system, system component, or information system service.

Supplemental Guidance: All-source intelligence analysis is employed by organizations to inform 

engineering, acquisition, and risk management decisions. All-source intelligence consists of 

intelligence products and/or organizations and activities that incorporate all sources of information, 

most frequently including human intelligence, imagery intelligence, measurement and signature 

intelligence, signals intelligence, and open source data in the production of finished intelligence. 

Where available, such information is used to analyze the risk of both intentional and unintentional 

vulnerabilities from development, manufacturing, and delivery processes, people, and the environment. 
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This review is performed on suppliers at multiple tiers in the supply chain sufficient to manage risks. 

Related control: SA-15.

SA-12 (9) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | OPERATIONS SECURITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined Operations Security (OPSEC) 

safeguards] in accordance with classification guides to protect supply chain-related information 

for the information system, system component, or information system service.

Supplemental Guidance: Supply chain information includes, for example: user identities; uses for 

information systems, information system components, and information system services; supplier 

identities; supplier processes; security requirements; design specifications; testing and evaluation 

results; and system/component configurations. This control enhancement expands the scope of OPSEC 

to include suppliers and potential suppliers. OPSEC is a process of identifying critical information and 

subsequently analyzing friendly actions attendant to operations and other activities to: (i) identify those 

actions that can be observed by potential adversaries; (ii) determine indicators that adversaries might 

obtain that could be interpreted or pieced together to derive critical information in sufficient time to 

cause harm to organizations; (iii) implement safeguards or countermeasures to eliminate or reduce to 

an acceptable level, exploitable vulnerabilities; and (iv) consider how aggregated information may 

compromise the confidentiality of users or uses of the supply chain. OPSEC may require organizations 

to withhold critical mission/business information from suppliers and may include the use of 

intermediaries to hide the end use, or users, of information systems, system components, or 

information system services. Related control: PE-21.

SA-12 (10) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | VALIDATE AS GENUINE AND NOT ALTERED [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to validate 

that the information system or system component received is genuine and has not been altered.

Supplemental Guidance: For some information system components, especially hardware, there are 

technical means to help determine if the components are genuine or have been altered. Security 

safeguards used to validate the authenticity of information systems and information system 

components include, for example, optical/nanotechnology tagging and side-channel analysis. For 

hardware, detailed bill of material information can highlight the elements with embedded logic 

complete with component and production location

SA-12 (11) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | PENETRATION TESTING / ANALYSIS OF 

ELEMENTS, PROCESSES, AND ACTORS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Selection (one or more): organizational analysis, independent thirdparty analysis, organizational penetration testing, independent third-party penetration testing] of 

[Assignment: organization-defined supply chain elements, processes, and actors] associated with 

the information system, system component, or information system service.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement addresses analysis and/or testing of the supply chain, 

not just delivered items. Supply chain elements are information technology products or product 

components that contain programmable logic and that are critically important to information system 

functions. Supply chain processes include, for example: (i) hardware, software, and firmware 

development processes; (ii) shipping/handling procedures; (iii) personnel and physical security 

programs; (iv) configuration management tools/measures to maintain provenance; or (v) any other 

programs, processes, or procedures associated with the production/distribution of supply chain 

elements. Supply chain actors are individuals with specific roles and responsibilities in the supply 

chain. The evidence generated during analyses and testing of supply chain elements, processes, and 

actors is documented and used to inform organizational risk management activities and decisions. 

Related control: RA-5.
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SA-12 (12) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | INTER-ORGANIZATIONAL AGREEMENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization establishes inter-organizational agreements and procedures with entities 

involved in the supply chain for the information system, system component, or information 

system service.

Supplemental Guidance: The establishment of inter-organizational agreements and procedures provides 

for notification of supply chain compromises. Early notification of supply chain compromises that can 

potentially adversely affect or have adversely affected organizational information systems, including 

critical system components, is essential for organizations to provide appropriate responses to such 

incidents.

SA-12 (13) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | CRITICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENTS 

 [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to ensure an 

adequate supply of [Assignment: organization-defined critical information system components].

Supplemental Guidance: Adversaries can attempt to impede organizational operations by disrupting the 

supply of critical information system components or corrupting supplier operations. Safeguards to 

ensure adequate supplies of critical information system components include, for example: (i) the use of 

multiple suppliers throughout the supply chain for the identified critical components; and (ii) 

stockpiling of spare components to ensure operation during mission-critical times.

SA-12 (14) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | IDENTITY AND TRACEABILITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization establishes and retains unique identification of [Assignment: organizationdefined supply chain elements, processes, and actors] for the information system, system 

component, or information system service.

Supplemental Guidance: Knowing who and what is in the supply chains of organizations is critical to 

gaining visibility into what is happening within such supply chains, as well as monitoring and 

identifying high-risk events and activities. Without reasonable visibility and traceability into supply 

chains (i.e., elements, processes, and actors), it is very difficult for organizations to understand and 

therefore manage risk, and to reduce the likelihood of adverse events. Uniquely identifying acquirer 

and integrator roles, organizations, personnel, mission and element processes, testing and evaluation 

procedures, delivery mechanisms, support mechanisms, communications/delivery paths, and 

disposal/final disposition activities as well as the components and tools used, establishes a foundational 

identity structure for assessment of supply chain activities. For example, labeling (using serial 

numbers) and tagging (using radio-frequency identification [RFID] tags) individual supply chain 

elements including software packages, modules, and hardware devices, and processes associated with 

those elements can be used for this purpose. Identification methods are sufficient to support the 

provenance in the event of a supply chain issue or adverse supply chain event

SA-12 (15) SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | PROCESSES TO ADDRESS WEAKNESSES OR

DEFICIENCIES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization establishes a process to address weaknesses or deficiencies in supply chain 

elements identified during independent or organizational assessments of such elements.

Supplemental Guidance: Evidence generated during independent or organizational assessments of supply 

chain elements (e.g., penetration testing, audits, verification/validation activities) is documented and 

used in follow-on processes implemented by organizations to respond to the risks related to the 

identified weaknesses and deficiencies. Supply chain elements include, for example, supplier 

development processes and supplier distribution systems.
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References: NIST Special Publication 800-161; NIST Interagency Report 7622.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH SA-12

SA-13 TRUSTWORTHINESS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Describes the trustworthiness required in the [Assignment: organization-defined information system,

information system component, or information system service] supporting its critical missions/business 

functions; and

b. Implements [Assignment: organization-defined assurance overlay] to achieve such trustworthiness.

Supplemental Guidance: This control helps organizations to make explicit trustworthiness decisions when 

designing, developing, and implementing information systems that are needed to conduct critical 

organizational missions/business functions. Trustworthiness is a characteristic/property of an information 

system that expresses the degree to which the system can be expected to preserve the confidentiality, 

integrity, and availability of the information it processes, stores, or transmits. Trustworthy information 

systems are systems that are capable of being trusted to operate within defined levels of risk despite the 

environmental disruptions, human errors, and purposeful attacks that are expected to occur in the specified 

environments of operation. Trustworthy systems are important to mission/business success. Two factors 

affecting the trustworthiness of information systems include: (i) security functionality (i.e., the security 

features, functions, and/or mechanisms employed within the system and its environment of operation); and 

(ii) security assurance (i.e., the grounds for confidence that the security functionality is effective in its

application). Developers, implementers, operators, and maintainers of organizational information systems 

can increase the level of assurance (and trustworthiness), for example, by employing well-defined security 

policy models, structured and rigorous hardware, software, and firmware development techniques, sound 

system/security engineering principles, and secure configuration settings (defined by a set of assurancerelated security controls in Appendix B).

Assurance is also based on the assessment of evidence produced during the system development life cycle.

Critical missions/business functions are supported by high-impact systems and the associated assurance 

requirements for such systems. The additional assurance controls in Table E-4 in Appendix B (designated 

as optional) can be used to develop and implement high-assurance solutions for specific information 

systems and system components using the concept of overlays described in Appendix I. Organizations 

select assurance overlays that have been developed, validated, and approved for community adoption (e.g., 

cross-organization, governmentwide), limiting the development of such overlays on an organization-byorganization basis. Organizations can conduct criticality analyses as described in SA-14, to determine the 

information systems, system components, or information system services that require high-assurance 

solutions. Trustworthiness requirements and assurance overlays can be described in the security plans for 

organizational information systems. Related controls: RA-2, SA-4, SA-8, SA-14, SC-3.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: FIPS Publications 199, 200; NIST Special Publications 800-53, 800-53A, 800-60, 800-64.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SA-14 CRITICALITY ANALYSIS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization identifies critical information system components and functions by performing a 

criticality analysis for [Assignment: organization-defined information systems, information system 
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components, or information system services] at [Assignment: organization-defined decision points in the 

system development life cycle].

Supplemental Guidance: Criticality analysis is a key tenet of supply chain risk management and informs the 

prioritization of supply chain protection activities such as attack surface reduction, use of all-source 

intelligence, and tailored acquisition strategies. Information system engineers can conduct an end-to-end 

functional decomposition of an information system to identify mission-critical functions and components. 

The functional decomposition includes the identification of core organizational missions supported by the 

system, decomposition into the specific functions to perform those missions, and traceability to the 

hardware, software, and firmware components that implement those functions, including when the 

functions are shared by many components within and beyond the information system boundary. 

Information system components that allow for unmediated access to critical components or functions are 

considered critical due to the inherent vulnerabilities such components create. Criticality is assessed in 

terms of the impact of the function or component failure on the ability of the component to complete the 

organizational missions supported by the information system. A criticality analysis is performed whenever 

an architecture or design is being developed or modified, including upgrades. Related controls: CP-2, PL-2, 

PL-8, PM-1, SA-8, SA-12, SA-13, SA-15, SA-20.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SA-15 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Requires the developer of the information system, system component, or information system service to 

follow a documented development process that:

1. Explicitly addresses security requirements;

2. Identifies the standards and tools used in the development process;

3. Documents the specific tool options and tool configurations used in the development process; and

4. Documents, manages, and ensures the integrity of changes to the process and/or tools used in 

development; and

b. Reviews the development process, standards, tools, and tool options/configurations [Assignment: 

organization-defined frequency] to determine if the process, standards, tools, and tool 

options/configurations selected and employed can satisfy [Assignment: organization-defined security 

requirements].

Supplemental Guidance: Development tools include, for example, programming languages and computeraided design (CAD) systems. Reviews of development processes can include, for example, the use of 

maturity models to determine the potential effectiveness of such processes. Maintaining the integrity of 

changes to tools and processes enables accurate supply chain risk assessment and mitigation, and requires 

robust configuration control throughout the life cycle (including design, development, transport, delivery, 

integration, and maintenance) to track authorized changes and prevent unauthorized changes. Related 

controls: SA-3, SA-8.

SA-15 (3) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | CRITICALITY ANALYSIS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service to perform a criticality analysis at [Assignment: organization-defined 

breadth/depth] and at [Assignment: organization-defined decision points in the system development 

life cycle].
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Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement provides developer input to the criticality analysis 

performed by organizations in SA-14. Developer input is essential to such analysis because 

organizations may not have access to detailed design documentation for information system 

components that are developed as commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) information technology products 

(e.g., functional specifications, high-level designs, low-level designs, and source code/hardware 

schematics). Related controls: SA-4, SA-14.

SA-15 (4) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | THREAT MODELING / 

VULNERABILITY ANALYSIS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization requires that developers perform threat modeling and a vulnerability analysis

for the information system at [Assignment: organization-defined breadth/depth] that:

(a) Uses [Assignment: organization-defined information concerning impact, environment of 

operations, known or assumed threats, and acceptable risk levels];

(b) Employs [Assignment: organization-defined tools and methods]; and

(c) Produces evidence that meets [Assignment: organization-defined acceptance criteria].

Supplemental Guidance: Related control: SA-4.

SA-15 (8) DEVELOPMENT PROCESS, STANDARDS, AND TOOLS | REUSE OF THREAT / 

VULNERABILITY INFORMATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service to use threat modeling and vulnerability analyses from similar 

systems, components, or services to inform the current development process.

Supplemental Guidance: Analysis of vulnerabilities found in similar software applications can inform 

potential design or implementation issues for information systems under development. Similar 

information systems or system components may exist within developer organizations. Authoritative 

vulnerability information is available from a variety of public and private sector sources including, for 

example, the National Vulnerability Database.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH SA-15

SA-16 DEVELOPER-PROVIDED TRAINING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service to provide [Assignment: organization-defined training] on the correct use and 

operation of the implemented security functions, controls, and/or mechanisms.

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to external and internal (in-house) developers. Training of 

personnel is an essential element to ensure the effectiveness of security controls implemented within 

organizational information systems. Training options include, for example, classroom-style training, webbased/computer-based training, and hands-on training. Organizations can also request sufficient training 

materials from developers to conduct in-house training or offer self-training to organizational personnel. 

Organizations determine the type of training necessary and may require different types of training for 

different security functions, controls, or mechanisms. Related controls: AT-2, AT-3, SA-5.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH SA-16
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SA-17 DEVELOPER SECURITY ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service to produce a design specification and security architecture that:

a. Is consistent with and supportive of the organization’s security architecture which is established within 

and is an integrated part of the organization’s enterprise architecture;

b. Accurately and completely describes the required security functionality, and the allocation of security 

controls among physical and logical components; and

c. Expresses how individual security functions, mechanisms, and services work together to provide 

required security capabilities and a unified approach to protection.

Supplemental Guidance: This control is primarily directed at external developers, although it could also be 

used for internal (in-house) development. In contrast, PL-8 is primarily directed at internal developers to 

help ensure that organizations develop an information security architecture and such security architecture is 

integrated or tightly coupled to the enterprise architecture. This distinction is important if/when 

organizations outsource the development of information systems, information system components, or 

information system services to external entities, and there is a requirement to demonstrate consistency with 

the organization’s enterprise architecture and information security architecture. Related controls: PL-8, 

PM-7, SA-3, SA-8.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH SA-17

SA-18 TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization implements a tamper protection program for the information system, system 

component, or information system service.

Supplemental Guidance: Anti-tamper technologies and techniques provide a level of protection for critical 

information systems, system components, and information technology products against a number of related 

threats including modification, reverse engineering, and substitution. Strong identification combined with 

tamper resistance and/or tamper detection is essential to protecting information systems, components, and 

products during distribution and when in use. Related controls: PE-3, SA-12, SI-7.

SA-18 (1) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | MULTIPLE PHASES OF SDLC [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs anti-tamper technologies and techniques during multiple phases in the 

system development life cycle including design, development, integration, operations, and 

maintenance.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations use a combination of hardware and software techniques for 

tamper resistance and detection. Organizations employ obfuscation and self-checking, for example, to 

make reverse engineering and modifications more difficult, time-consuming, and expensive for 

adversaries. Customization of information systems and system components can make substitutions 

easier to detect and therefore limit damage. Related control: SA-3.

SA-18 (2) TAMPER RESISTANCE AND DETECTION | INSPECTION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS, 

COMPONENTS, OR DEVICES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]
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The organization inspects [Assignment: organization-defined information systems, system 

components, or devices] [Selection (one or more): at random; at [Assignment: organization-defined 

frequency], upon [Assignment: organization-defined indications of need for inspection]] to detect 

tampering.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement addresses both physical and logical tampering and is 

typically applied to mobile devices, notebook computers, or other system components taken out of 

organization-controlled areas. Indications of need for inspection include, for example, when 

individuals return from travel to high-risk locations. Related control: SI-4.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SA-19 COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops and implements anti-counterfeit policy and procedures that include the means to detect and 

prevent counterfeit components from entering the information system; and

b. Reports counterfeit information system components to [Selection (one or more): source of counterfeit 

component; [Assignment: organization-defined external reporting organizations]; [Assignment: 

organization-defined personnel or roles]]. 

Supplemental Guidance: Sources of counterfeit components include, for example, manufacturers, developers, 

vendors, and contractors. Anti-counterfeiting policy and procedures support tamper resistance and provide 

a level of protection against the introduction of malicious code. External reporting organizations include, 

for example, US-CERT. Related controls: PE-3, SA-12, SI-7.

SA-19 (1) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | ANTI-COUNTERFEIT TRAINING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization trains [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] to detect 

counterfeit information system components (including hardware, software, and firmware).

SA-19 (2) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | CONFIGURATION CONTROL FOR COMPONENT

SERVICE / REPAIR [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization maintains configuration control over [Assignment: organization-defined 

information system components] awaiting service/repair and serviced/repaired components 

awaiting return to service.

SA-19 (3) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | COMPONENT DISPOSAL [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization disposes of information system components using [Assignment: organizationdefined techniques and methods].

Supplemental Guidance: Proper disposal of information system components helps to prevent such 

components from entering the gray market.

SA-19 (4) COMPONENT AUTHENTICITY | ANTI-COUNTERFEIT SCANNING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization scans for counterfeit information system components [Assignment: 

organization-defined frequency].

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:
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P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SA-20 CUSTOMIZED DEVELOPMENT OF CRITICAL COMPONENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization re-implements or custom develops [Assignment: organization-defined critical 

information system components].

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations determine that certain information system components likely cannot 

be trusted due to specific threats to and vulnerabilities in those components, and for which there are no 

viable security controls to adequately mitigate the resulting risk. Re-implementation or custom 

development of such components helps to satisfy requirements for higher assurance. This is accomplished 

by initiating changes to system components (including hardware, software, and firmware) such that the 

standard attacks by adversaries are less likely to succeed. In situations where no alternative sourcing is 

available and organizations choose not to re-implement or custom develop critical information system 

components, additional safeguards can be employed (e.g., enhanced auditing, restrictions on source code 

and system utility access, and protection from deletion of system and application files. Related controls: 

CP-2, SA-8, SA-14.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SA-21 DEVELOPER SCREENING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization requires that the developer of [Assignment: organization-defined information 

system, system component, or information system service]:

a. Have appropriate access authorizations as determined by assigned [Assignment: organization-defined 

official government duties]; and

b. Satisfy [Assignment: organization-defined additional personnel screening criteria].

Supplemental Guidance: Because the information system, system component, or information system service 

may be employed in critical activities essential to the national and/or economic security interests of the 

United States, organizations have a strong interest in ensuring that the developer is trustworthy. The degree 

of trust required of the developer may need to be consistent with that of the individuals accessing the 

information system/component/service once deployed. Examples of authorization and personnel screening 

criteria include clearance, satisfactory background checks, citizenship, and nationality. Trustworthiness of 

developers may also include a review and analysis of company ownership and any relationships the 

company has with entities potentially affecting the quality/reliability of the systems, components, or 

services being developed. Related controls: PS-3, PS-7.

SA-21 (1) DEVELOPER SCREENING | VALIDATION OF SCREENING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization requires the developer of the information system, system component, or 

information system service take [Assignment: organization-defined actions] to ensure that the 

required access authorizations and screening criteria are satisfied.

Supplemental Guidance: Satisfying required access authorizations and personnel screening criteria 

includes, for example, providing a listing of all the individuals authorized to perform development 

activities on the selected information system, system component, or information system service so that 

organizations can validate that the developer has satisfied the necessary authorization and screening 

requirements.
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References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SA-22 UNSUPPORTED SYSTEM COMPONENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Replaces information system components when support for the components is no longer available from 

the developer, vendor, or manufacturer; and

b. Provides justification and documents approval for the continued use of unsupported system 

components required to satisfy mission/business needs.

Supplemental Guidance: Support for information system components includes, for example, software 

patches, firmware updates, replacement parts, and maintenance contracts. Unsupported components (e.g., 

when vendors are no longer providing critical software patches), provide a substantial opportunity for 

adversaries to exploit new weaknesses discovered in the currently installed components. Exceptions to 

replacing unsupported system components may include, for example, systems that provide critical 

mission/business capability where newer technologies are not available or where the systems are so isolated 

that installing replacement components is not an option. Related controls: PL-2, SA-3.

Control Enhancements: 

SA-22 (1) UNSUPPORTED SYSTEM COMPONENTS | ALTERNATIVE SOURCES FOR 

CONTINUED SUPPORT [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization provides [Selection (one or more): in-house support; [Assignment: organizationdefined support from external providers]] for unsupported information system components.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement addresses the need to provide continued support for 

selected information system components that are no longer supported by the original developers, 

vendors, or manufacturers when such components remain essential to mission/business operations. 

Organizations can establish in-house support, for example, by developing customized patches for 

critical software components or secure the services of external providers who through contractual 

relationships, provide ongoing support for the designated unsupported components. Such contractual 

relationships can include, for example, Open Source Software value-added vendors.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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FAMILY: SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION

SC-1 SYSTEM AND COMMUNICATIONS PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A system and communications protection policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, 

responsibilities, management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and 

compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the system and communications protection policy 

and associated system and communications protection controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. System and communications protection policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. System and communications protection procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the SC family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SC-1 MOD SC-1 HIGH SC-1

SC-4 INFORMATION IN SHARED RESOURCES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system prevents unauthorized and unintended information transfer via shared 

system resources.

Supplemental Guidance: This control prevents information, including encrypted representations of 

information, produced by the actions of prior users/roles (or the actions of processes acting on behalf of 

prior users/roles) from being available to any current users/roles (or current processes) that obtain access to 

shared system resources (e.g., registers, main memory, hard disks) after those resources have been released 

back to information systems. The control of information in shared resources is also commonly referred to 

as object reuse and residual information protection. This control does not address: (i) information 

remanence which refers to residual representation of data that has been nominally erased or removed; (ii) 

covert channels (including storage and/or timing channels) where shared resources are manipulated to 

violate information flow restrictions; or (iii) components within information systems for which there are 

only single users/roles. Related controls: AC-3, AC-4, MP-6.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD SC-4 HIGH SC-4
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SC-5 DENIAL OF SERVICE PROTECTION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system protects against or limits the effects of the following types of denial of 

service attacks: [Assignment: organization-defined types of denial of service attacks or reference to source 

for such information] by employing [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards].

Supplemental Guidance: A variety of technologies exist to limit, or in some cases, eliminate the effects of 

denial of service attacks. For example, boundary protection devices can filter certain types of packets to 

protect information system components on internal organizational networks from being directly affected by 

denial of service attacks. Employing increased capacity and bandwidth combined with service redundancy 

may also reduce the susceptibility to denial of service attacks. Related controls: SC-6, SC-7.

Control Enhancements: 

SC-5 (2) DENIAL OF SERVICE PROTECTION | EXCESS CAPACITY / BANDWIDTH /

REDUNDANCY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system manages excess capacity, bandwidth, or other redundancy to limit the 

effects of information flooding denial of service attacks.

Supplemental Guidance: Managing excess capacity ensures that sufficient capacity is available to counter 

flooding attacks. Managing excess capacity may include, for example, establishing selected usage 

priorities, quotas, or partitioning.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SC-5 MOD SC-5 HIGH SC-5

SC-7 BOUNDARY PROTECTION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system:

a. Monitors and controls communications at the external boundary of the system and at key internal 

boundaries within the system;

b. Implements subnetworks for publicly accessible system components that are [Selection: physically; 

logically] separated from internal organizational networks; and

c. Connects to external networks or information systems only through managed interfaces consisting of 

boundary protection devices arranged in accordance with an organizational security architecture.

Supplemental Guidance: Managed interfaces include, for example, gateways, routers, firewalls, guards, 

network-based malicious code analysis and virtualization systems, or encrypted tunnels implemented 

within a security architecture (e.g., routers protecting firewalls or application gateways residing on 

protected subnetworks). Subnetworks that are physically or logically separated from internal networks are 

referred to as demilitarized zones or DMZs. Restricting or prohibiting interfaces within organizational 

information systems includes, for example, restricting external web traffic to designated web servers within 

managed interfaces and prohibiting external traffic that appears to be spoofing internal addresses. 

Organizations consider the shared nature of commercial telecommunications services in the implementation 

of security controls associated with the use of such services. Commercial telecommunications services are 

commonly based on network components and consolidated management systems shared by all attached 

commercial customers, and may also include third party-provided access lines and other service elements. 
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Such transmission services may represent sources of increased risk despite contract security provisions. 

Related controls: AC-4, AC-17, CA-3, CM-7, CP-8, IR-4, RA-3, SC-5, SC-13.

SC-7 (13) BOUNDARY PROTECTION | ISOLATION OF SECURITY TOOLS / MECHANISMS / 

SUPPORT COMPONENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization isolates [Assignment: organization-defined information security tools, 

mechanisms, and support components] from other internal information system components by 

implementing physically separate subnetworks with managed interfaces to other components of 

the system.

Supplemental Guidance: Physically separate subnetworks with managed interfaces are useful, for 

example, in isolating computer network defenses from critical operational processing networks to 

prevent adversaries from discovering the analysis and forensics techniques of organizations. Related 

controls: SA-8, SC-2, SC-3.

SC-7 (19) BOUNDARY PROTECTION | BLOCKS COMMUNICATION FROM NONORGANIZATIONALLY CONFIGURED HOSTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system blocks both inbound and outbound communications traffic between 

[Assignment: organization-defined communication clients] that are independently configured by 

end users and external service providers.

Supplemental Guidance: Communication clients independently configured by end users and external 

service providers include, for example, instant messaging clients. Traffic blocking does not apply to 

communication clients that are configured by organizations to perform authorized functions.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publications 800-41, 800-77.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SC-7 MOD SC-7 (3) (4) (5) (7) HIGH SC-7 (3) (4) (5) (7) (8) (18) (21)

SC-8 TRANSMISSION CONFIDENTIALITY AND INTEGRITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system protects the [Selection (one or more): confidentiality; integrity] of 

transmitted information.

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to both internal and external networks and all types of 

information system components from which information can be transmitted (e.g., servers, mobile devices, 

notebook computers, printers, copiers, scanners, facsimile machines). Communication paths outside the 

physical protection of a controlled boundary are exposed to the possibility of interception and modification. 

Protecting the confidentiality and/or integrity of organizational information can be accomplished by 

physical means (e.g., by employing physical distribution systems) or by logical means (e.g., employing 

encryption techniques). Organizations relying on commercial providers offering transmission services as 

commodity services rather than as fully dedicated services (i.e., services which can be highly specialized to 

individual customer needs), may find it difficult to obtain the necessary assurances regarding the 

implementation of needed security controls for transmission confidentiality/integrity. In such situations, 

organizations determine what types of confidentiality/integrity services are available in standard, 

commercial telecommunication service packages. If it is infeasible or impractical to obtain the necessary 

security controls and assurances of control effectiveness through appropriate contracting vehicles, 

organizations implement appropriate compensating security controls or explicitly accept the additional risk. 

Related controls: AC-17, PE-4.
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References: FIPS Publications 140-2, 197; NIST Special Publications 800-52, 800-77, 800-81, 800-113; 

CNSS Policy 15; NSTISSI No. 7003.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD SC-8 (1) HIGH SC-8 (1)

SC-18 MOBILE CODE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Defines acceptable and unacceptable mobile code and mobile code technologies;

b. Establishes usage restrictions and implementation guidance for acceptable mobile code and mobile 

code technologies; and

c. Authorizes, monitors, and controls the use of mobile code within the information system.

Supplemental Guidance: Decisions regarding the employment of mobile code within organizational 

information systems are based on the potential for the code to cause damage to the systems if used 

maliciously. Mobile code technologies include, for example, Java, JavaScript, ActiveX, Postscript, PDF, 

Shockwave movies, Flash animations, and VBScript. Usage restrictions and implementation guidance 

apply to both the selection and use of mobile code installed on servers and mobile code downloaded and 

executed on individual workstations and devices (e.g., smart phones). Mobile code policy and procedures 

address preventing the development, acquisition, or introduction of unacceptable mobile code within 

organizational information systems. Related controls: AU-2, AU-12, CM-2, CM-6, SI-3.

SC-18 (2) MOBILE CODE | ACQUISITION / DEVELOPMENT / USE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization ensures that the acquisition, development, and use of mobile code to be 

deployed in the information system meets [Assignment: organization-defined mobile code 

requirements].

References: NIST Special Publication 800-28; DoD Instruction 8552.01.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW Not Selected MOD SC-18 HIGH SC-18

SC-27 PLATFORM-INDEPENDENT APPLICATIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system includes: [Assignment: organization-defined platform-independent 

applications].

Supplemental Guidance: Platforms are combinations of hardware and software used to run software 

applications. Platforms include: (i) operating systems; (ii) the underlying computer architectures, or (iii) 

both. Platform-independent applications are applications that run on multiple platforms. Such applications 

promote portability and reconstitution on different platforms, increasing the availability of critical functions 

within organizations while information systems with specific operating systems are under attack. Related 

control: SC-29.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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SC-28 PROTECTION OF INFORMATION AT REST [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The information system protects the [Selection (one or more): confidentiality; integrity] of 

[Assignment: organization-defined information at rest].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the confidentiality and integrity of information at rest and 

covers user information and system information. Information at rest refers to the state of information when 

it is located on storage devices as specific components of information systems. System-related information 

requiring protection includes, for example, configurations or rule sets for firewalls, gateways, intrusion 

detection/prevention systems, filtering routers, and authenticator content. Organizations may employ 

different mechanisms to achieve confidentiality and integrity protections, including the use of 

cryptographic mechanisms and file share scanning. Integrity protection can be achieved, for example, by 

implementing Write-Once-Read-Many (WORM) technologies. Organizations may also employ other 

security controls including, for example, secure off-line storage in lieu of online storage when adequate 

protection of information at rest cannot otherwise be achieved and/or continuous monitoring to identify 

malicious code at rest. Related controls: AC-3, AC-6, CA-7, CM-3, CM-5, CM-6, PE-3, SC-8, SC-13, SI-3, 

SI-7.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-56, 800-57, 800-111.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD SC-28 HIGH SC-28

SC-29 HETEROGENEITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization employs a diverse set of information technologies for [Assignment: organizationdefined information system components] in the implementation of the information system.

Supplemental Guidance: Increasing the diversity of information technologies within organizational 

information systems reduces the impact of potential exploitations of specific technologies and also defends 

against common mode failures, including those failures induced by supply chain attacks. Diversity in 

information technologies also reduces the likelihood that the means adversaries use to compromise one 

information system component will be equally effective against other system components, thus further 

increasing the adversary work factor to successfully complete planned cyber attacks. An increase in 

diversity may add complexity and management overhead which could ultimately lead to mistakes and 

unauthorized configurations. Related controls: SA-12, SA-14, SC-27.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SC-30 CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined concealment and misdirection 

techniques] for [Assignment: organization-defined information systems] at [Assignment: organizationdefined time periods] to confuse and mislead adversaries.

Supplemental Guidance: Concealment and misdirection techniques can significantly reduce the targeting 

capability of adversaries (i.e., window of opportunity and available attack surface) to initiate and complete 

cyber attacks. For example, virtualization techniques provide organizations with the ability to disguise 

information systems, potentially reducing the likelihood of successful attacks without the cost of having 

multiple platforms. Increased use of concealment/misdirection techniques including, for example, 

randomness, uncertainty, and virtualization, may sufficiently confuse and mislead adversaries and 

subsequently increase the risk of discovery and/or exposing tradecraft. Concealment/misdirection 
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techniques may also provide organizations additional time to successfully perform core missions and 

business functions. Because of the time and effort required to support concealment/misdirection techniques, 

it is anticipated that such techniques would be used by organizations on a very limited basis. Related 

controls: SC-26, SC-29, SI-14.

SC-30 (2) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | RANDOMNESS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined techniques] to introduce 

randomness into organizational operations and assets.

Supplemental Guidance: Randomness introduces increased levels of uncertainty for adversaries regarding 

the actions organizations take in defending against cyber attacks. Such actions may impede the ability 

of adversaries to correctly target information resources of organizations supporting critical 

missions/business functions. Uncertainty may also cause adversaries to hesitate before initiating or 

continuing attacks. Misdirection techniques involving randomness include, for example, performing 

certain routine actions at different times of day, employing different information technologies (e.g., 

browsers, search engines), using different suppliers, and rotating roles and responsibilities of 

organizational personnel.

SC-30 (3) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | CHANGE PROCESSING / STORAGE 

LOCATIONS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization changes the location of [Assignment: organization-defined processing and/or 

storage] [Selection: [Assignment: organization-defined time frequency]; at random time intervals]].

Supplemental Guidance: Adversaries target critical organizational missions/business functions and the 

information resources supporting those missions and functions while at the same time, trying to 

minimize exposure of their existence and tradecraft. The static, homogeneous, and deterministic nature 

of organizational information systems targeted by adversaries, make such systems more susceptible to 

cyber attacks with less adversary cost and effort to be successful. Changing organizational processing 

and storage locations (sometimes referred to as moving target defense) addresses the advanced 

persistent threat (APT) using techniques such as virtualization, distributed processing, and replication. 

This enables organizations to relocate the information resources (i.e., processing and/or storage) 

supporting critical missions and business functions. Changing locations of processing activities and/or 

storage sites introduces uncertainty into the targeting activities by adversaries. This uncertainty 

increases the work factor of adversaries making compromises or breaches to organizational 

information systems much more difficult and time-consuming, and increases the chances that 

adversaries may inadvertently disclose aspects of tradecraft while attempting to locate critical 

organizational resources.

SC-30 (4) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | MISLEADING INFORMATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs realistic, but misleading information in [Assignment: organizationdefined information system components] with regard to its security state or posture.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement misleads potential adversaries regarding the nature 

and extent of security safeguards deployed by organizations. As a result, adversaries may employ 

incorrect (and as a result ineffective) attack techniques. One way of misleading adversaries is for 

organizations to place misleading information regarding the specific security controls deployed in 

external information systems that are known to be accessed or targeted by adversaries. Another 

technique is the use of deception nets (e.g., honeynets, virtualized environments) that mimic actual 

aspects of organizational information systems but use, for example, out-of-date software 

configurations.

SC-30 (5) CONCEALMENT AND MISDIRECTION | CONCEALMENT OF SYSTEM

COMPONENTS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined techniques] to hide or conceal 

[Assignment: organization-defined information system components].
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Supplemental Guidance: By hiding, disguising, or otherwise concealing critical information system 

components, organizations may be able to decrease the probability that adversaries target and 

successfully compromise those assets. Potential means for organizations to hide and/or conceal 

information system components include, for example, configuration of routers or the use of honeynets 

or virtualization techniques.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SC-36 DISTRIBUTED PROCESSING AND STORAGE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization distributes [Assignment: organization-defined processing and storage] across 

multiple physical locations.

Supplemental Guidance: Distributing processing and storage across multiple physical locations provides some 

degree of redundancy or overlap for organizations, and therefore increases the work factor of adversaries to 

adversely impact organizational operations, assets, and individuals. This control does not assume a single 

primary processing or storage location, and thus allows for parallel processing and storage. Related 

controls: CP-6, CP-7.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SC-37 OUT-OF-BAND CHANNELS [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined out-of-band channels] for the 

physical delivery or electronic transmission of [Assignment: organization-defined information, information 

system components, or devices] to [Assignment: organization-defined individuals or information systems].

Supplemental Guidance: Out-of-band channels include, for example, local (nonnetwork) accesses to 

information systems, network paths physically separate from network paths used for operational traffic, or 

nonelectronic paths such as the US Postal Service. This is in contrast with using the same channels (i.e., inband channels) that carry routine operational traffic. Out-of-band channels do not have the same 

vulnerability/exposure as in-band channels, and hence the confidentiality, integrity, or availability 

compromises of in-band channels will not compromise the out-of-band channels. Organizations may 

employ out-of-band channels in the delivery or transmission of many organizational items including, for 

example, identifiers/authenticators, configuration management changes for hardware, firmware, or 

software, cryptographic key management information, security updates, system/data backups, maintenance 

information, and malicious code protection updates. Related controls: AC-2, CM-3, CM-5, CM-7, IA-4, 

IA-5, MA-4, SC-12, SI-3, SI-4, SI-7.

SC-37 (1) OUT-OF-BAND CHANNELS | ENSURE DELIVERY / TRANSMISSION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined security safeguards] to ensure that 

only [Assignment: organization-defined individuals or information systems] receive the 

[Assignment: organization-defined information, information system components, or devices].

Supplemental Guidance: Techniques and/or methods employed by organizations to ensure that only 

designated information systems or individuals receive particular information, system components, or 

devices include, for example, sending authenticators via courier service but requiring recipients to 

show some form of government-issued photographic identification as a condition of receipt.
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References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected

SC-38 OPERATIONS SECURITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization employs [Assignment: organization-defined operations security safeguards] to 

protect key organizational information throughout the system development life cycle.

Supplemental Guidance: Operations security (OPSEC) is a systematic process by which potential adversaries 

can be denied information about the capabilities and intentions of organizations by identifying, controlling, 

and protecting generally unclassified information that specifically relates to the planning and execution of 

sensitive organizational activities. The OPSEC process involves five steps: (i) identification of critical 

information (e.g., the security categorization process); (ii) analysis of threats; (iii) analysis of 

vulnerabilities; (iv) assessment of risks; and (v) the application of appropriate countermeasures. OPSEC 

safeguards are applied to both organizational information systems and the environments in which those 

systems operate. OPSEC safeguards help to protect the confidentiality of key information including, for 

example, limiting the sharing of information with suppliers and potential suppliers of information system 

components, information technology products and services, and with other non-organizational elements and 

individuals. Information critical to mission/business success includes, for example, user identities, element 

uses, suppliers, supply chain processes, functional and security requirements, system design specifications, 

testing protocols, and security control implementation details. Related controls: RA-2, RA-5, SA-12.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P0 LOW Not Selected MOD Not Selected HIGH Not Selected
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FAMILY: SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY

SI-1 SYSTEM AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY POLICY AND PROCEDURES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Develops, documents, and disseminates to [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles]:

1. A system and information integrity policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, 

management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

2. Procedures to facilitate the implementation of the system and information integrity policy and 

associated system and information integrity controls; and

b. Reviews and updates the current:

1. System and information integrity policy [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; and

2. System and information integrity procedures [Assignment: organization-defined frequency].

Supplemental Guidance: This control addresses the establishment of policy and procedures for the effective 

implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the SI family. Policy and 

procedures reflect applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, 

and guidance. Security program policies and procedures at the organization level may make the need for 

system-specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The policy can be included as part of the general 

information security policy for organizations or conversely, can be represented by multiple policies 

reflecting the complex nature of certain organizations. The procedures can be established for the security 

program in general and for particular information systems, if needed. The organizational risk management 

strategy is a key factor in establishing policy and procedures. Related control: PM-9.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SI-1 MOD SI-1 HIGH SI-1

SI-2 FLAW REMEDIATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Identifies, reports, and corrects information system flaws;

b. Tests software and firmware updates related to flaw remediation for effectiveness and potential side 

effects before installation;

c. Installs security-relevant software and firmware updates within [Assignment: organization-defined 

time period] of the release of the updates; and

d. Incorporates flaw remediation into the organizational configuration management process.

Supplemental Guidance: Organizations identify information systems affected by announced software flaws 

including potential vulnerabilities resulting from those flaws, and report this information to designated 

organizational personnel with information security responsibilities. Security-relevant software updates 

include, for example, patches, service packs, hot fixes, and anti-virus signatures. Organizations also address 

flaws discovered during security assessments, continuous monitoring, incident response activities, and 

system error handling. Organizations take advantage of available resources such as the Common Weakness 

Enumeration (CWE) or Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) databases in remediating flaws 

discovered in organizational information systems. By incorporating flaw remediation into ongoing 

configuration management processes, required/anticipated remediation actions can be tracked and verified. 

Flaw remediation actions that can be tracked and verified include, for example, determining whether 
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organizations follow US-CERT guidance and Information Assurance Vulnerability Alerts. Organizationdefined time periods for updating security-relevant software and firmware may vary based on a variety of 

factors including, for example, the security category of the information system or the criticality of the 

update (i.e., severity of the vulnerability related to the discovered flaw). Some types of flaw remediation 

may require more testing than other types. Organizations determine the degree and type of testing needed 

for the specific type of flaw remediation activity under consideration and also the types of changes that are 

to be configuration-managed. In some situations, organizations may determine that the testing of software 

and/or firmware updates is not necessary or practical, for example, when implementing simple anti-virus 

signature updates. Organizations may also consider in testing decisions, whether security-relevant software 

or firmware updates are obtained from authorized sources with appropriate digital signatures. Relate 

control: CA-2, CA-7, CM-3, CM-5, CM-8, MA-2, IR-4, RA-5, SA-10, SA-11, SI-11.

SI-2(5) FLAW REMEDIATION | AUTOMATIC SOFTWARE / FIRMWARE UPDATES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization installs [Assignment: organization-defined security-relevant software and 

firmware updates] automatically to [Assignment: organization-defined information system 

components].

Supplemental Guidance: Due to information system integrity and availability concerns, organizations 

give careful consideration to the methodology used to carry out automatic updates. Organizations must 

balance the need to ensure that the updates are installed as soon as possible with the need to maintain 

configuration management and with any mission or operational impacts that automatic updates might 

impose.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-40, 800-128.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SI-2 MOD SI-2 (2) HIGH SI-2 (1) (2)

SI-4 INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Monitors the information system to detect:

1. Attacks and indicators of potential attacks in accordance with [Assignment: organization-defined 

monitoring objectives]; and

2. Unauthorized local, network, and remote connections;

b. Identifies unauthorized use of the information system through [Assignment: organization-defined 

techniques and methods];

c. Deploys monitoring devices: (i) strategically within the information system to collect organizationdetermined essential information; and (ii) at ad hoc locations within the system to track specific types 

of transactions of interest to the organization;

d. Protects information obtained from intrusion-monitoring tools from unauthorized access, modification, 

and deletion;

e. Heightens the level of information system monitoring activity whenever there is an indication of 

increased risk to organizational operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, or the Nation 

based on law enforcement information, intelligence information, or other credible sources of 

information;

f. Obtains legal opinion with regard to information system monitoring activities in accordance with 

applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, or regulations; and
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g. Provides [Assignment: organization-defined information system monitoring information] to 

[Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] [Selection (one or more): as needed;

[Assignment: organization-defined frequency]].

Supplemental Guidance: Information system monitoring includes external and internal monitoring. External 

monitoring includes the observation of events occurring at the information system boundary (i.e., part of 

perimeter defense and boundary protection). Internal monitoring includes the observation of events 

occurring within the information system. Organizations can monitor information systems, for example, by 

observing audit activities in real time or by observing other system aspects such as access patterns, 

characteristics of access, and other actions. The monitoring objectives may guide determination of the 

events. Information system monitoring capability is achieved through a variety of tools and techniques 

(e.g., intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, malicious code protection software, 

scanning tools, audit record monitoring software, network monitoring software). Strategic locations for 

monitoring devices include, for example, selected perimeter locations and near server farms supporting 

critical applications, with such devices typically being employed at the managed interfaces associated with 

controls SC-7 and AC-17. Einstein network monitoring devices from the Department of Homeland Security 

can also be included as monitoring devices. The granularity of monitoring information collected is based on 

organizational monitoring objectives and the capability of information systems to support such objectives. 

Specific types of transactions of interest include, for example, Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) traffic 

that bypasses HTTP proxies. Information system monitoring is an integral part of organizational continuous 

monitoring and incident response programs. Output from system monitoring serves as input to continuous 

monitoring and incident response programs. A network connection is any connection with a device that 

communicates through a network (e.g., local area network, Internet). A remote connection is any 

connection with a device communicating through an external network (e.g., the Internet). Local, network, 

and remote connections can be either wired or wireless. Relate control: AC-3, AC-4, AC-8, AC-17, AU-2, 

AU-6, AU-7, AU-9, AU-12, CA-7, IR-4, PE-3, RA-5, SC-7, SC-26, SC-35, SI-3, SI-7.

SI-4 (17) INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING | INTEGRATED SITUATIONAL AWARENESS 

 [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization correlates information from monitoring physical, cyber, and supply chain 

activities to achieve integrated, organization-wide situational awareness.

Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement correlates monitoring information from a more 

diverse set of information sources to achieve integrated situational awareness. Integrated situational 

awareness from a combination of physical, cyber, and supply chain monitoring activities enhances the 

capability of organizations to more quickly detect sophisticated cyber attacks and investigate the 

methods and techniques employed to carry out such attacks. In contrast to SI-4 (16) which correlates 

the various cyber monitoring information, this control enhancement correlates monitoring beyond just 

the cyber domain. Such monitoring may help reveal attacks on organizations that are operating across 

multiple attack vectors. Related control: SA-12.

SI-4 (19) INFORMATION SYSTEM MONITORING | INDIVIDUALS POSING GREATER RISK [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization implements [Assignment: organization-defined additional monitoring] of 

individuals who have been identified by [Assignment: organization-defined sources] as posing an 

increased level of risk.

Supplemental Guidance: Indications of increased risk from individuals can be obtained from a variety 

of sources including, for example, human resource records, intelligence agencies, law enforcement 

organizations, and/or other credible sources. The monitoring of individuals is closely coordinated with 

management, legal, security, and human resources officials within organizations conducting such 

monitoring and complies with federal legislation, Executive Orders, policies, directives, regulations, 

and standards. 

References: NIST Special Publications 800-61, 800-83, 800-92, 800-94, 800-137.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:
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P1 LOW SI-4 MOD SI-4 (2) (4) (5) HIGH SI-4 (2) (4) (5)

SI-5 SECURITY ALERTS, ADVISORIES, AND DIRECTIVES [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization:

a. Receives information system security alerts, advisories, and directives from [Assignment: 

organization-defined external organizations] on an ongoing basis;

b. Generates internal security alerts, advisories, and directives as deemed necessary;

c. Disseminates security alerts, advisories, and directives to: [Selection (one or more): [Assignment: 

organization-defined personnel or roles]; [Assignment: organization-defined elements within the 

organization]; [Assignment: organization-defined external organizations]]; and

d. Implements security directives in accordance with established time frames, or notifies the issuing 

organization of the degree of noncompliance.

Supplemental Guidance: The United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) generates 

security alerts and advisories to maintain situational awareness across the federal government. Security 

directives are issued by OMB or other designated organizations with the responsibility and authority to 

issue such directives. Compliance to security directives is essential due to the critical nature of many of 

these directives and the potential immediate adverse effects on organizational operations and assets, 

individuals, other organizations, and the Nation should the directives not be implemented in a timely 

manner. External organizations include, for example, external mission/business partners, supply chain 

partners, external service providers, and other peer/supporting organizations. Related control: SI-2.

References: NIST Special Publication 800-40.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW SI-5 MOD SI-5 HIGH SI-5 (1)

SI-7 SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization employs integrity verification tools to detect unauthorized changes to 

[Assignment: organization-defined software, firmware, and information].

Supplemental Guidance: Unauthorized changes to software, firmware, and information can occur due to errors 

or malicious activity (e.g., tampering). Software includes, for example, operating systems (with key internal 

components such as kernels, drivers), middleware, and applications. Firmware includes, for example, the 

Basic Input Output System (BIOS). Information includes metadata such as security attributes associated 

with information. State-of-the-practice integrity-checking mechanisms (e.g., parity checks, cyclical 

redundancy checks, cryptographic hashes) and associated tools can automatically monitor the integrity of 

information systems and hosted applications. Related controls: SA-12, SC-8, SC-13, SI-3.

SI-7 (14) SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY | BINARY OR MACHINE 

EXECUTABLE CODE [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The organization:

(a) Prohibits the use of binary or machine-executable code from sources with limited or no 

warranty and without the provision of source code; and

(b) Provides exceptions to the source code requirement only for compelling mission/operational 

requirements and with the approval of the authorizing official.
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Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement applies to all sources of binary or machine-executable 

code including, for example, commercial off-the-shelf software/firmware. Organizations assess 

software products without accompanying source code from sources with limited or no warranty for 

potential security impacts. The assessments address the fact that these types of software products may 

be very difficult to review, repair, or extend, given that organizations, in most cases, do not have 

access to the original source code, and there may be no owners who could make such repairs on behalf 

of organizations. Related control: SA-5.

SI-7 (15) SOFTWARE, FIRMWARE, AND INFORMATION INTEGRITY | CODE 

AUTHENTICATION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

The information system implements cryptographic mechanisms to authenticate [Assignment: 

organization-defined software or firmware components] prior to installation.

Supplemental Guidance: Cryptographic authentication includes, for example, verifying that software or 

firmware components have been digitally signed using certificates recognized and approved by 

organizations. Code signing is an effective method to protect against malicious code.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-147, 800-155.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P1 LOW Not Selected MOD SI-7 (1) (7) HIGH SI-7 (1) (2) (5) (7) (14)

SI-12 INFORMATION HANDLING AND RETENTION [BACK TO SCRM CONTROL]

Control: The organization handles and retains information within the information system and information 

output from the system in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, 

regulations, standards, and operational requirements.

Supplemental Guidance: Information handling and retention requirements cover the full life cycle of 

information, in some cases extending beyond the disposal of information systems. The National Archives 

and Records Administration provides guidance on records retention. Related controls: AC-16, AU-5, AU11, MP-2, MP-4.

References: None.

Priority and Baseline Allocation:

P2 LOW SI-12 MOD SI-12 HIGH SI-12
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APPENDIX C

ICT SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT EVENTS

This appendix provides examples of ICT supply chain threat events. These examples are based on [NIST 

SP 800-30 Rev. 1], Appendix E, Threat Events. Specifically, Tables E-2, Representative Examples –

Adversarial Threat Events, and E-3, Representative Examples – Non-Adversarial Threat Events, were 

used to create the two corresponding tables in this document. It should be noted that the threat events in 

NIST SP 800-30 Revision 1, Appendix E, are generic threat events for information security rather than for

ICT SCRM. The tables used as source material for this appendix contain 2 columns – Threat Events and 

Description.

The generic threats in NIST SP 800-30 Revision 1, Appendix E, are at times quite broad and needed to be 

further specified to be ICT supply chain-specific for use in this document. This document lists only those 

threats events that are relevant to ICT supply chain in all or under some circumstances. A comment is 

included in the third column, Comments, to provide the rationale for when the specific threat event is 

relevant to the ICT supply chain or relevant under some, but not all, circumstances. 

Organizations may use the examples of ICT supply chain threat events provided in this appendix during 

threat analysis described in Chapter 2, if appropriate.

Table C-1: Adversarial ICT Supply Chain Threat Events

Threat Events

(Characterized by 

TTPs)

Description Comments

Perform reconnaissance and gather information.

Perform malwaredirected internal 

reconnaissance.

Adversary uses malware installed inside the organizational 

perimeter to identify targets of opportunity. Because the 

scanning, probing, or observation does not cross the 

perimeter, it is not detected by externally placed intrusion 

detection systems. 

Craft or create attack tools.

Craft phishing attacks.

Adversary counterfeits communications from a 

legitimate/trustworthy source to acquire sensitive 

information such as usernames, passwords, or SSNs. 

Typical attacks occur via email, instant messaging, or 

comparable means, commonly directing users to websites 

that appear to be legitimate sites, while actually stealing 

the entered information. 

Craft attacks 

specifically based on 

deployed information 

technology 

environment.

Adversary develops attacks (e.g., crafts targeted malware) 

that take advantage of adversary knowledge of the 

organizational information technology environment. 
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Threat Events

(Characterized by 

TTPs)

Description Comments

Create counterfeit/spoof 

website.

Adversary creates duplicates of legitimate websites; when 

users visit a counterfeit site, the site can gather information 

or download malware. 

Craft counterfeit 

certificates.

Adversary counterfeits or compromises a certificate 

authority, so that malware or connections will appear 

legitimate.

Create and operate false 

front organizations to 

inject malicious 

components into the 

supply chain.

Adversary creates false front organizations with the 

appearance of legitimate suppliers in the critical life cycle 

path that then inject corrupted/malicious information 

system components into the organizational supply chain. 

Deliver/insert/install malicious capabilities.

Deliver known malware 

to internal 

organizational 

information systems 

(e.g., virus via email).

Adversary uses common delivery mechanisms (e.g., email) 

to install/insert known malware (e.g., malware whose 

existence is known) into organizational information 

systems. 

Deliver modified 

malware to internal 

organizational 

information systems.

Adversary uses more sophisticated delivery mechanisms 

than email (e.g., web traffic, instant messaging, FTP) to 

deliver malware and possibly modifications of known 

malware to gain access to internal organizational 

information systems. 

Deliver targeted 

malware for control of 

internal systems and 

exfiltration of data.

Adversary installs malware that is specifically designed to 

take control of internal organizational information 

systems, identify sensitive information, exfiltrate the 

information back to adversary, and conceal these actions. 

Deliver malware by 

providing removable 

media.

Adversary places removable media (e.g., flash drives) 

containing malware in locations external to organizational 

physical perimeters but where employees are likely to find 

the media (e.g., facilities parking lots, exhibits at 

conferences attended by employees) and use it on 

organizational information systems. 

Insert untargeted 

malware into 

downloadable software 

and/or into commercial 

information technology 

products.

Adversary corrupts or inserts malware into common 

freeware, shareware, or commercial information 

technology products. Adversary is not targeting specific 

organizations, simply looking for entry points into internal 

organizational information systems. Note that this is 

particularly a concern for mobile applications.

Insert targeted malware 

into organizational 

information systems 

and information system 

components.

Adversary inserts malware into organizational information 

systems and information system components (e.g., 

commercial information technology products), specifically 

targeted to the hardware, software, and firmware used by 

organizations (based on knowledge gained via 

reconnaissance). 
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Threat Events

(Characterized by 

TTPs)

Description Comments

Insert specialized 

malware into 

organizational 

information systems 

based on system 

configurations.

Adversary inserts specialized, non-detectable malware into 

organizational information systems based on system 

configurations, specifically targeting critical information 

system components based on reconnaissance and 

placement within organizational information systems.

Insert counterfeit or 

tampered hardware into 

the supply chain.

Adversary intercepts hardware from legitimate suppliers. 

Adversary modifies the hardware or replaces it with faulty 

or otherwise modified hardware. 

Insert tampered critical 

components into 

organizational systems.

Adversary replaces, though supply chain, subverted 

insider, or some combination thereof, critical information 

system components with modified or corrupted 

components. 

Insert malicious 

scanning devices (e.g., 

wireless sniffers) inside 

facilities.

Adversary uses postal service or other commercial 

delivery services to deliver to organizational mailrooms a 

device that is able to scan wireless communications 

accessible from within the mailrooms and then wirelessly 

transmit information back to adversary. 

Insert subverted 

individuals into 

organizations.

Adversary places individuals within organizations who are 

willing and able to carry out actions to cause harm to 

organizational missions/business functions. 

YES, if the 

individual is 

placed by an 

external party.

Insert subverted 

individuals into 

privileged positions in 

organizations.

Adversary places individuals in privileged positions within 

organizations that are willing and able to carry out actions 

to cause harm to organizational missions/business 

functions. Adversary may target privileged functions to 

gain access to sensitive information (e.g., user accounts, 

system files, etc.) and may leverage access to one 

privileged capability to get to another capability. 

Exploit and compromise.

Exploit split tunneling.

Adversary takes advantage of external organizational or 

personal information systems (e.g., laptop computers at 

remote locations) that are simultaneously connected 

securely to organizational information systems or networks 

and to nonsecure remote connections. 

YES, if 

information 

systems are 

those 

belonging to 

external 

organization.
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Threat Events

(Characterized by 

TTPs)

Description Comments

Exploit vulnerabilities 

in information systems 

timed with 

organizational 

mission/business 

operations tempo.

Adversary launches attacks on organizations in a time and 

manner consistent with organizational needs to conduct 

mission/business operations. 

YES, if the 

threat is to 

ICT supply 

chain.

Exploit insecure or 

incomplete data 

deletion in multi-tenant 

environment.

Adversary obtains unauthorized information due to 

insecure or incomplete data deletion in a multi-tenant 

environment (e.g., in a cloud computing environment).

Violate isolation in 

multi-tenant 

environment.

Adversary circumvents or defeats isolation mechanisms in 

a multi-tenant environment (e.g., in a cloud computing 

environment) to observe, corrupt, or deny service to hosted 

services and information/data.

Compromise 

information systems or 

devices used externally 

and reintroduced into 

the enterprise.

Adversary installs malware on information systems or 

devices while the systems/devices are external to 

organizations for purposes of subsequently infecting 

organizations when reconnected. 

Compromise design, 

manufacture, and/or 

distribution of 

information system 

components (including 

hardware, software, and 

firmware).

Adversary compromises the design, manufacture, and/or 

distribution of critical information system components at 

selected suppliers. 

Conduct an attack (i.e., direct/coordinate attack tools or activities).

Conduct physical 

attacks on 

infrastructures 

supporting 

organizational facilities.

Adversary conducts a physical attack on one or more 

infrastructures supporting organizational facilities (e.g., 

breaks a water main, cuts a power line).

Conduct internally

based session hijacking.

Adversary places an entity within organizations in order to 

gain access to organizational information systems or 

networks for the express purpose of taking control 

(hijacking) an already established, legitimate session either 

between organizations and external entities (e.g., users 

connecting from remote locations) or between two 

locations within internal networks. 

YES, for 

critical 

systems.
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Threat Events

(Characterized by 

TTPs)

Description Comments

Conduct supply chain 

attacks targeting and 

exploiting critical 

hardware, software, or 

firmware.

Adversary targets and compromises the operation of 

software (e.g., through malware injections), firmware, and 

hardware that performs critical functions for organizations. 

This is largely accomplished as supply chain attacks on 

both commercial off-the-shelf and custom information 

systems and components. 

Achieve results (i.e., cause adverse impacts, obtain information)

Cause unauthorized 

disclosure and/or 

unavailability by 

spilling sensitive 

information.

Adversary contaminates organizational information 

systems (including devices and networks) by causing them 

to handle information of a classification/sensitivity for 

which they have not been authorized. The information is 

exposed to individuals who are not authorized access to 

such information, and the information system, device, or 

network is unavailable while the spill is investigated and 

mitigated.

YES, because 

this may be 

related to 

informationsharing 

agreements.

Obtain information by 

externally located 

interception of wireless 

network traffic.

Adversary intercepts organizational communications over 

wireless networks. Examples include targeting public 

wireless access or hotel networking connections, and 

drive-by subversion of home or organizational wireless 

routers. 

YES, because 

this originates 

externally.

Obtain unauthorized 

access.

Adversary with authorized access to organizational 

information systems, gains access to resources that 

exceeds authorization.

YES, if an 

adversary is 

not an 

employee.

Obtain information by 

opportunistically 

stealing or scavenging 

information 

systems/components.

Adversary steals information systems or components 

(e.g., laptop computers or data storage media) that are left 

unattended outside of the physical perimeters of 

organizations, or scavenges discarded components. 

Maintain a presence or set of capabilities.

Coordinate campaigns 

across multiple 

organizations to acquire 

specific information or 

achieve desired 

outcome.

Adversary does not limit planning to the targeting of one 

organization. Adversary observes multiple organizations to 

acquire necessary information on targets of interest. 

YES, if these 

are multiple 

organizations 

composing

ICT supply 

chain.

Coordinate cyber 

attacks using external 

(outsider), internal 

(insider), and supply 

chain (supplier) attack 

vectors.

Adversary employs continuous, coordinated attacks, 

potentially using all three attack vectors for the purpose of 

impeding organizational operations. 
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Table C-2: Non-Adversarial ICT Supply Chain Threat Events

Threat Event Description Comments

Spill sensitive 

information

Authorized user erroneously contaminates a device, 

information system, or network by placing on it or 

sending to it information of a classification/sensitivity, 

which it has not been authorized to handle. The 

information is exposed to access by unauthorized 

individuals, and as a result, the device, system, or 

network is unavailable while the spill is investigated and 

mitigated. 

Mishandling of critical 

and/or sensitive 

information by 

authorized users

Authorized privileged user inadvertently exposes 

critical/sensitive information. YES, if user 

is not an 

employee.

Incorrect privilege 

settings

Authorized privileged user or administrator erroneously 

assigns a user exceptional privileges or sets privilege 

requirements on a resource too low. 

YES, if user 

is not an 

employee.

Resource depletion Degraded processing performance due to resource 

depletion.

YES, if 

physical 

resources are 

being 

depleted.

YES, if 

resources of 

an external 

service 

provider are 

being 

depleted.

Introduction of 

vulnerabilities into 

software products

Due to inherent weaknesses in programming languages 

and software development environments, errors and 

vulnerabilities are introduced into commonly used 

software products.

Pervasive disk error Multiple disk errors due to aging of a set of devices all 

acquired at the same time, from the same supplier.
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APPENDIX D

SUPPLY CHAIN THREAT SCENARIOS AND ANALYSIS

FRAMEWORK

There are numerous opportunities for vulnerabilities that impact the environment or the system/element to 

be intentionally or unintentionally inserted, created, or exploited throughout the supply chain.

Exploitation of these vulnerabilities is known as supply chain threats. A Threat Scenario is a summary 

of potential consequence(s) of the successful exploitation of a specific vulnerability or vulnerabilities 

by a threat agent. Analyzing threat scenarios can help organizations to determine the likelihood and 

impact a specific event or events would have on an organization and identify appropriate mitigating 

strategies. 

Threat scenarios are generally used in two ways:

 To translate the often disconnected information garnered from a risk assessment, such as 

described in [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1] , into a more narrowly scoped and tangible, story-like 

situation for further evaluation. These stories can help organizations to discover dependencies and 

additional vulnerabilities requiring mitigation and used for training; and

 To determine the impact that the successful exercise of a specific vulnerability would have on the 

organization and identify the benefits of mitigating strategies. 

Information garnered from these scenarios can be used to help identify areas requiring increased controls 

and also for training purposes. The Threat Scenario analysis may be conducted in conjunction with or as 

part of ongoing risk assessment processes. By performing an in-depth analysis of how a specific event 

will impact an organization using a threat scenario, critical relationships and dependencies that might 

otherwise be overlooked during an initial criticality analysis or risk assessment can become visible and 

appropriate mitigating strategies employed.

A threat scenario analysis may mimic an organization’s ICT supply chain risk management process, as 

described in Chapter 2 of this publication. However, because threat scenarios focus on very specific, often 

hypothetical events, they should not be used to replace a holistic ICT supply chain risk assessment. 

Rather, they should be used as a tool to further evaluate specific vulnerabilities or areas of concern. They 

are often used during the “monitor” phase of the risk management process (described in chapter 2.2.4 of 

this publication) as a means of identifying and evaluating potential changes. Due to the infinite number of 

possible scenarios and directions into which a threat scenario can evolve, it is important to have a 

structured approach with well-defined goals and scope. 

This appendix provides an example of a generic threat scenario analysis framework for ICT SCRM that 

can be used by organizations to develop a framework that best suits their needs. It contains four examples 

of how this framework may be used. The examples differ slightly in their implementation of the 

framework so as to show how the framework may be tailored. Each example identifies one or more 

vulnerabilities, describes a specific threat source, identifies the expected impact on the organization, and 

proposes SP 800-161 SCRM controls that would help mitigate the resulting risk. 
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DEVELOPING AND ANALYZING THREAT SCENARIOS & IDENTIFYING

APPLICABLE CONTROLS

Step 1: Create a Plan for Developing and Analyzing Scenarios

 Identify the purpose of the threat scenario analysis in terms of the objectives, milestones, and 

expected deliverables;

 Identify the scope of organizational applicability, level of detail, and other constraints;

 Identify resources to be used, including personnel, time, and equipment; and

 Define a framework to be used for analyzing scenarios.

Step 2: Characterize the Environment

 Identify core mission/business processes and key organizational dependencies;

 Describe threat sources that are relevant to the organization. Include the motivation and resources 

available to the threat source, if applicable;

 List known vulnerabilities or areas of concern (Note: Examples of areas of concern include the 

planned outsourcing of a manufacturing plant, the pending termination of a maintenance contract, 

or the discontinued manufacture of an element.);

 Identify existing and planned controls; 

 Identify related regulations, standards, policies, and procedures; and

 Define an acceptable level of risk (risk threshold) per organizational TTPs, system criticality, and 

a risk owners set of mission priorities. The level of risk or risk threshold can be constantly 

adjusted to reflect the elasticity of the global supply chain, organizational changes, and new 

mission priorities.

Step 3: Develop and Select Threat Event(s) for Analysis

 List possible ways threat sources could exploit known vulnerabilities or impact areas of concern 

to create a list of events (Note: Historical data is useful in determine this information.); 

 Briefly outline the series of consequences that could occur as a result of each threat event. These 

may be as broad or specific as necessary. If applicable, estimate the likelihood and impact of each 

event;

 Eliminate those events that are clearly outside the defined purpose and scope of the analysis;

 Describe in more detail the remaining threat events. Include the tactics, techniques, and 

procedures used to carry out attacks (Note: The level of detail in the description is dependent on 

the needs of the organization.); and

 Select for analysis those events that best fit the defined purpose and scope of the analysis. More 

likely events, events of special concern, and an event that can represent several of the other listed 

events are generally useful candidates.

Step 4: Conduct the Threat Scenario Analysis

 For each threat event, note any immediate consequences of the event and identify those 

organizational units and processes that would be affected, taking into account existing and 

planned controls, and applicable regulations, standards, policies, and procedures;

 Estimate the impact these consequences would have on the mission/business processes as well as 

the organizational units affected, preferably in quantitative terms from historical data and taking 

into account existing and planned controls, and applicable regulations, standards, policies, and 

procedures (Note: It may be beneficial to identify a “most likely” impact level and a “worst-case” 

or “100-year” impact level.); and

 Identify those organizational units or processes that would be subsequently affected, the 

consequences and the impact levels, until each affected process has been analyzed, taking into 
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account existing and planned controls, and applicable regulations, standards, policies, and 

procedures (e.g., If a critical server goes down, one of the first processes affected may be the 

technology support department, but if they determine a new part is needed to bring the server 

back up, the procurement department may become involved.).

Step 5: Determine Applicable Controls

 Determine if threat scenario events create a risk level that exceeds a risk owner’s acceptable level 

of risk (risk threshold). (Note: In some cases, the level of acceptable risk may be dependent on 

the cost of mitigating strategies.) Identify potential mitigating controls. Using a list of standard or 

recommended controls can make this process simpler. This appendix uses the controls in Chapter 

3 of NIST SP 800-161. Furthermore, factoring any available FedRAMP certifications for the 

organization and any other applicable recognized external assessments for system integrators, 

suppliers, and external service providers in the mitigating control identification process may 

eliminate duplicate resources without compromising the effectiveness of the resultant 

mitigation.);

 Estimate the effectiveness of those controls at reducing the risk of a scenario;

 Estimate the resources needed (in terms of money, personnel, time) to implement potential 

controls; and 

 Identify those controls or combinations of controls that would cause the estimated residual risk of 

a threat event to drop to an acceptable level in the most resource-effective manner, taking into 

account any rules or regulations that may apply (Note: Consideration should be given to the 

potential that one control will help mitigate the risk from more than one event, or that a control 

may increase the risk of a separate event.). 

Step 6: Evaluate / Feedback

 Develop a plan to implement the selected controls and evaluate their effectiveness; and

 Evaluate the effectiveness of the threat scenario analysis and make improvements as needed.
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Figure D-1: Sample Threat Scenario Analysis Framework

Threat Scenario

Threat Source 

Vulnerability

Threat Event 

Description

Outcome

Organizational units 

/ processes affected Risk

Impact

Likelihood

Risk Score 

(Impact x 

Likelihood)

Acceptable 

Level of Risk

Mitigation

Potential 

Mitigating 

Strategies / 

SCRM Controls

Estimated 

Cost of 

Mitigating 

Strategies

Change in 

Likelihood

Change in 

Impact

Selected 

Strategies

Estimated 

Residual Risk
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SAMPLE SCENARIOS

This appendix provides four example threat scenarios specific to the U.S. government using the generic 

framework described above. The examples purposely vary in level of specificity and detail to show that 

threat scenarios can be as broad or specific, as detailed or generic, as necessary. While these scenarios use 

basic scoring measures (High, Moderate, Low) for likelihood, impact, and risk, organizations may use 

any of a number of different units of measure (e.g., percentage, CVSS score, etc.). Additionally, these 

scenarios vary slightly in implementation of the framework to show that the framework can be adapted as 

needed. 

SCENARIO 1: Telecommunications Counterfeits

Background: 

A large organization has developed a system that is maintained through contract by an external 

integration company. The system requires a common telecommunications element that is no longer 

available from the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). The OEM has offered a newer product as a 

replacement, but it would require modifications to the system at a cost of approximately $1 million. If the 

element is not upgraded, the agency and system integrator would have to rely on secondary market 

suppliers for replacements. The newer product provides no significant improvement on the element 

currently being used. 

The organization has decided to perform a threat scenario analysis to determine whether to modify the 

system to accept the new product, or accept the risk of continuing to use a product that is no longer in 

production.

Environment

The environment is characterized as follows:

 The system is expected to last ten more years without any major upgrades/modifications and has 

a 99.9 % uptime requirement. 

 Over 1000 of the $200 elements are used throughout the system and approximately 10 % are 

replaced every year due to regular wear-and-tear, malfunctions, or other reasons. The integrator 

has approximately a three-month supply on hand at any time.

 The element is continuously monitored for functionality, and efficient procedures exist to reroute 

traffic and replace the element should it unexpectedly fail. 

 Outages resulting from unexpected failure of the element are rare, localized, and last only a few 

minutes. More frequently, when an element fails, the system’s functionality is severely reduced 

for approximately one-to-four hours while the problem is diagnosed and fixed or the element 

replaced. 

 Products such as the element in question have been a common target for counterfeiting. 

 The integrator has policies restricting the purchase of counterfeit goods and a procedure to follow 

if a counterfeit is discovered [Ref. SA-19].

 The integrator and acquiring agency have limited testing procedures to ensure functionality of the 

element before acceptance [Ref. SA-12(7)].

Threat Event
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To support the threat scenario, the agency created a fictitious threat source described as a group motivated 

by profit with vast experience creating counterfeit solutions. The counterfeiter is able to make a high 

profit margin by creating and selling as genuine, products that are visually identical to their genuine 

counterparts but which use lower-quality materials. They have the resources to copy most trademark and 

other identifying characteristics and insert counterfeits into a supply chain commonly used by the 

organization with little to no risk of detection. The counterfeit product is appealing to unaware purchasing 

authorities as it is generally offered at a discount - sold as excess inventory or as stockpile.

If an inferior quality element was inserted into the system, it would likely fail more often than expected, 

causing reduced functionality of the system. In the event a large number of counterfeit products were 

mixed in with genuine parts and integrated into the system randomly, the number and severity of 

unexpected outages could grow significantly. The agency and integrator decided that the chances a 

counterfeit product could be purchased to maintain the system and the estimated potential impact of such 

an event were high enough to warrant further evaluation.

Threat Scenario Analysis

The person(s) purchasing the element from a supplier will be the first affected by a counterfeit product. 

Policy dictates that they attempt to purchase a genuine product from vetted suppliers. This person will 

have to be led to believe that the product is genuine. As the counterfeit product in question is visually 

identical to the element desired, and at a discount, there is a high chance the counterfeit will be purchased. 

One will be tested to ensure functionality, and then the items will be placed into storage. 

When one of the elements in the system needs to be replaced, an engineer will install a counterfeit, 

quickly test to ensure it is running properly, and record the change. It could take two years for the 

counterfeit product to fail, so up to 200 counterfeit elements could be inserted into the system before the 

first one fails. If all the regularly replaced elements are substituted for counterfeits and each counterfeit 

fails after two years, the cost of the system would increase by $160,000 in ten years. The maintenance 

time required would also cost the integration company in personnel and other expenses.

When a counterfeit fails, it will take approximately one-to-four hours to diagnose and replace the element. 

During this time, productivity is severely reduced. If more than one of the elements fails at the same time, 

the system could fail. This could cause significant damage to agency operations and violate the 99.9% 

uptime requirements set forth in the contract. Plus, if it is determined that the element failed because it 

was a counterfeit, there would be additional costs associated with reporting the counterfeit.

Mitigation Strategy:

The following were identified as potential mitigating activities (from NIST SP 800-161):

 Require developers to perform security testing/evaluation at all post‐design phases of the SDLC 

[Ref. SA-11];

 Validate that the information system or system component received is genuine and has not been 

altered [Ref. SA-12(10)];

 Incorporate security requirements into the design of information systems (security engineering) 

[Ref. PL-8, SC-36]; and

 Employ supplier diversity requirements [PL-8(2)].

Based on these controls, the agency was able to devise a strategy that would include:
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 Acceptance testing: Examination of elements to ensure that they are new, genuine, and that all 

associated licenses are valid. Testing methods include, where appropriate: physical inspection by 

trained personnel using digital imaging, digital signature verification, serial/part number 

verification, and sample electrical testing;

 Increase security requirements into the design of the system by adding redundant elements along 

more critical paths (as determined by a criticality analysis) in order to minimize the impact of an 

element failure; and 

 Search for alternative vetted suppliers/trusted components.

It was determined that this strategy would cost less than accepting the risk of allowing counterfeits into 

the system or modifying the system to accept the upgraded element. The estimated cost for implementing 

a more rigorous acquisition and testing program was $80,000; the cost for increasing security engineering

requirements was $100,000.
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Threat Source: Counterfeit telecommunications element introduced into supply chain.

Vulnerability:

Element no longer produced by OEM.

Purchasing authorities unable / unwilling to identify and purchase only genuine 

elements.

Threat Event 

Description:

Threat agent inserts their counterfeit element into a trusted distribution chain. 

Purchasing authorities buy the counterfeit element.  Counterfeit elements installed 

into the system.

Outcome: The element fails more frequently than before, increasing the number of outages.

Organizational units / 

processes affected:

Acquisitions

Maintenance

OEM / supplier relations

Mission-essential functions

Risk

Impact: High - Outages increase by 

80 %

Medium – Outages 

increase by 40 %

Low – outages increase 

by 10 %

Likelihood: 15 % 40 % 45 %

Risk Score (Impact 

x Likelihood):

High

Acceptable Level of 

Risk:

Low

Mitigation

Potential Mitigating 

Strategies / SCRM 

Controls:

Increase acceptance testing 

capabilities [SCRM_SA-9; 

SCRM_SA-10 (7)], increase security 

requirements in design of systems 

[SCRM_PL-3, SCRM_SC-13], and 

employ supplier diversity 

requirements [SCRM_PL-3(1)].

Modify the system to accept element 

upgrade. 

Estimated Cost of 

Mitigating 

Strategies:

$180,000 $1million

Change in 

Likelihood:

Low Large

Change in Impact: Moderate None

Selected Strategies:

Agency-level examination and testing. 

Place elements in escrow until they pass defined acceptance testing criteria.

Increase security engineering. 

Search for multiple suppliers of the element.

Estimated Residual 

Risk:

Low
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SCENARIO 2: Industrial Espionage

Background:

Harlow Inc., a semiconductor (SC) company used by the organization to produce military and aerospace 

systems, is considering a partnership with a KXY Co. to leverage their fabrication facility. This would 

represent a significant change in the supply chain related to a critical system element. A committee was 

formed including representatives from the organization, Harlow Inc., and the integration company to help 

identify the impact that the partnership would have on the organization and risk-appropriate mitigating 

practices to enact when the partnership is completed.

Environment:

The systems of concern are vital to the safety of military and aerospace missions. While not classified, the 

element that KXY would be expected to manufacture is unique, patented, and critical to the operational 

status of the systems. Loss of availability of the element while the system is operational could have 

significant, immediate impact across multiple agencies and the civilian populous, including loss of life 

and millions of dollars in damages. An initial Risk Assessment was accomplished using [NIST SP 800-30 

Rev. 1], and the existing level of risk for this is was given a score of “Moderate.”

KXY currently produces a state-of-the-art, low-cost wafer fabrication whose focus is primarily 

commercial. The nation-state in which KXY operates has a history of conducting industrial espionage to 

gain IP / technology. They have shown interest in semiconductor technology and provided a significant 

grant to KXY to expand into the military and aerospace markets. While KXY does not currently have the 

testing infrastructure to meet U.S. industry compliance requirements, the nation-state’s resources are 

significant, including the ability to provide both concessions as well as incentives to help KXY meet 

those requirements.

The key area of concern was that the nation-state in which KXY operates would be able to use its 

influence to gain access to the element or the element’s design.

The committee reviewed current mitigation strategies in place and determined that Harlow, Inc., the 

integration company, and the organization had several existing practices to ensure that the system and all 

critical elements, as determined by a criticality analysis, met specific functionality requirements. For 

example, the system and critical elements are determined compliant with relevant industry standards. As 

part of their requirements under [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4], the agency had some information protection 

requirements (Ref. PM-11). In addition, Harlow, Inc. had a sophisticated inventory tracking system that 

required that most elements be uniquely tagged using RFID technology or otherwise identified for 

traceability (Ref. SA-12(14)). 

Threat Scenario:

Based on past experience, the organization decided that KXY’s host nation would likely perform one of 

two actions if given access to the technology: sell it to interested parties or insert / identify vulnerabilities 

for later exploitation. For either of these threat events to be successful, the host nation would have to 

understand the purpose of the element and be given significant access to the element or element’s design. 

This could be done with cooperation of KXY’s human resources department, through deception, or by 

physical or electronic theft. Physical theft would be difficult given existing physical control requirements 

and inventory control procedures. For a modified element to be purchased and integrated with the system, 
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it would need to pass various testing procedures at both the integrator and agency levels. Testing methods 

currently implemented include radiographic examination, material analysis, electrical testing, and sample 

accelerated life testing. Modifications to identification labels/schemes would need to be undetectable in a 

basic examination. In addition, KXY would need to pass routine audits, which would check KXY’s 

processes for ensuring the quality and functionality of the element.

The committee decided that, despite existing practices, there was a 30 % chance that the host nation 

would have the motivation and ability to develop harmful modifications to the element without detection, 

exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities, or provide the means for one of their allies to do the same. 

This could result in a loss of availability or integrity of the system, causing significant harm. Using 

information from an initial Risk Assessment accomplished using [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1], the 

committee identified this as the worst-case scenario with an impact score of “High.” 

There is approximately a 40% chance that the host nation could and would sell the technology to 

interested parties, resulting in a loss of technological superiority. If this scenario occurred, friendly 

military and civilian lives could be at risk, intelligence operations would be damaged, and more money 

would be required to invest in a new solution. The committee assigned an impact score for this scenario 

of “Moderate.”

The committee determined that the overall combined risk score for the vulnerability of concern was 

“High.”

Mitigating strategies:

Using NIST SP 800-161 as a base, three broad strategies were identified by the committee: (1) improve 

traceability capabilities, (2) increase provenance and information requirements, and (3) choose another 

supplier. These three options were analyzed in more detail to determine specific implementation 

strategies, their impact on the scenarios, and their estimated cost to implement. (Specific technologies and 

techniques are not described in this case, but would be useful in an actual threat scenario evaluation.)

Improve traceability and monitoring capabilities.

 CM-8 - INFORMATION SYSTEM COMPONENT INVENTORY

 IA-1 - IDENTIFICATION AND AUTHENTICATION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 SA-10 - DEVELOPER CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

 SCRM_SA-12(10) - SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | VALIDATE AS GENUINE AND NOT 

ALTERED

 SCRM_SA-12(14) - SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | IDENTITY AND TRACEABILITY

Cost = 20 % increase

Impact = 10 % decrease

Increase provenance and information control requirements.

 AC-21 - COLLABORATION AND INFORMATION SHARING

 PV-1 - PROVENANCE POLICY AND PROCEDURES

 PV-2 - BASELINING AND TRACKING PROVENANCE

Cost = 20 % increase

Impact = 20 % decrease

Choose another supplier.

 SA-12(2) - SUPPLY CHAIN PROTECTION | SUPPLIER REVIEWS

Cost = 40 % increase
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Impact = 80 % decrease

Based on this analysis, the committee decided to implement a combination of practices: 

 Develop and require unique, difficult-to-copy labels or alter labels to discourage cloning or 

modification of the component [Ref. SA-12(5)];

 Minimize the amount of information that is shared to suppliers. Require that the information be 

secured [Ref. AC-21]; and

 Require provenance be kept and updated throughout the SDLC [Ref. PV-1].

With this combination of controls, the estimated residual risk was determined to be equivalent with the 

existing risk without the partnership at a cost increase that is less than if the organization changed 

suppliers.
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Threat Source: Nation-state with significant resources looking to steal IP

Vulnerability: Supplier considering partnership with company that has relationship with threat 

source.

Threat Event 

Description:

Nation-state helps KXY meet industry compliance requirements. 

Harlow, Inc. partners with KXY to develop chips.

Existing 

Practices:

Strong contractual requirements as to the functionality of the system and elements

Comprehensive inventory tracking system at Harlow, Inc.

Industry compliance requirements

Outcome: Nation-state extracts technology threat actor, modifies technology, or exploits 

previously unknown vulnerability.

Organizational units / 

processes affected:

KXY Supplier

Harlow, Inc. / integrator functionality testing

Technology users 

Other federal agencies / customers

Risk

Impact: Technology modified / 

vulnerabilities exploited – High

Technology sold to interested parties -

Moderate

Likelihood: Moderate Moderate

Risk Score 

(Impact x 

Likelihood):

High

Acceptable 

Level of Risk:

Moderate

Mitigation

Potential 

Mitigating 

Strategies / 

SCRM Controls:

(1) Improve traceability 

and monitoring 

capabilities 

(2) Increase 

provenance and 

information control 

requirements 

(3) Choose another 

supplier

Estimated Cost 

of Mitigating 

Strategies:

20 % increase 20 % increase 40 % increase

New Risk Score:

Moderate Moderate Moderate

Selected 

Strategies:

Develop and require unique, difficult-to-copy labels or alter labels to discourage 

cloning or modification of the component. [SCRM_SA-10 (3)]

Minimize the amount of information that is shared to suppliers. Require that the 

information be secured. [SCRM AC-11]

Require provenance be kept and updated throughout the SDLC. [SCRM_PV-1]

Estimated 

Residual Risk:

Moderate - The residual risk was determined to be equivalent with the existing risk 

without the partnership.
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SCENARIO 3: Malicious Code Insertion

Background: 

An organization has decided to perform a threat scenario analysis on a traffic control system. The 

scenario is to focus on software vulnerabilities and should provide general recommendations regarding 

mitigating practices. 

Environment:

The system runs nearly automatically and uses computers running a commonly available operating 

system along with centralized servers. The software was created in-house and is regularly maintained and 

updated by an integration company on contract for the next five years. The integration company is large, 

frequently used by the organization in a variety of projects, and has significant resources to ensure that the 

system maintains its high availability and integrity requirements. 

Threats to the system could include: loss of power to the system, loss of functionality, or loss of integrity 

causing incorrect commands to be processed. Some threat sources could include nature, malicious 

outsiders, and malicious insiders. The system is equipped with certain safety controls such as backup 

generator power, redundancy of design, and contingency plans if the system fails. 

Threat Event:

The organization decided that the most concerning threat event would be if a malicious insider were to 

compromise the integrity of the system. Possible attacks included that the threat actor could insert a worm 

or a virus into the system, reducing its ability to function, or they could manually control the system from 

one of the central servers or by creating a back-door in the server to be accessed remotely. Depending on 

the skillfulness of the attack, an insider could gain control of the system, override certain fail-safes, and 

cause significant damage.

Based on this information, the organization developed the following fictitious threat event to be analyzed:

John Poindexter, a disgruntled employee of the integration company, decides to insert some 

open source malware into a component of the system. He then resigns from the firm, leaving no 

traceability of his work. The malware has the ability to call home to John and provides him 

access to stop or allow network traffic at any or all 50 of the transportation stations. As a 

result, there would be unpredictable, difficult-to-diagnose disruptions, causing significant 

monetary losses and safety concerns.

After a Risk Assessment was accomplished using [NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1], management has decided 

that the acceptable level of risk for this scenario is “Moderate.” 

Threat Scenario Analysis:

If John were successful, a potential course of events would be as follows:

John conducts a trial run – shutting off the services of one station for a short time. It would be 

discounted as a fluke and have minimal impact. Later, John would create increasingly frequent 

disruptions at various stations. These disruptions would cause anger among employees and 

customers and some safety concerns. The integration company would be made aware of problem 
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and begin to investigate the cause. They would create a work-around, assuming there was a bug 

in the system. However, because the malicious code would be buried and difficult to identify, the 

integration company wouldn’t discover it. John would then create a major disruption across 

several transportation systems at once. The work-around created by the integration company 

would fail due to the size of the attack, and all transportation services would be halted. Travelers 

would be severely impacted, and the media alerted. The method of attack would be identified and 

the system modified to prevent John from accessing the system again. However, the underlying 

malicious code would remain. Revenue would decrease significantly for several months. Legal 

questions would be raised. Resources would be invested in assuring the public that the system 

was safe. 

Mitigating Practices:

The organization identified the following as potential areas for improvement: 

 Establish and retain identification of supply chain elements, processes, and actors [SA-12(14)];

 Control access and configuration changes within the SDLC and require periodic code reviews 

[AC-1, AC-2, CM-3]; 

 Require static code testing [SA-14]; and 

 Incident Response Handling [IR-4]. 
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Threat Source: Integrator– Malicious Code Insertion

Vulnerability: Minimal oversight of integrator activities - no checks and balances for any individual 

inserting a small piece of code.

Threat Event 

Description:

Disgruntled employee of an Integrator company inserts malicious functionality into 

traffic navigation software, and then leaves the company. 

Existing 

Practices:

Integrator: peer-review process

Acquirer: Contract that sets down time, cost, and functionality requirements

Outcome: 50 large metro locations and 500 instances affected by malware. When activated, the 

malware causes major disruptions to traffic.

Organizational units / 

processes affected:

Traffic Navigation System

Implementation company

Legal

Public Affairs

Risk

Impact: High – Traffic disruptions are major and last for two weeks while a work-around is 

created. Malicious code is not discovered and remains a vulnerability.

Likelihood: High

Risk Score 

(Impact x 

Likelihood):

High

Acceptable Level 

of Risk:

Moderate

Mitigation

Potential 

Mitigating 

Strategies / SCRM 

Controls:

SCRM_AC-1; SCRM_ AC-2; SCRM_CM-3; SCRM_IR-2; 

SCRM_SA-10(11); SCRM_SA-11(1) 

Estimated Cost of 

Mitigating 

Strategies:

$2.5 million

Change in Impact: Large

Change in 

Likelihood: Large

Selected Strategies:

Combination of strategies using the mitigation noted 

Estimated Residual 

Risk:

Moderate
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SCENARIO 4: Unintentional Compromise

Background: 

Uninformed insiders replace components with more cost-efficient solutions without understanding the 

implications to performance, safety, and long-term costs.

An organization has concerns about its acquisition policies and has decided to conduct a threat scenario

analysis to identify applicable mitigating practices. Any practices selected must be applicable to a variety 

of projects and have significant success within a year. 

Environment:

The agency acquires many different systems with varying degrees of requirements. Because of the 

complexity of the environment, agency officials decided that they should use a scenario based on an 

actual past event.

Threat Event:

Using an actual event as a basis, the agency designed the following threat event narrative:

Gill, a newly hired program manager, is tasked with reducing the cost of a $5 million system 

being purchased to support complex research applications in a unique physical environment. The 

system would be responsible for relaying information regarding temperature, humidity, and toxic 

chemical detection as well as for storing and analyzing various data sets. There must not be any 

unscheduled outages more than 10 seconds long, or there will be serious safety concerns and 

potential destruction of research. The agency’s threat assessment committee determined that the 

acceptable level of risk for this type of event has a score of 2/10.

Gill sees that a number of components in the system design are priced high compared with similar 

components he has purchased in the commercial acquisition space. Gill asks John, a junior 

engineer with the integration company, to replace several load balancer / routers in the system 

design to save costs. 

Threat Scenario Analysis:

The agency decided that there were three potential outcomes to the scenario:

1. It is determined that the modifications are inadequate before any are purchased (30 % chance, no 

impact);

2. It is determined that the modifications are inadequate during testing (40 % chance, low impact); 

or

3. The inadequacy of the modifications is undetected, the routers are installed in the system, begin 

to fail, and create denial of service incidents (30 % chance, high impact).

Mitigating strategies:

Three potential mitigating strategies were identified: 

 Improve the existing training program [Ref. AT-1] and add configuration management controls to 

monitor all proposed changes to critical systems [Ref. CM-1];
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 Improve the testing requirements [Ref. SA-11]; and

 Require redundancy and heterogeneity in the design of systems [Ref. SC-29, SC-36].

Adding configuration management controls would increase the likelihood that the modifications are 

rejected either at the initial stage or during testing, but it was determined that a $200,000 investment in 

training alone could not bring the level of risk to an acceptable level in the time required.

Improving the testing requirements would increase the likelihood that the modifications are rejected 

during testing, but it was determined that no amount of testing alone could bring the level of risk to an 

acceptable level. 

Requiring redundancy and heterogeneity in the design of the system would significantly reduce the 

impact of this and other events of concern, but could double the cost of a project. In this scenario, it was 

determined that an investment of $2 million would be required to bring the risk to an acceptable level.

As a result of this analysis, the agency decided to implement a combination of practices: 

 A mandatory, day-long training program for those handling the acquisition of critical systems and 

adding configuration management controls requiring changes be approved by a configuration 

management board (CMB) ($80,000 initial investment);

 $60,000 investment in testing equipment and software for critical systems and elements; and 

 Redundancy and diversity of design requirements as deemed appropriate for each project. 

It was determined that this combination provided a series of practices that would be most cost-effective 

for a variety of projects and would also help mitigate the risk from a variety of threats.
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Threat Source: Internal Employee – Unintentional Compromise

Vulnerability: Lax training practices

Threat Event 

Description:

A new acquisition officer (AO) with experience in commercial acquisition is tasked 

with reducing hardware costs. The AO sees that a number of components are priced 

high and works with an engineer to change the purchase order.

Existing 

Practices:

Minimal training program that is not considered mandatory

Basic testing requirements for system components

Outcome:

Change is found 

unsuitable before 

purchase

Change is found 

unsuitable in testing

Change passes testing, routers 

installed and start to fail, causing a 

denial of service situation.

Organizational units / 

processes affected: None Acquisitions Acquisitions, System, Users

Risk

Impact: None Low High

Likelihood: 30 % 30 % 40 %

Risk Score 

(Impact x 

Likelihood):

High

Acceptable 

Level of Risk:

Low

Mitigation

Potential 

Mitigating 

Strategies / 

SCRM Controls:

Improve training program 

and require changes be 

approved by CMB.

Improve acquisition testing Improve design of system

Estimated Cost of 

Mitigating 

Strategies:

$200,000 --- $2 million

Change in 

Impact:

None None Significant

Change in 

Likelihood:

+10 % +10 % -20 % 0 +20 % -20 % 0 0 0

New Risk Score:

4/10

Selected 

Strategies:

Make training program mandatory for those working on critical systems and require 

changes to critical systems be approved by a configuration management board. (Cost = 

$100,000)

Residual Risk: Low
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APPENDIX E

ICT SCRM PLAN TEMPLATE

The following template is an example of the sections and the type of information that organizations 

should include in their ICT SCRM plans. Guidance for specific Tiers is provided, where applicable.

Agencies should have at least one ICT SCRM plan. Depending on their governance structure and size, 

agencies can have multiple ICT SCRM plans, one for Tier 1, several for Tier 2, and several for Tier 3.24

Regardless of the total number of plans, the ICT SCRM requirements and controls at the higher tiers will 

flow down to the lower tiers and should be used to guide the development of the lower tier ICT SCRM 

plans. Conversely, the ICT SCRM controls and requirements at the lower tiers should be considered in 

developing and revising requirements and controls applied at the higher tiers.

ICT SCRM controls in the ICT SCRM plan can be applied in different life cycle processes, for example, 

the incident response (IR) control can be applied in both the Infrastructure Management life cycle process 

and the Operations life cycle process. Figure H-2 lists [ISO/IEC 15288] life cycle processes.

Figure E-1: ISO/IEC 15288 Life Cycle Processes

When addressing security concerns within an ICT SCRM plan, agencies may choose to integrate their 

Tier 3 ICT SCRM controls into the applicable System Security plans or create individual ICT SCRM 

plans for Tier 3 that reference corresponding System Security plans.

 

24 Description of Tiers is provided in Chapter 2.

Agreement Process

Acquisition

Supply

Technical Process

Stakeholder Requirements 

Definition 

Requirements Analysis 

Architectural Design 

Implementation 

Integration 

Verification 

Transition

Validation

Operation

Project Process

Project Planning 

Project Assessment and Control 

Decision Management

Risk Management 

Configuration Management 

Information Management 

Measurement 

Organizational ProjectEnabling Processes

Life Cycle Model Management

Infrastructure Management 

Project Portfolio Management 

Human Resource Management

Quality Management
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ICT SCRM plans should cover the full SDLC of ICT systems and programs, including research and 

development, design, manufacturing, acquisition, delivery, integration, operations, and 

disposal/retirement. The ICT SCRM plan activities should be integrated into the organization’s system 

and software life cycle processes to ensure that ICT SCRM activities are integrated into those processes. 

Similar controls in the ICT SCRM plan can be applied in more than one life cycle process. Figure H-2 

shows how the ICT SCRM plan activities can be integrated into various example life cycles.

Figure E-2: ICT SCRM Plan and Life Cycles

These ICT SCRM plans should include as attachments relevant agreements provided by system 

integrators, suppliers, and external service providers as part of the contracting process.

25 It is expected 

that these agreements will be mostly attached at Tier 3 ICT SCRM plans, but they may also be attached to 

Tier 1 and Tier 2 ICT SCRM plans for acquisitions that span multiple systems. Review and update ICT 

SCRM plans on a schedule that includes life cycle milestones or gate reviews and significant contracting 

 

25 Such agreements, which also can be referred to as system integrator, supplier, and external provider ICT SCRM Plans, may 

describe details of risk management activities performed on behalf of the end user by supply chain participants.
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activities. ICT SCRM plans may be used to help define “fit for purpose” criteria for significant 

contracting activities (e.g., based on the organization’s mission or supported mission function).

Italicized explanations for some template sections are provided to explain the intent of the paragraph. 
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1 INTRODUCTION

Describe the purpose of the ICT SCRM plan. Tier 1 and 2 ICT SCRM plans may need to be derived in 

whole or in part from existing policies or other guidance. Tier 3 plans may be closely tied to system 

security plans (SSPs). 

For all tiers, provide a general statement that conveys the intent of the organizational leadership to adhere 

to the plan, enforce its controls, and ensure that it remains current.

1.1 Purpose and Scope

Include: agency name, tier for which this plan applies. 

For Tier 1, list all Tier 2 ICT SCRM plans within the scope of the Tier 1 ICT SCRM plan. (This list is an 

attachment to the ICT SCRM plan. In the event of organizational changes, it would be preferable to make 

changes to the Tier 1 attachment than to each individual System Security plan.) For Tier 1, describe the 

scope of the applicable organization to which this ICT SCRM plan applies.

For Tier 2:

 List a unique identifier given to the mission/business. This may be names of acquisition 

programs, IT acquisition (e.g., listed in applicable OMB Exhibit 300), or any other designator that 

describes the scope of the ICT SCRM plan at Tier 2.

 Provide a brief explanation of what this mission/business encompasses, including a high-level 

summary of systems within the scope of this ICT SCRM plan.

 List all Tier 3 ICT SCRM plans and/or System Security plans within the scope of this Tier 2 ICT 

SCRM plan.

For Tier 3, if creating a separate ICT SCRM plan, include a unique identifier and name given to the 

system. (For consideration: List all essential supporting systems and interfaces (such as network 

infrastructure) and their relevant SCRM data from their ICT SCRM plans if such a plan exists. This 

provides the opportunity for the agency to find missing, overlapping, and redundant controls. Most, if not 

all supporting systems will require as a minimum, replacements, supplies, and upgrades.)

1.2 Authority

Include: Authorities and references to relevant agency documents such as policies, strategic plan(s),

acquisition guidelines, processes, procedures, etc. Policies may include ICT SCRM policy, security 

policy, acquisition policy, or any other policy applicable in the context of this ICT SCRM plan.

For Tier 2, include applicable Tier 1 ICT SCRM plan title.

For Tier 3, include applicable Tier 1 and Tier 2 ICT SCRM plan titles.

1.3 Audience

For all three tiers, include any agency organizational units that should be active participants or interested 

parties in this ICT SCRM plan and that should be using it to inform their activities. These may include 

legal, acquisition, IT security, supply chain and logistics, human resources, finance, etc., and specific 

individual roles such as CISO, procurement personnel, program managers, etc., as appropriate.
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2 ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

For all three tiers, state those responsible for the ICT SCRM plan and key contributors to ICT SCRM. See 

Section 2.1 for more detail.

2.1 Responsibility for the plan

State the role and name of the individual or group responsible for the ICT SCRM plan.

 For Tier 1, an example may be Risk Executive (function), CFO, or CIO.

 For Tier 2, an example may be CIO or Program Manager.

 For Tier 3, this is the System Owner and, if integrated into the System Security plan, also the 

Authorizing Official.

Include the name, title, organizational affiliation, address, email address, and phone number of each 

person.

2.2 Key Contributors

Identify key contributors to the ICT SCRM plan.

 For Tier 1, an example may be Agency CFO, COO, Acquisition/Contracting.

 For Tier 2, an example may be Acquisition/Contracting, Operations Manager, System Architect.

 For Tier 3, an example may be System Engineer, Security Engineer, Developer/Maintenance 

Engineer.

Include the name, title, organizational affiliation, address, email address, and phone number of each 

person.

3 ICT SCRM CONTROLS

List applicable (per tier) ICT SCRM controls resulting from the Evaluation of Alternatives (in Respond, 

Task 3-3). The description of each control should include the following:

 Title;

 How the ICT SCRM control is being implemented or planned to be implemented;

 Applicable scoping guidance; and

 Tailoring decisions with justifications.

For Tier 2, reference applicable Tier 1 ICT SCRM plan that provides common controls.

For Tier 3, reference applicable Tier 2 ICT SCRM plan that provides common controls.

4 USING AND REVISING ICT SCRM PLAN

ICT SCRM plans are living documents that must be updated and communicated to all appropriate 

individuals - government staff, contractors, and suppliers.
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4.1 Communicating ICT SCRM Plan

Describe the processes by which this ICT SCRM plan will be communicated to other Tiers to ensure that 

ICT supply chain interdependencies are addressed. Examples include:

 Posting on appropriate agency portal(s);

 Communicating via email;

 Briefing appropriate individuals including those responsible for addressing deficiencies; and

 Including information contained in the ICT SCRM plan in applicable training and outreach 

materials.

4.2 Revision and Improvement 

Tier 1 and 2 ICT SCRM plans should be reviewed at a minimum on an annual basis since changes to 

laws, policies, standards, guidelines, and controls are dynamic and evolving. As a minimum, review and 

update Tier 3 ICT SCRM plans at life cycle milestones, gate reviews, and significant contracting 

activities, and verify for compliance with upper tier plans as appropriate.

State the required frequency for ICT SCRM plan reviews to consider updates.

Define criteria that would trigger ICT SCRM plan revisions. This may include:

 Change of authorities that apply to the ICT SCRM plan;

 Change of policies that apply to the ICT SCRM plan;

 Significant ICT SCRM events;

 Introduction of new technologies;

 Shortcomings in the ICT SCRM plan;

 For Tiers 2 and 3, change of governing ICT SCRM plan for the Tiers above;

 Change of scope; and

 Other agency-specific criteria.

If deemed helpful, ICT SCRM plan owners can use the ICT SCRM plan of Action and Milestones 

(POAM) to assess the impact of the changes and guide ICT SCRM plan revisions and to ensure that the 

updated plan does not leave a gap in coverage from the previous version. Describe the ICT SCRM 

POA&M process and resolution steps.

4.3 Implementing and Assessing Effectiveness of ICT SCRM Plans

Agencies should use their ICT SCRM plans during the budgeting and planning process, particularly with 

respect to acquisition and procurement activities. This includes the operations staff procuring 

replacement parts and ancillary services that may not be aware of the potential ICT supply chain risks 

associated with such procurements without following applicable ICT SCRM plans. Each tier’s ICT SCRM 
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plan should describe ICT supply chain risk management monitoring and enforcement activities (including 

auditing if appropriate) applicable to the scope of each specific plan.

If appropriate, ICT SCRM plan owners may decide to use qualitative or quantitative measures to support 

implementation of the plan and to assess effectiveness of this implementation.

26 If measures are used, they 

should be stated in the plan.

Contractor and supplier-provided plans, associated with Tier 3 systems, should be included if such plans 

are part of contractual agreements. Figure H-3 depicts an example process flow for implementing agency

ICT SCRM plan(s).

Figure E-3: Agency Implementation of ICT SCRM Plan

Describe general details about the use of the ICT SCRM plan such as when to initiate collaboration with 

engineering and contracting activities, the condition under which an ICT SCRM plan audit is performed, 

and permissible steps to enforce the conditions of ICT SCRM plans.

For Tier 3, describe the significant components and the impacts to those components from contractor or 

supplier–provided ICT SCRM plans.

 

26 NIST SP 800-55 Revision 1, Performance Measurement Guide for Information Security (July 2008) provides guidance on 

developing information security measures. Agencies can use general guidance in that publication to develop specific measures 

for their ICT SCRM plans. See http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-55-Rev1/SP800-55-rev1.pdf.

Title: SCRM Plan – Acquisition Activities Tier 1 & 2 (Govt.) Tier 3 (Govt.) Market participants (System Integrators, External Service Providers)

optional

Tier 1 ICT SCRM 

Plan

Tier 2 ICT SCRM Plan

informs

Results of 

enterprise and 

mission/business 

risk 

determination 

and end-user risk 

determination

Outline

Tier 3

ICT SCRM 

Plan

Seek industry 

input on ICT 

SCRM 

requirements 

using RFI to 

industry

Determine 

what is 

needed 

from 

system 

integrators 

and 

external 

service 

providers

Publish ICT 

SCRM Plan 

requirements 

in RFP/RFQ

Evaluate 

and 

Select

Accept final 

input and 

build into 

Govt. plan

Independent 

verification of 

ICT SCRM plan 

compliance

Provide 

recommendations 

on ICT SCRM 

requirements

Provide high-level 

plan that satisfies 

selection criteria

Deliver 

missionrelevant 

inputs into 

final ICT 

SCRM plan 

(may be 

companysensitive 

info)

Execute 

contract 

IAW ICT 

SCRM plan

Compliance 

check

Compliance 

check

Contract Award

Enterprise and mission/business risk 

determination
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A useful approach to implementing the SCRM plan is to ensure that the various activities are mapped and 

tracked as part of an SDLC. This ensures full coverage of SCRM activities since these activities may 

requires repeating and reintegrating (using spiral or agile techniques) which is a common effort in an 

SDLC. SCRM plan activities are necessarily needed as early as in the concept and R&D steps of an 

SDLC and certainly continue into the various SDLC steps including development, production, utilization, 

support, and retirement steps. 

There are a number of SDLCs that have been described by various entities. And each organization may 

have its own variant that may have been defined and is currently implemented. What is important is the 

general understanding and definition of the various SCRM plan activities and how they are mapped in the 

agency-specific SDLC.

To provide some guidance on how SCRM activities can be mapped to an SDLC, three example SDLCs 

are provided with SCRM plan activities mapped (see figure H-2). These SDLCs are from NIST, DHS, and 

an example SDLC described in ISO/IEC15288. These SDLCs and the mapping are provided only as an 

example and should be used as a guideline for agency-specific SCRM plan implementation. We are not 

endorsing or recommending any one SDLC. 

Use of the following paragraphs is optional. Agencies should decide whether to use them depending on 

mission criticality, applicable threats, and other factors per agency determination. 

4.4 Use of ICT SCRM Plan during Contingencies and Emergencies

In the event of contingency or emergency operations, the agency may need to bypass normal acquisition 

processes to allow for mission continuity. Contracting activities that are not vetted using approved ICT 

SCRM plan processes introduce unknown risk to the organization.

When appropriate at Tier 1, 2, or 3, describe abbreviated acquisition procedures to follow during 

contingencies and emergencies, such as the contact information for ICT SCRM subject matter experts 

who can provide advice absent a formal tasking and approval chain of command.

For Tier 1, describe agency procedures and waiver processes.

For Tier 2, describe mission/business procedures and waiver processes in addition to Tier 1.

For Tier 3, describe system-specific procedures and waiver processes in addition to Tiers 1 and 2.

ATTACHMENTS

For Tier 1, attach or provide links to applicable Tier 2 ICT SCRM plans.

For Tier 2, attach or provide links to applicable Tier 3 ICT SCRM plans.

For Tier 3, attach or provide links to applicable plans for essential supporting systems.

For Tier 3, attach applicable contractual agreements or ICT SCRM plans provided by contractors or 

suppliers.
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APPENDIX F

GLOSSARY

Term Definition Source

Access Ability to make use of any information system resource. [NIST SP 800-32]

Acquirer Stakeholder that acquires or procures a product or service. [ISO/IEC 15288]

(adapted)

Acquisition Includes all stages of the process of acquiring product or 

services, beginning with the process for determining the need 

for the product or services and ending with contract 

completion and closeout.

[NIST SP 800-64 

Rev. 2] (adapted)

Authorization

(to operate)

The official management decision given by a senior 

organizational official to authorize operation of an information 

system and to explicitly accept the risk to organizational 

operations (including mission, functions, image, or 

reputation), organizational assets, individuals, other 

organizations, and the Nation based on the implementation of 

an agreed-upon set of security controls.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]

Authorization 

Boundary

All components of an information system to be authorized for 

operation by an authorizing official and excludes separately 

authorized systems, to which the information system is 

connected.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]

Authorizing 

Official (AO)

Senior federal official or executive with the authority to 

formally assume responsibility for operating an information 

system at an acceptable level of risk to organizational 

operations (including mission, functions, image, or 

reputation), organizational assets, individuals, other 

organizations, and the Nation.

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Baseline Hardware, software, databases, and relevant documentation 

for an information system at a given point in time.

[CNSSI No. 

4009]

Baseline 

Criticality

The identification of system and its components, whether 

physical or logical, that are considered critical to an

organization’s mission. The reduced functional capability, 

incapacity, or destruction of such systems and components 

would have a significant adverse impact on an organization’s

operations (including mission, functions, image, or 

reputation), assets, individuals, other organizations, and the 

Nation. 

[CNSSI No. 4009]

(adapted)

Commercial offthe-shelf (COTS)Software and hardware that already exists and is available 

from commercial sources. It is also referred to as off-the-shelf.

[NIST SP 800-64 

Rev. 2]
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Contract A mutually binding legal relationship obligating the seller to 

furnish the supplies or services (including construction) and 

the buyer to pay for them. It includes all types of commitments 

that obligate the Government to an expenditure of 

appropriated funds and that, except as otherwise authorized, 

are in writing. In addition to bilateral instruments, contracts 

include (but are not limited to) awards and notices of awards; 

job orders or task letters issued under basic ordering 

agreements; letter contracts; orders, such as purchase orders, 

under which the contract becomes effective by written 

acceptance or performance; and bilateral contract 

modifications. Contracts do not include grants and cooperative 

agreements covered by 31 U.S.C. 6301, et seq. 

[48 C.F.R.]

Contract 

administration 

office

An office that performs— (1) Assigned post-award functions 

related to the administration of contracts; and (2) Assigned 

pre-award functions.

[48 C.F.R.]

Contracting office An office that awards or executes a contract for supplies or 

services and performs post-award functions not assigned to a 

contract administration office (except as defined in 48 CFR).

[48 C.F.R.]

Contracting 

Officer (CO)

An individual who has the authority to enter into, administer, 

or terminate contracts and make related determinations and 

findings.

[FAR]

Counterfeit 

(Goods)

An unauthorized copy or substitute that has been identified, 

marked, and/or altered by a source other than the item's legally 

authorized source and has been misrepresented to be an 

authorized item of the legally authorized source.

[18 U.S.C.]

Critical 

Component 

A system element that, if compromised, damaged, or failed, 

could cause a mission or business failure.

Defense-inBreadth A planned, systematic set of multidisciplinary activities that 

seek to identify, manage, and reduce risk of exploitable 

vulnerabilities at every stage of the system, network, or subcomponent life cycle (system, network, or product design and 

development; manufacturing; packaging; assembly; system 

integration; distribution; operations; maintenance; and 

retirement).

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Defense-in-Depth Information security strategy integrating people, technology, 

and operations capabilities to establish variable barriers across 

multiple layers and dimensions of the organization.

[CNSSI No. 

4009]; [NIST SP 

800-53 Rev. 4]

Degradation A decline in quality or performance; the process by which the 

decline is brought about.

Developer A general term that includes: (i) developers or manufacturers 

of information systems, system components, or information 

system services; (ii) systems integrators; (iii) vendors; and (iv) 

product resellers. Development of systems, components, or 

services can occur internally within organizations (i.e., inhouse development) or through external entities.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]

External 

(information 

A provider of external information system services to an 

organization through a variety of consumer-producer 

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]
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systems) Service 

Provider

relationships including but not limited to: joint ventures; 

business partnerships; outsourcing arrangements (i.e., through 

contracts, interagency agreements, lines of business 

arrangements); licensing agreements; and/or supply chain 

exchanges.

Element ICT system element is a member of a set of elements that 

constitutes a system.

Element Processes A series of operations performed in the making or treatment of 

an element; performing operations on elements/data.

Enhanced Overlay An overlay that adds controls, enhancements, or additional 

guidance to security control baselines in order to highlight or 

address needs specific to the purpose of the overlay. (See 

“overlay.”)

Federal 

Acquisition 

Regulation (FAR)

The Federal Acquisition Regulations System is established for

the codification and publication of uniform policies and 

procedures for acquisition by all executive agencies. 

[48 C.F.R.]

Federal 

Information 

Processing 

Standard

A standard for adoption and use by federal departments and 

agencies that has been developed within the Information 

Technology Laboratory and published by the National 

Institute of Standards and Technology, a part of the U.S. 

Department of Commerce. A FIPS covers some topic in 

information technology in order to achieve a common level of 

quality or some level of interoperability.

[NIST SP 800-64 

Rev. 2]

Fit for purpose Fit for purpose is used informally to describe a process, 

configuration item, IT service, etc., that is capable of meeting 

its objectives or service levels. Being fit for purpose requires 

suitable design, implementation, control, and maintenance.

[ITIL Service 

Strategy]

(adapted)

High Impact The loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability that could 

be expected to have a severe or catastrophic adverse effect on 

organizational operations, organizational assets, individuals, 

other organizations, or the national security interests of the 

United States; (i.e., 1) causes a severe degradation in mission 

capability to an extent and duration that the organization is 

able to perform its primary functions, but the effectiveness of 

the functions is significantly reduced; 2) results in major 

damage to organizational assets; 3) results in major financial 

loss; or 4) results in severe or catastrophic harm to individuals 

involving loss of life or serious life threatening injuries).

[FIPS 199]; 

[CNSSI No. 4009]

ICT Supply Chain Linked set of resources and processes between acquirers, 

integrators, and suppliers that begins with the design of ICT 

products and services and extends through development, 

sourcing, manufacturing, handling, and delivery of ICT 

products and services to the acquirer. 

Note: An ICT supply chain can include vendors, 

manufacturing facilities, logistics providers, distribution 

[ISO 28001]

(adapted)
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APPENDIX F PAGE F-4

centers, distributors, wholesalers, and other organizations 

involved in the manufacturing, processing, design and 

development, handling and delivery of the products, or service 

providers involved in the operation, management, and delivery 

of the services.

ICT SCRM 

Control

Means of managing ICT supply chain risk, including policies, 

procedures, guidelines, practices, or organizational structures, 

which can be of administrative, technical, management, or 

legal nature. 

[ISO/IEC 

27000:2014]

(adapted)

ICT Supply Chain 

Compromise

An ICT supply chain compromise is an occurrence within the 

ICT supply chain whereby an adversary jeopardizes the 

confidentiality, integrity, or availability of a system or the 

information the system processes, stores, or transmits. An ICT 

supply chain compromise can occur anywhere within the 

system development life cycle of the product or service.

NOTE: System includes physical or electronic system or 

network of organizations, people, technology, activities, 

information, and resources. It also includes system or network 

components. In the context of ICT supply chain, system 

encompasses both the system that traverses the supply chain 

and the organization’s ICT supply chain infrastructure.

NOTE: ICT supply chain is a system transforming natural 

resources, raw materials, and components into a finished ICT 

product or service from supplier to the end customer.

NOTE: Development life cycle in general includes design, 

manufacturing, production, distribution, acquisition, 

installation, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning.

ICT Supply Chain 

Infrastructure

The integrated set of components (hardware, software and 

processes) within the organizational boundary that compose 

the environment in which a system is developed or 

manufactured, tested, deployed, maintained, and 

retired/decommissioned. 

ICT Supply Chain 

Logistics

The care, housing, and movement of ICT, including materials 

and components (hardware and software). 

ICT Supply Chain 

Risk 

Risks that arise from the loss of confidentiality, integrity, or 

availability of information or information systems and reflect 

the potential adverse impacts to organizational operations 

(including mission, functions, image, or reputation), 

organizational assets, individuals, other organizations, and the 

Nation.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]; [FIPS 

200] (adapted)

ICT Supply Chain 

Risk Management

The process of identifying, assessing, and mitigating the risks 

associated with the global and distributed nature of ICT 

product and service supply chains.
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APPENDIX F PAGE F-5

Identity The set of attribute values (i.e., characteristics) by which an 

entity is recognizable and that, within the scope of an identity 

manager’s responsibility, is sufficient to distinguish that entity 

from any other entity. 

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Industrial Security The portion of internal security that refers to the protection of 

industrial installations, resources, utilities, materials, and 

classified information essential to protect from loss or damage.

[NISPOM]

(adapted)

Information and 

Communications 

Technology (ICT)

Encompasses the capture, storage, retrieval, processing, 

display, representation, presentation, organization, 

management, security, transfer, and interchange of data and 

information.

[ISO/IEC 2382]

(adapted)

Information 

Assurance (IA)

Measures that protect and defend information and information 

systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, 

authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation. These 

measures include providing for restoration of information 

systems by incorporating protection, detection, and reaction 

capabilities.

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Information 

System

An information system is a discrete set of information 

resources organized expressly for the collection, processing, 

maintenance, use, sharing, dissemination, or disposition of 

information. Information systems also include specialized 

systems such as industrial/process controls systems, telephone 

switching/private branch exchange (PBX) systems, and 

environmental control systems.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]

Likelihood A weighted factor based on a subjective analysis of the 

probability that a given threat is capable of exploiting a given 

vulnerability

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Life cycle Evolution of a system, product, service, project, or other 

human-made entity from conception through retirement. 

[ISO/IEC 15288]

Low Impact The loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability that could 

be expected to have a limited adverse effect on organizational 

operations, organizational assets, individuals, other 

organizations, or the national security interests of the United 

States (i.e., 1) causes a degradation in mission capability to an 

extent and duration that the organization is able to perform its 

primary functions, but the effectiveness of the functions is 

noticeably reduced; 2) results in minor damage to 

organizational assets; 3) results in minor financial loss; or 4) 

results in minor harm to individuals).

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Market research Collecting and analyzing information about capabilities within 

the market to satisfy agency needs.

[48 C.F.R.]

Moderate Impact The loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability that could 

be expected to have a serious adverse effect on organizational 

operations, organizational assets, individuals, other 

organizations, or the national security interests of the United 

States (i.e., 1) causes a significant degradation in mission 

capability to an extent and duration that the organization is 

able to perform its primary functions, but the effectiveness of 

the functions is significantly reduced; 2) results in significant 

damage to organizational assets; 3) results in significant 

[CNSSI No. 4009]
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APPENDIX F PAGE F-6

financial loss; or 4) results in significant harm to individuals 

that does not involve loss of life or serious life-threatening 

injuries).

Modular 

Contracting

Under modular contracting, an executive agency’s need for a 

system is satisfied in successive acquisitions of interoperable 

increments. Each increment complies with common or 

commercially accepted standards applicable to information 

technology so that the increments are compatible with other 

increments of information technology comprising the system.

[41 U.S.C.]

Organizational 

Users

An organizational employee or an individual the organization 

deems to have equivalent status of an employee including, for 

example, contractor, guest researcher, or individual detailed 

from another organization.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]

Overlay A set of security controls, control enhancements, supplemental 

guidance, and other supporting information, that is intended to 

complement (and further refine) security control baselines to 

provide greater ability to appropriately tailor security 

requirements for specific technologies or product groups, 

circumstances and conditions, and/or operational 

environments. The overlay specification may be more 

stringent or less stringent than the original security control 

baseline specification and can be applied to multiple 

information systems.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4] (adapted)

Procurement (See “acquisition.”) [48 C.F.R.]

Provenance For ICT SCRM, the records describing the possession of, and 

changes to, components, component processes, information, 

systems, organization, and organizational processes. 

Provenance enables changes to the baselines of components, 

component processes, information, systems, organizations, 

and organizational processes, to be reported to appropriate 

actors, functions, locales, or activities.

Red Team/Blue 

Team Approach

A group of people authorized and organized to emulate a 

potential adversary’s attack or exploitation capabilities against 

an enterprise’s security posture. The Red Team’s objective is 

to improve enterprise Information Assurance by demonstrating 

the impacts of successful attacks and by demonstrating what 

works for the defenders (i.e., the Blue Team) in an operational 

environment.

1. The group responsible for defending an enterprise’s use of 

information systems by maintaining its security posture 

against a group of mock attackers (i.e., the Red Team). 

Typically, the Blue Team and its supporters must defend 

against real or simulated attacks 1) over a significant period of 

[CNSSI No. 4009]
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APPENDIX F PAGE F-7

time, 2) in a representative operational context (e.g., as part of 

an operational exercise), and 3) according to rules established 

and monitored with the help of a neutral group refereeing the 

simulation or exercise (i.e., the White Team). 

2. The term Blue Team is also used for defining a group of 

individuals that conduct operational network vulnerability 

evaluations and provide mitigation techniques to customers 

who have a need for an independent technical review of their 

network security posture. The Blue Team identifies security 

threats and risks in the operating environment, and in 

cooperation with the customer, analyzes the network 

environment and its current state of security readiness. Based 

on the Blue Team findings and expertise, they provide 

recommendations that integrate into an overall community 

security solution to increase the customer's cyber security 

readiness posture. Often times a Blue Team is employed by 

itself or prior to a Red Team employment to ensure that the 

customer's networks are as secure as possible before having 

the Red Team test the systems.

Risk Framing The set of assumptions, constraints, risk tolerances, and 

priorities/trade-offs that shape an organization’s approach for 

managing risk

[NIST SP 800-39]

Risk Management The program and supporting processes to manage information 

security risk to organizational operations (including mission, 

functions, image, reputation), organizational assets, 

individuals, other organizations, and the Nation, and includes: 

(i) establishing the context for risk-related activities; (ii) 

assessing risk; (iii) responding to risk once determined; and 

(iv) monitoring risk over time.

[CNSSI No. 4009]

(adapted)

Risk Mitigation Prioritizing, evaluating, and implementing the appropriate 

risk-reducing controls/countermeasures recommended from 

the risk management process.

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Secondary market An unofficial, unauthorized, or unintended distribution 

channel. 

Security Control A safeguard or countermeasure prescribed for an information 

system or an organization designed to protect the 

confidentiality, integrity, and availability of its information 

and to meet a set of defined security requirements.

[FIPS 199]

(adapted)

Sources Sought 

Notice 

A synopsis posted by a government agency that states they are 

seeking possible sources for a project. It is not a solicitation 

for work, nor is it a request for proposal.

[FAR, Subpart 

7.3], [OMB 

Circular A-76]

Statement of 

Work (SOW)

The SOW details what the developer must do in the 

performance of the contract. Documentation developed under 

the contract, for example, is specified in the SOW. Security 

assurance requirements, which detail many aspects of the 

processes the developer follows and what evidence must be 

provided to assure the organization that the processes have 

been conducted correctly and completely, may also be 

[NIST SP 800-64 

Rev. 2]
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Information Systems and Organizations

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APPENDIX F PAGE F-8

specified in the SOW.

Supplier Organization or individual that enters into an agreement with 

the acquirer or integrator for the supply of a product or 

service. This includes all suppliers in the supply chain. 

Includes (i) developers or manufacturers of information 

systems, system components, or information system services; 

(ii) vendors; and (iii) product resellers. 

[ISO/IEC 15288]

(adapted); adapted 

from definition of 

“developer” from 

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]

Supply Chain Map Descriptions or depictions of supply chains, including the 

physical and logical flow of goods, information, processes, 

and money, upstream and downstream through a supply chain. 

They may include supply chain nodes, locations, delivery 

paths, or transactions.

System A combination of interacting elements organized to achieve 

one or more stated purposes.

[ISO/IEC 15288]

System Integrator Those organizations that provide customized services to the 

acquirer including custom development, test, operations, and 

maintenance.

System Assurance The justified confidence that the system functions as intended 

and is free of exploitable vulnerabilities, either intentionally or 

unintentionally designed or inserted as part of the system at 

any time during the life cycle.

[NDIA]

System 

Development Life 

Cycle (SDLC)

The scope of activities associated with a system, 

encompassing the system’s initiation, development and 

acquisition, implementation, operation and maintenance, and 

ultimately its disposal that instigates another system initiation.

[NIST SP 800-34 

Rev. 1]; [CNSSI 

No. 4009]

System Integrator An organization that customizes (e.g., combines, adds, 

optimizes) components, systems, and corresponding processes. 

The integrator function can also be performed by acquirer.

[NIST IR 7622]

(adapted)

System Owner Person or organization having responsibility for the 

development, procurement, integration, modification, 

operation, and maintenance, and/or final disposition of an 

information system.

[CNSSI No. 4009]

Threat Any circumstance or event with the potential to adversely 

impact organizational operations (including mission, 

functions, image, or reputation), organizational assets, 

individuals, other organizations, or the Nation through an 

information system via unauthorized access, destruction, 

disclosure, modification of information, and/or denial of 

service.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]; [CNSSI 

No. 4009]

Threat 

Assessment/

Analysis

Process of formally evaluating the degree of threat to an 

information system or enterprise and describing the nature of 

the threat.

[CNSSI No. 

4009]; [NIST SP 

800-53A Rev. 4]

Threat Event An event or situation that has the potential for causing 

undesirable consequences or impact. 

[NIST SP 800-30 

Rev. 1]
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Threat Source Either (1) intent or method targeted at the intentional 

exploitation of a vulnerability, or (2) a situation and method 

that may accidentally trigger a vulnerability. 

[NIST SP 800-30 

Rev. 1]

Threat Scenario A set of discrete threat events, associated with a specific threat 

source or multiple threat sources, partially ordered in time.

[NIST SP 800-30 

Rev. 1]

Trust The confidence one element has in another, that the second 

element will behave as expected.

[Software 

Assurance in 

Acquisition: 

Mitigating Risks 

to the Enterprise. ]

Validation Confirmation (through the provision of strong, sound, 

objective evidence) that requirements for a specific intended 

use or application have been fulfilled. 

[ISO 9000]

Verification Confirmation, through the provision of objective evidence, 

that specified requirements have been fulfilled (e.g., an 

entity’s requirements have been correctly defined, or an 

entity’s attributes have been correctly presented; or a 

procedure or function performs as intended and leads to the 

expected outcome).

[CNSSI No. 

4009], [ISO 9000]

(adapted)

Vetted Supplier A supplier with whom the organization is comfortable doing 

business. This level of comfort is usually achieved through 

developing an organization-defined set of supply chain criteria 

and then vetting suppliers against those criteria.

Visibility (also 

Transparency)

A property of openness and accountability throughout the 

supply chain. 

[ISO/IEC 27036-

2] (adapted)

Vulnerability Weakness in an information system, system security 

procedures, internal controls, or implementation that could be 

exploited or triggered by a threat source.

[NIST SP 800-53 

Rev. 4]; [NIST SP 

800-53A Rev. 4]; 

[FIPS 200]; 

Vulnerability 

Assessment

Systematic examination of an information system or product 

to determine the adequacy of security measures, identify 

security deficiencies, provide data from which to predict the 

effectiveness of proposed security measures, and confirm the 

adequacy of such measures after implementation.

[NIST SP 800-

53A Rev. 4]; 

[CNSSI No. 4009]
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APPENDIX G PAGE G-1

APPENDIX G

ACRONYMS

AO Authorizing Official 

APT Advanced Persistent Threat

BIA Business Impact Analysis

CFO Chief Financial Officer

CIO Chief Information Officer

CISO Chief Information Security Officer

COO Chief Operating Officer

CPO Chief Privacy Officer

CMVP Cryptographic Module Validation Program

CNSS Committee on National Security Systems

CNSSI Committee on National Security Systems Instruction

COTS Commercial Off-The-Shelf

CTO Chief Technology Officer

CUI Controlled Unclassified Information

CVE Common Vulnerability Enumeration

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

DHS Department of Homeland Security

DISA Defense Information Systems Agency

DoD Department of Defense

FAR Federal Acquisition Regulation

FICAM Federal Identity, Credential, and Access Management

FIPS Federal Information Processing Standards

FISMA Federal Information Security Management Act

GOTS Government Off-The-Shelf
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HAZMAT Hazardous Materials 

HR Human Resources

HSPD Homeland Security Presidential Directive

IA Information Assurance

ICT Information and Communication Technology

IDE Integrated Development Environment

IEC International Electrotechnical Commission 

IP Internet Protocol/Intellectual Property

ISO/IEC International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical 

Commission

IT Information Technology

ITL Information Technology Laboratory (NIST)

NSA National Security Agency

NASPO North American Security Products Organization 

NISPOM National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual

NIST National Institute of Standards and Technology

NISTIR National Institute of Standards and Technology Interagency or Internal Report

NSTISSI National Security Telecommunications and Information System Security Instruction

OEM Original Equipment Manufacturer 

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OPSEC Operations Security

OTS Off-The-Shelf

O-TTPS Open Trusted Technology ProviderTM Standard

OWASP Open Web Application Security Project

PACS Physical Access Control System

PIV Personal Identity Verification

PKI Public Key Infrastructure

QA/QC Quality Assurance/Quality Control
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APPENDIX G PAGE G-3

R&D Research and Development

RMF Risk Management Framework

SAFECode Software Assurance Forum for Excellence in Code

SCRM Supply Chain Risk Management

SDLC System Development Life Cycle

SLA Service-Level Agreement 

SOA Service-Oriented Architecture

SP Special Publication (NIST)

U.S. United States (of America)

USB Universal Serial Bus

VoIP Voice over Internet Protocol

VPN Virtual Private Network
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APPENDIX H PAGE H-1

APPENDIX H

REFERENCES [Common Criteria Evaluation & Validation Scheme, FAR, FIPS 199, FIPS 200, DODI 5200.39, DHS SSPD 4300A, NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1, NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4, NIST SP 800-53A Rev. 4, Software Integrity Controls: An Assurance-Based Approach to Minimizing Risks in the Software Supply Chain, ANSI / NASPO Security Assurance Standard, NIST IR 7622, CNSSI No. 4009, "Strategic Supply Chain Mapping Approaches", Open Trusted Technology ProviderTM Standard (O-TTPS), Version 1.0, Mitigating Maliciously Tainted and Counterfeit Products, ISO 28000, ISO 

9001, ISO/IEC 27000, ISO/IEC 12207, ISO/IEC 27002, ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27036-2, NIST SP 800-37 Rev. 1, Software Assurance in Acquisition: Mitigating Risks to the Enterprise. A Reference Guide for Security-Enhanced Software Acquisition and Outsourcing, The Software Supply Chain Integrity Framework: Defining Risks and Responsibilities for Securing Software in the Global Supply Chain]

[18 U.S.C.] 18 U.S.C. § 2320.

[41 U.S.C.] 41 U.S.C.

[48 C.F.R.] 48 C.F.R.

[ANSI/NASPO] ANSI / NASPO Security Assurance Standard, American National Standards Institute / 

North American Security Products Organization, 2008.

[ITIL Service Strategy] Cannon, David, ITIL Service Strategy, 2nd Edition, The Stationary Office,, July 

29, 2011.

[Defense Industrial Base Assessment: Counterfeit Electronics] Defense Industrial Base Assessment: 

Counterfeit Electronics, U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security, Office of 

Technology Evaluation, January 2010, http://www.bis.doc.gov/index.php/formsdocuments/doc_view/37-defense-industrial-base-assessment-of-counterfeit-electronics-2010.

[FEDRAMP] FedRAMP, http://www.fedramp.gov/.

[Gardner] Gardner, John T. and Cooper, Martha C., "Strategic Supply Chain Mapping Approaches," 

Journal of Business Logistics, 24 (2003), doi:10.1002/j.2158-1592.2003.tb00045.x.

[NIAP-CCEVS] Common Criteria Evaluation & Validation Scheme, National Information Assurance 

Partnership, https://www.niap-ccevs.org/.

[NIST SCRM Proceedings 2012] Summary of the Workshop on Information and Communication 

Technologies Supply Chain Risk Management, Gaithersburg, MD, 2012, 

http://www.nist.gov/customcf/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=913338.

[SwA] Software Assurance in Acquisition: Mitigating Risks to the Enterprise. A Reference Guide for 

Security-Enhanced Software Acquisition and Outsourcing, DoD & DHS SwA Acquisition Working 

Group, 2008, https://buildsecurityin.uscert.gov/sites/default/files/SwA_in_Acquisition_102208.pdf.

[SAFECode 1] Software Assurance Forum for Excellence in Code (Safecode), Software Integrity 

Controls: An Assurance-Based Approach to Minimizing Risks in the Software Supply Chain, 2010, 

http://www.safecode.org/publications/SAFECode_Software_Integrity_Controls0610.pdf.

[SAFECode 2] Software Assurance Forum for Excellence in Code (Safecode), The Software Supply 

Chain Integrity Framework: Defining Risks and Responsibilities for Securing Software in the 

Global Supply Chain, 2009, 

http://www.safecode.org/publication/SAFECode_Supply_Chain0709.pdf.
Special Publication 800-161 Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Federal 

Information Systems and Organizations

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APPENDIX H PAGE H-2

[O-TTPS] The Open Group, Open Trusted Technology ProviderTM Standard (O-TTPS), Version 1.0, 

Mitigating Maliciously Tainted and Counterfeit Products, Open Trusted Technology Provider 

Standard (O-TTPS), 2013, https://www2.opengroup.org/ogsys/catalog/c139.

[CNSSI 4009] National Information Assurance (IA) Glossary, April 26, 2010, 

http://www.ncix.gov/publications/policy/docs/CNSSI_4009.pdf.

[DHS SSPD 4300A] Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Sensitive Systems Policy Directive 4300A,

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), 2011, 

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/foia/mgmt_directive_4300a_policy_v8.pdf.

[DODI 5200.39] Department of Defense Instruction (DODI) 5200.39, Critical Program Information 

(CPI) Protection Within the Department of Defense U.S. Department of Defense, 2010, 

http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/520039p.pdf.

[FAR] Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Acquisition Central, https://acquisition.gov/far/.

[FIPS 199] Federal Information Systems Processing Standard (FIPS) 199, Standards for Security 

Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems, 2004, 

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips199/FIPS-PUB-199-final.pdf.

[FIPS 200] Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 200, Minimum Security Requirements for 

Federal Information and Information Systems, 2006, 

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/fips/fips200/FIPS-200-final-march.pdf.

[ISO 9000] ISO 9000:2005, Quality Management, International Organization for Standardization, 2005, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_9000.

[ISO 9001] ISO 9001:2008, Quality Management Systems: Requirements, International Organization for 

Standardization, 2008, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=46486.

[ISO 28000] ISO 28000:2007, Specification for Security Management Systems for the Supply Chain, 

International Organization for Standardization, 2007, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=44641.

[ISO 28001] ISO 28001:2007, Security management systems for the supply chain -- Best practices for 

implementing supply chain security, assessments and plans -- Requirements and guidance, 

International Organization for Standardization, 2007, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=45654.

[ISO/IEC 2382] ISO/IEC 2382-36:2013, Information Technology -- Vocabulary, International 

Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission, 2013, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=63598.

[ISO/IEC 12207] ISO/IEC 12207:2008, Systems and software engineering -- Software life cycle 

processes, International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical 

Commission, 2008, http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=43447.
Special Publication 800-161 Supply Chain Risk Management Practices for Federal 

Information Systems and Organizations

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APPENDIX H PAGE H-3

[ISO/IEC 15288] ISO/IEC 15288:2008, Systems and software engineering -- System life cycle processes, 

International Organization for Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission, 2008, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=43564.

[ISO/IEC 27000] ISO/IEC 27000:2014, Information Technology – Security Techniques – Information 

Security Management Systems – Overview and Vocabulary, International Organization for 

Standardization / International Electrotechnical Commission, 2014, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=41933.

[ISO/IEC 27001] ISO/IEC 27001:2013, Information technology -- Security techniques -- Information 

security management systems -- Requirements, International Organization for Standardization / 

International Electrotechnical Commission, 2013, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=54534.

[ISO/IEC 27002] ISO/IEC 27002:2013, Information technology -- Security techniques -- Code of 

practice for information security controls, International Organization for Standardization / 

International Electrotechnical Commission, 2013, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/catalogue_detail?csnumber=54533.

[ISO/IEC 27036] ISO/IEC 27036-2:2014, Information technology -- Security techniques -- Information 

security for supplier relationships, International Organization for Standardization / International 

Electrotechnical Commission, 2014, 

http://www.iso.org/iso/iso_catalogue/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=59680.

[NDIA] National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) System Assurance Committee, Engineering for 

System Assurance, NDIA, Arlington, VA, 2008, http://www.acq.osd.mil/se/docs/SA-Guidebookv1-Oct2008.pdf.

[NISPOM] DoD 5220.22-M: National Industrial Security Program - Operating Manual (NISPOM),

Department of Defense, 2006, http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/522022m.pdf.

[NIST IR 7622] NIST Interagency Report (IR) 7622: Notional Supply Chain Risk Management Practices 

for Federal Information Systems, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, 

MD, 2012, http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.7622.

[NIST SP 800-30 Rev. 1] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-30 Revision 1, Guide for Conducting Risk 

Assessments, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 2012, 

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-30-rev1/sp800_30_r1.pdf.

[NIST SP 800-32] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-32: Introduction to Public Key Technology and the 

Federal PKI Infrastructure, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 

2001, http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-32/sp800-32.pdf.

[NIST SP 800-34 Rev. 1] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-34 Revision 1, Contingency Planning 

Guide for Federal Information Systems, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 

Gaithersburg, MD, 2010, http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-34-rev1/sp800-34-

rev1_errata-Nov11-2010.pdf.

[NIST SP 800-37] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-37 Revision 1, Guide for Applying the Risk 

Management Framework to Federal Information Systems: A Security Life Cycle Approach,
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APPENDIX H PAGE H-4

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 2010, 

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-37r1.

[NIST SP 800-39] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-39, Managing Information Security Risk, National 

Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 2011, 

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-39/SP800-39-final.pdf.

[NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 4] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-53 Revision 4, Security and Privacy 

Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations, National Institute of Standards and 

Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 2013, http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53r4.

[NIST SP 800-53A Rev. 4] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-53A Revision 4, Guide for Assessing the 

Security Controls in Federal Information Systems and Organizations: Building Effective Security 

Assessment Plans, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, 2014, 

http://dx.doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-53Ar4.

[NIST SP 800-64] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-64 Revision 2: Security Considerations in the 

System Development Life Cycle, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, 

MD, 2008, http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-64-Rev2/SP800-64-Revision2.pdf.

[NIST SP 800-100] NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-100, Information Security Handbook: A Guide 

for Managers, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2006, 

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-100/SP800-100-Mar07-2007.pdf.

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