AAT-06: Trustworthy AI & Autonomous Technologies
Mechanisms exist to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Technologies (AAT) are designed to be reliable, safe, fair, secure, resilient, transparent, explainable and data privacy-enhanced to minimize emergent properties or unintended consequences.
Renumbered: Formerly AAT-01.2 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, AAT-06 was AI & Autonomous Technologies Fairness & Bias. That control is now AAT-22.
Control Question: Does the organization ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Technologies (AAT) are designed to be reliable, safe, fair, secure, resilient, transparent, explainable and data privacy-enhanced to minimize emergent properties or unintended consequences?
General (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| ISO 42001 2023 | 7.1 A.4 A.6.1.2 A.7 |
| NIST AI 100-1 (AI RMF) 1.0 | GOVERN 1.2 MEASURE 2.5 |
| Shared Assessments SIG 2025 | R.1.1.1 |
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with AAT domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ AAT-related processes are expected to follow the organization's existing processes (e.g., incident response, asset management, change control and risk assessments). ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists to provide AAT oversight, where the Chief Information Officer (CIO), or similar function, governs technology decisions what is acceptable for AAT within the organization.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with AAT domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with AAT domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with AAT domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Artificial Intelligence (AI)-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Asset management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.
Level 3 — Well Defined
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with AAT domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with AAT domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ An Artificial Intelligence Governance (AIG) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain AAT domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of AI governance, risk management and compliance operations (e.g., dedicated AI governance platform). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with AAT domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to ensure AAT are designed to be reliable, safe, fair, secure, resilient, transparent, explainable and data privacy-enhanced to minimize emergent properties or unintended consequences.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.
Assessment Objectives
- AAT-06_A01 secure engineering principles are defined.
- AAT-06_A02 privacy engineering principles are defined.
Evidence Requirements
- E-AAT-03 Secure Development Practices for Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technologies (AAT).
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Documented evidence of industry-recognized secure practices to develop and maintain trustworthy Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technologies (AAT).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Autonomous Technologies Governance
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- AI trustworthiness assessment for AI tools in use (vendor review, privacy check)
- NIST AI RMF Trustworthiness characteristics reference
- AI governance program
Small
- AI system trustworthiness evaluation checklist (reliability, safety, fairness, explainability)
- NIST AI RMF alignment
- Vendor AI security and privacy assessment
Medium
- Formal AI trustworthiness evaluation process based on NIST AI RMF
- AI fairness, bias, and explainability assessments
- AI governance program with trustworthiness requirements
Large
- AI trustworthiness governance aligned to NIST AI RMF trustworthiness principles
- Independent AI ethics review for high-risk AI systems
- AI transparency and explainability requirements in procurement
Enterprise
- Enterprise AI trustworthiness framework (NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001)
- Dedicated AI ethics board or ethics review function
- Third-party AI trustworthiness audits
- Explainability and transparency requirements embedded in AI development lifecycle