AAT-24: AI & Autonomous Technologies Development Practices
Mechanisms exist to ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Technologies (AAT) are designed and developed to: (1) Achieve an appropriate level of accuracy, robustness and cybersecurity; (2) Perform consistently in those respects throughout the AAT system's lifecycle; and (3) Be effectively overseen by competent individuals.
Renumbered: Formerly AAT-20 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, AAT-24 was Real World Testing of AI & Autonomous Technologies. That control is now AAT-26.
Control Question: Does the organization ensure Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Technologies (AAT) are designed and developed to: (1) Achieve an appropriate level of accuracy, robustness and cybersecurity; (2) Perform consistently in those respects throughout the AAT system's lifecycle; and (3) Be effectively overseen by competent individuals?
EMEA (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA EU AI Act | Article 13.1 Article 14.1 Article 14.3(a) Article 14.3(b) Article 15.1 Article 15.4 Article 15.5 Article 16(a) Article 17.1(b) |
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. ▪ AAT is regarded as a technology and governed by the entity's existing IT governance practices. ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists to provide oversight of AAT-related activities. GRC functions are assigned 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). ▪ Measures exist to ensure AAT are designed and developed to: (1) Achieve an appropriate level of accuracy, robustness and cybersecurity; (2) Perform consistently in those respects throughout the AAT system's lifecycle; and (3) Be effectively overseen by competent individuals.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). ▪ Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review). ▪ Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technology (AAT) capabilities are "world class" efforts the leverage predictive analysis (e.g., machine learning and AI) to enable continuously improving capabilities. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Based on predictive analysis, process improvements are implemented according to “continuous improvement” practices that affect process changes. ▪ Stakeholders make time-sensitive decisions to support operational efficiency, which may include automated remediation actions via Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) technologies.
Assessment Objectives
- AAT-24_A01 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Technologies (AAT) are designed and developed to achieve organization-defined levels of accuracy, resilience and cybersecurity.
- AAT-24_A02 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Technologies (AAT) are designed and developed to perform consistently with respect to accuracy, resilience and cybersecurity throughout the AAT system's lifecycle.
- AAT-24_A03 Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Autonomous Technologies (AAT) are designed and developed to include capabilities that enable oversight by competent individuals.
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
- Document accuracy and robustness requirements before adopting AI
Small
- AI design requirements checklist covering accuracy, robustness, cybersecurity
Medium
- Formal AI development standards
- Security-by-design requirements for AI
Large
- AI development security standards
- Formal SDLC integration
- Security testing requirements
Enterprise
- Enterprise AI development framework
- AI security standards (NIST AI RMF, ISO 42001)
- DevSecOps integration for AI