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AST-01.4: Approved Technologies

AST 7 — High Identify

Mechanisms exist to maintain a current list of approved technologies (hardware and software).

Control Question: Does the organization maintain a current list of approved technologies (hardware and software)?

General (2)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.04.08.c
SCF CORE Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures (MA&D) AST-01.4
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 2410
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC New Zealand HISF 2022 HMS12

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of a capability to maintain a current list of approved technologies (hardware and software).

Level 1 — Performed Informally

C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to maintain a current list of approved technologies (hardware and software).

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Asset Management (AST) efforts are requirements-driven and governed at a local/regional level, but are not consistent across the organization. CMM Level 2 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • Asset management is decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices.
  • IT/cybersecurity personnel identify cybersecurity and data protection controls that are appropriate to address applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements for asset management.
  • Administrative processes and technologies focus on protecting High Value Assets (HVAs), including environments where sensitive/regulated data is stored, transmitted and processed.
  • Asset management is formally assigned as an additional duty to existing IT/cybersecurity personnel.
  • Technology assets are categorized according to data classification and business criticality.
  • Inventories cover technology assets in scope for statutory, regulatory and/ or contractual compliance, which includes both physical and virtual assets.
  • Software licensing is tracked as part of IT asset inventories.
  • Users are educated on their responsibilities to protect technology assets assigned to them or under their supervision.
  • IT/cybersecurity personnel maintain network diagrams to document the flow of sensitive/regulated data across the network.
Level 3 — Well Defined

Asset Management (AST) efforts are standardized across the organization and centrally managed, where technically feasible, to ensure consistency. CMM Level 3 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • An IT Asset Management (ITAM) function, or similar function, governs asset management to help ensure compliance with requirements for asset management.
  • An ITAM function, or similar function, maintains an inventory of IT assets, covering both physical and virtual assets, as well as centrally managed asset ownership assignments.
  • Technology assets and data are categorized according to data classification and business criticality criteria.
  • A Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) function oversees supply chain risks including the removal and prevention of certain technology services and/ or equipment designated as supply chain threats by a statutory or regulatory body.
  • Data/process owners document where sensitive/regulated data is stored, transmitted and processed, generating Data Flow Diagrams (DFDs) and network diagrams to document the flow of data.
  • Quarterly IT asset inventories are reviewed and shared with appropriate stakeholders.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

See C|P-CMM3. There are no defined C|P-CMM4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to maintain a current list of approved technologies (hardware and software).

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to maintain a current list of approved technologies (hardware and software).

Assessment Objectives

  1. AST-01.4_A01 the list of authorized software programs is reviewed / updated per an organization-defined frequency.
  2. AST-01.4_A02 the list of authorized software programs is reviewed and updated <A.03.04.08.ODP[01]: frequency>.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Small

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Medium

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Large

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Enterprise

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

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