AST-14.2: Infrared Communications
Mechanisms exist to prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
Control Question: Does the organization prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space?
General (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Shared Assessments SIG 2025 | O.9 |
APAC (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.6 | 11.1.9.C.01 11.1.9.C.02 11.1.9.C.03 |
Capability Maturity Model
Level 0 — Not Performed
There is no evidence of a capability to prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
Level 1 — Performed Informally
C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
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.
- Organizational policies and standards cover requirements to prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
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.
- Organizational policies and standards cover requirements to prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
- Periodic physical and local inspections are performed to prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
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 prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
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 prevent line of sight and reflected infrared (IR) communications use in an unsecured space.
Assessment Objectives
- AST-14.2_A01 the possession of unauthorized Infrared (IR) communications devices is prohibited in sensitive areas.
- AST-14.2_A02 Infrared (IR) communications are configured to prevent line of sight and reflected use in unsecured spaces.
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Rules of Behavior (RoB) / Acceptable Use
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Small
- Rules of Behavior (RoB) / Acceptable Use
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Medium
- Rules of Behavior (RoB) / Acceptable Use
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Large
- Rules of Behavior (RoB) / Acceptable Use
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Enterprise
- Rules of Behavior (RoB) / Acceptable Use
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)