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AST-15: Asset Categorization

AST 9 — Critical Identify

Mechanisms exist to categorize Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS).

Renumbered: Formerly AST-31 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, AST-15 was Logical Tampering Protection. That control is now AST-29.2.

Control Question: Does the organization categorize Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS)?

General (4)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST AI 100-1 (AI RMF) 1.0 MAP 2.0
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.01.03
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.01.03[02]
SPARTA 4.0 CM0022
US (2)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal C2M2 2.1 ASSET-2c ASSET-2d
USA Federal CERT RMM 1.2 TM:SG1 TM:SG1.SP1
EMEA (2)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 AM-01.01B.2 AM-01.01B.3
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 4.2(b)(iii)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.01.03

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

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Asset Management (AST) 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 AST domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with AST 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 AST domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Asset management-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. ▪ The IT department establishes, maintains and updates an inventory that contains a listing of all organizational-owned TAASD, at a minimum covering common devices (e.g., laptops, workstations and servers).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Asset Management (AST) 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 AST 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 AST domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ An IT Asset Management (ITAM) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain AST domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of ITAM operations (e.g., ITAM platform, (e.g., Configuration Management Database (CMBD) Asset Management solution). ▪ 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 AST 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 categorize Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS).

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

  1. AST-15_A01 the organization utilizes a defined methodology to categorize its technology assets based on data sensitivity and criticality.

Evidence Requirements

E-AST-24 Technology Assets, Applications, and/or Services (TAAS) Categorization

Documented evidence of a methodology to categorize Technology Assets, Applications, and/or Services (TAAS) (e.g., criticality and data classification considerations)

Asset Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Data classification scheme
  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Small

  • Data classification scheme
  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Medium

  • Data classification scheme
  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Large

  • Data classification scheme
  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

Enterprise

  • Data classification scheme
  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
  • Configuration Management Database (CMDB)

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