AST-15.1: High-Risk Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) Categorization
Mechanisms exist to categorize Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) as "High Risk" if it poses a significant risk of harm to an individual's: (1) Health; (2) Safety; and/or (3) Fundamental human rights.
Renumbered: Formerly AST-31.2 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, AST-15.1 was Technology Asset Inspections. That control is now AST-29.
Control Question: Does the organization categorize a system and/or service as "High Risk" if it poses a significant risk of harm to an individual's: (1) Health; (2) Safety; and/or (3) Fundamental human rights?
General (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| CSA CCM 4.1.0 | I&S-08 |
EMEA (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA EU AI Act | Article 6.3 Article 7.1(b) Article 7.3(a) |
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 a system and/or service as "High Risk" if it poses a significant risk of harm to an individual's: (1) Health; (2) Safety; and/or (3) Fundamental human rights.
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
- AST-15.1_A01 Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are categorized as "High Risk" if they pose a significant risk of harm to an individual's health.
- AST-15.1_A02 Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are categorized as "High Risk" if they pose a significant risk of harm to an individual's safety.
- AST-15.1_A03 Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are categorized as "High Risk" if they pose a significant risk of harm to an individual's fundamental human rights.
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
- Identify systems that could harm people if misused (e.g., safety devices, sensitive personal data)
Small
- High-risk categorization field in asset inventory
- Criteria for high-risk classification
Medium
- High-risk TAAS categorization in CMDB based on potential harm to individuals or society
- Enhanced controls for high-risk assets
Large
- Formal high-risk categorization criteria (e.g., aligned with EU AI Act, safety impact)
- Risk-based control baselines for high-risk TAAS
Enterprise
- Enterprise high-risk asset categorization program integrated with risk management and regulatory obligations
- Enhanced assurance for high-risk TAAS