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AST-36: Decommissioning

AST 4 — Medium Protect

Mechanisms exist to ensure Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are properly decommissioned so that: (1) Data is properly transitioned to new systems or archived; and (2) Hard drives are either destroyed or erased in accordance with applicable organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations.

Renumbered: Formerly AST-30 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization ensure Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are properly decommissioned so that data is properly transitioned to new systems or archived in accordance with applicable organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations?

General (2)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST AI 100-1 (AI RMF) 1.0 GOVERN 1.7
NIST AI 600-1 GOVERN 1.7
US (3)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal DoW BaTB IT 2026 3
USA Federal NNPI (unclass) 2010 11-3.a(5)(a) 11-3.a(5)(b)
USA Federal NERC CIP 2024 CIP-011-3 2.2
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 AM-05.01B.1 AM-07.01B AM-07.02B AM-07.01AS OPS-34.01B.5 IAM-05.04B
APAC (3)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-2053
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 10.13
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 2.3.30.C.01 13.1.9.C.01 13.1.10.C.01 13.1.10.C.02 13.1.10.C.03 13.1.10.C.04 13.1.11.C.01 13.1.12.C.01 13.1.12.C.02 13.1.12.C.03 13.1.13.C.01 13.1.13.C.02 13.1.13.C.03 13.1.13.C.04 13.1.14.C.01 20.2.15.C.03 20.2.15.C.06

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). ▪ IT personnel collect technology assets and media for destruction when it is no longer needed for business or legal reasons. ▪ Asset decommissioning consists of mainly wiping hard drives.

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 ensure Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are properly decommissioned so that data is properly transitioned to new systems or archived in accordance with applicable organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations.

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-36_A01 Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are decommissioned so that data is transitioned to new systems or archived in accordance with applicable organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations.
  2. AST-36_A02 hard drives from decommissioned Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) are either destroyed or erased in accordance with applicable organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations.

Evidence Requirements

E-AST-03 Asset Disposal Evidence

Documented evidence of asset disposal/destruction (e.g., asset tracking by serial # for shredding, degaussing, etc.).

Asset Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program

Small

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program

Medium

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program

Large

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program

Enterprise

  • IT Asset Management (ITAM) program

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