CFG-02.7: Approved Configuration Deviations

There is no evidence of a capability to document, assess risk and approve or deny deviations to standardized configurations.

Configuration Management (CFG) efforts are ad hoc and inconsistent. CMM Level 1 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist: o Standardized across the organization. o Consistently aligned with industry-recognized standards for hardening (e.g., DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks or OEM security guides).

• IT personnel use an informal process to design, build and maintain secure configurations for test, development, staging and production environments.
• Secure configurations are not:
• The review of any request for deviating from baseline configurations is documented and a risk assessment performed to determine if the deviation is acceptable.

Configuration Management (CFG) 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:

• Configuration 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 configuration management.
• Technologies are configured to protect data with the strength and integrity commensurate with the classification or sensitivity of the information and mostly conform to industry-recognized standards for hardening (e.g., DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks or OEM security guides), including cryptographic protections for sensitive/regulated data.
• Special baseline configurations are created for higher-risk environments or for systems, applications and services that store, process or transmit sensitive/regulated data.
• Apart from workstation and server operating system baselines, configuration management is decentralized.
• Cybersecurity personnel use a structured process to design, build and maintain secure configurations for test, development, staging and production environments.
• Deviations to baseline configurations are required to have a risk assessment and the business process owner acceptance of the risk(s) associated with the deviation.
• Unauthorized configuration changes are investigated to determine if the unauthorized configuration is malicious in nature.
• Logical Access Control (LAC) is enforced to prohibit non-administrative users from being able to install unauthorized software.
• Deviations to baseline for embedded technologies configurations are required to have a risk assessment and the business process owner accepts the risk(s) associated with the deviation.

Configuration Management (CFG) 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:

• The configuration management function is formally assigned with defined roles and responsibilities.
• An IT infrastructure team, or similar function, ensures that statutory, regulatory and contractual cybersecurity and data privacy obligations are addressed to ensure secure configurations are designed, built and maintained.
• Configuration management is centralized for all operating systems, applications, servers and other configurable technologies.
• Technologies are configured to protect data with the strength and integrity commensurate with the classification or sensitivity of the information and conform to industry-recognized standards for hardening (e.g., DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks or OEM security guides), including test, development, staging and production environments.
• Configurations conform to industry-recognized standards for hardening (e.g., DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks or OEM security guides) for test, development, staging and production environments.
• Deviations to baseline configurations are required to have a risk assessment and business process owner approval of the risk(s) associated with the deviation.
• Special baseline configurations are created for higher-risk environments or for systems, applications and services that store, process or transmit sensitive/regulated data.
• An IT Asset Management (ITAM) function, or similar function, ensures compliance with requirements for asset management.
• Logical Access Control (LAC) is used to limit the ability of non-administrators from making configuration changes to systems, applications and services, including the of installation of unauthorized software.
• A Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM), or similar automated tool, monitors for unauthorized activities, accounts, connections, devices and software.
• Unauthorized configuration changes are responded to in accordance with an Incident Response Plan (IRP) to determine if the unauthorized configuration is malicious in nature.
• Deviations to baseline for embedded technologies configurations are required to have a risk assessment and the business process owner accepts the risk(s) associated with the deviation.
• Unauthorized configuration changes are immediately reverted to approved configurations.

Configuration Management (CFG) efforts are metrics driven and provide sufficient management insight (based on a quantitative understanding of process capabilities) to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and identify areas for improvement. In addition to CMM Level 3 criteria, CMM Level 4 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

• Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
• Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs).
• Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties.
• Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review).
• Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes.
• Both business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes.

Configuration Management (CFG) efforts are “world-class” capabilities that leverage predictive analysis (e.g., machine learning, AI, etc.). In addition to CMM Level 4 criteria, CMM Level 5 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

• Stakeholders make time-sensitive decisions to support operational efficiency, which may include automated remediation actions.
• Based on predictive analysis, process improvements are implemented according to “continuous improvement” practices that affect process changes.