CFG-03.3: Explicitly Allow / Deny Applications

There is no evidence of a capability to explicitly allow (allowlist / whitelist) and/or block (denylist / blacklist) applications that are authorized to execute on systems.

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:
• Terms of employment and rules of behavior address the requirement for users to comply with applicable software usage requirements and copyright laws.

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.

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.
• A Software Asset Management (SWAM) solution is used to provide oversight of unmanaged or unauthorized software executables that are on a network.

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.