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CHG-06: Security Impact Analysis for Changes

CHG 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to analyze proposed changes for potential security impacts, prior to the implementation of the change.

Renumbered: Formerly CHG-03 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, CHG-06 was Control Functionality Verification. That control is now CHG-09.

Control Question: Does the organization analyze proposed changes for potential security impacts, prior to the implementation of the change?

General (36)
US (15)
EMEA (7)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA CHE FINMA Circular 2023/1 IV.A-32 IV.B.b-50
EMEA Germany C5 2026 CRY-02.01B DEV-03.01B.1 DEV-06.01B DEV-06.02B
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 17.2(h) Article 31.1(e)
EMEA EU EBA GL/2019/04 3.4.4.37 3.6.3.76
EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 3.3.1-13.f 3.4.4-37 3.6.3-76
EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 1-5-4
EMEA Saudi Arabia SAMA CSF 1.0 2017 3.3.7.4.a
APAC (4)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.04.03.B 03.04.04.A 03.04.11.B

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

Change Management (CHG) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with CHG domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Change management-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Prior to changes being made, RFCs are informally reviewed for cybersecurity and/or data protection ramifications.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Change Management (CHG) 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 CHG domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with CHG 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 CHG domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Change management-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Change management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Business stakeholders and process owners ensure changes to Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) within the System Development Lifecycle (SDLC) are controlled through formal change control procedures.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Change Management (CHG) 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 CHG 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 CHG domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A centralized Change Management Office (CMO), or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain CHG domain capabilities. ▪ Technical procedures (e.g., ITIL change enablement) are utilized along with change management governance capabilities (e.g., Change Advisory Board (CAB)) to ensure successful, efficient and secure change management operations. ▪ 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 CHG 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 analyze proposed changes for potential security impacts, prior to the implementation of the change.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Change Management (CHG) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ 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. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.

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. CHG-06_A01 proposed configuration-controlled changes to the system are reviewed with explicit consideration for security impacts.
  2. CHG-06_A02 changes to the system are analyzed to determine potential security impacts prior to change implementation.
  3. CHG-06_A03 changes to the system are analyzed to determine potential privacy impacts prior to change implementation.

Evidence Requirements

E-CHG-04 Evidence of Cybersecurity / Data Privacy Reviews

Documented evidence of Change Control Board (CCB) meeting-related security, compliance and/or resilience reviews for proposed change(s).

Change Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Change Control Board (CCB)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)

Small

  • Change Control Board (CCB)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)

Medium

  • Change Control Board (CCB)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)

Large

  • Change Control Board (CCB)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)

Enterprise

  • Change Control Board (CCB)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)

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