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CLD-04: Application Programming Interface (API) Security

CLD 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to ensure support for secure interoperability between components with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Control Question: Does the organization ensure support for secure interoperability between components with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)?

General (3)
Framework Mapping Values
CSA CCM 4 IPY-01 IPY-02 IPY-03
CSA IoT SCF 2 CLS-07 CLS-12 CLS-13
ISO 27002 2022 5.23 8.26
US (4)
Framework Mapping Values
US DoD Zero Trust Execution Roadmap 6.6 6.6.2 6.6.3
US DHS ZTCF DEV-01
US HHS 45 CFR 155.260 155.260(a)(6)
US HIPAA HICP Large Practice 4.L.A
EMEA (2)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2020 PI-01
EMEA Saudi Arabia CSCC-1 2019 1-3-2-3
APAC (3)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC India SEBI CSCRF PR.AA.S17
APAC New Zealand HISF 2022 HHSP52 HML52 HSUP44
APAC New Zealand HISF Suppliers 2023 HSUP44

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of a capability to ensure support for secure interoperability between components with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Level 1 — Performed Informally

C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to ensure support for secure interoperability between components with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Cloud Security (CLD) 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: o Identify cybersecurity and data protection controls that are appropriate to address applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements for cloud security management. o Use an informal process to govern cloud-specific cybersecurity and data privacy-specific tools. Cloud requirements for interoperability between components (APIs) are identified and documented.

  • Cloud security management is decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices.
  • IT/cybersecurity personnel:
  • A Shared Responsibility Matrix (SRM), or similar Customer Responsibility Matrix (CRM), is documented for each Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) instance that takes into account differences between Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) methodologies.
  • IT personnel have a documented architecture for cloud-based technologies to support cybersecurity and data protection requirements.
  • Cybersecurity and data privacy requirements are identified and documented for cloud-specific sensitive/regulated data processing, storing and/ or transmitting, including restrictions on data processing and storage locations.
Level 3 — Well Defined

Cloud Security (CLD) 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: o Ensure the cloud security architecture supports the organization's technology strategy to securely design, configure and maintain cloud employments. o Ensure multi-tenant CSP assets (physical and virtual) are designed and governed such that provider and customer (tenant) user access is appropriately segmented from other tenant users. o Ensure CSPs use secure protocols for the import, export and management of data in cloud-based services. o Implement a dedicated subnet to host security-specific technologies on all cloud instances, where technically feasible. o Governs changes to cloud-based systems, applications and services to ensure their stability, reliability and predictability. o Reviews processes to identify and prevent use of unapproved CSPs. Cloud requirements for interoperability between components (APIs) are identified and documented.

  • Roles and associated responsibilities for governing cloud instances, including provisioning, maintaining and deprovisioning, are formally assigned.
  • A Shared Responsibility Matrix (SRM), or similar Customer Responsibility Matrix (CRM), is documented for each Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) instance that takes into account differences between Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) methodologies.
  • IT architects, in conjunction with cybersecurity architects:
  • A Change Advisory Board (CAB), or similar function:
  • A dedicated IT infrastructure team, or similar function, enables the implementation of cloud management controls to ensure cloud instances are both secure and compliant, leveraging industry-recognized secure practices that are CC|P-specific.
  • Cybersecurity and data privacy requirements are identified and documented for each CSP instance to address sensitive/regulated data processing, storing and/ or transmitting and provide restrictions on data processing and storage locations.
  • A Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) is used to help ensure the protection of sensitive/regulated data processed, stored or transmitted on external systems.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

See C|P-CMM3. There are no defined C|P-CMM4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to ensure support for secure interoperability between components with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to ensure support for secure interoperability between components with Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).

Assessment Objectives

  1. CLD-04_A01 information/data exchange supports secure data portability.
  2. CLD-04_A02 information processing interoperability is supported.

Technology Recommendations

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