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CLD-12.2: Sensitive / Regulated Data On Hosted Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS)

CLD 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to define formal processes to store, process and/or transmit sensitive and/or regulated data using External Service Providers (ESP) owned, operated and/or maintained external Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS), in accordance with all applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual obligations.

Renumbered: Formerly CLD-13.2 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization define formal processes to store, process and/or transmit sensitive and/or regulated data using External Service Providers (ESP) owned, operated and/or maintained external Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS), in accordance with all applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual obligations?

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

SCR-CMM Level 2 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude a well-defined and standardized process is required. ▪ At this level of maturity, the “requirements-driven” nature of performing the control is focused on a localized and/or regionalized implementation, not uniform and consistent across the organization. ▪ Requirements are narrowly scoped for applicability and are primarily derived from compliance obligations (e.g., laws, regulations and contracts).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Cloud Security (CLD) 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 CLD 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 CLD domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A cloud governance team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain CLD domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of cloud governance operations (e.g., multi-cloud governance tools, policy enforcement and cost management). ▪ 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 CLD 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 define formal processes to store, process and/or transmit sensitive/regulated data using External Service Providers (ESP) owned, operated and/or maintained external Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS), in accordance with all applicable statutory, regulatory and/or 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. CLD-12.2_A01 formal processes are defined to store, process and/or transmit sensitive / regulated data using External Service Providers (ESP) owned, operated and/or maintained external Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS), in accordance with all applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual obligations.

Evidence Requirements

E-CLD-05 Hosted Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) Authorizations

Documented evidence of authorizations for hosted TAAS, including authorized individuals and restrictions on sensitive / regulated data.

Asset Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Small

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Medium

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Large

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

Enterprise

  • Cybersecurity Supply Chain Risk Management (C-SCRM) program

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