CPL-04: Ability To Demonstrate Conformity
Mechanisms exist to ensure the organization is able to demonstrate security, compliance and/or resilience capability conformity with applicable cybersecurity and data protection laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations.
Renumbered: Formerly CPL-01.3 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, CPL-04 was Audit Activities. That control is now CPL-07.3.
Control Question: Does the organization ensure the organization is able to demonstrate security, compliance and/or resilience capability conformity with applicable cybersecurity and data protection laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations?
General (5)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| BSI Standard 200-1 | 9.0 |
| COBIT 2019 | MEA01.02 MEA03.03 |
| ISO/SAE 21434 2021 | RC-05-16 |
| ISO 29100 2024 | 6.12 |
| SCF DPMP 2026 | 11.6 |
US (12)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal Data Privacy Framework 2023 | II.7.b III.5.a |
| USA Federal C2M2 2.1 | ARCHITECTURE-1i |
| USA Federal CERT RMM 1.2 | COMP:SG3.SP1 COMP:SG3.SP2 |
| USA Federal EO 14028 | 4e(ii) |
| USA Federal 33 CFR Part 101 Subpart F | 101.625(d)(6) 101.660 |
| USA Federal TSA SDP 2021-02F | IV.A IV.C.1 |
| USA Federal TSA / DHS 1580/82-2022-01 | IV.C.1 |
| USA California CCPA 2025 | 7122(c) 7123(b)(3) |
| USA Montana CDPA 2025 | 30-14-2811(1)(b) 30-14-2813(2)(c) 30-14-2815(4) 30-14-2816(7) 30-14-2817(3) |
| USA Oregon CPA 2023 | Section 8(3) |
| USA Texas SB 2610 2025 | 542.004(a)(2) 542.004(b)(1) 542.004(b)(1)(A) 542.004(b)(1)(B) 542.004(b)(1)(C) 542.004(b)(1)(D) 542.004(b)(1)(E) 542.004(b)(1)(F) 542.004(b)(1)(G) 542.004(b)(1)(H) 542.004(b)(1)(I) 542.004(b)(1)(J) |
| USA Texas TRAIGA 2025 | 553.052(b)(4) |
EMEA (10)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Austria FAPPD 2000 | § 37(3) |
| EMEA Belgium Act 8 1992 | Title 2, Chapter II, Art. 29(5) |
| EMEA Spain Royal Decree 311 2022 | Article 38(1) |
| EMEA EU AI Act | Article 11.1 Article 16(k) Article 21.1 Article 22.3 Article 22.3(a) |
| EMEA EU Cyber Resiliency Act 2024 | Article 13(1) Article 32(5) |
| EMEA EU GDPR 2016 | Article 5.2 Article 12.1 Article 30.4 Article 31 |
| EMEA Kenya DPA 2019 | IV.32(1) |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 | 6 56 58 |
| EMEA Nigeria DPR 2019 | 3.1(4) |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia PDPL | Article 30.4.a |
APAC (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC India RBI Data Localization 2018 | 2.ii |
| APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 | PR.IP.S17 |
| APAC Japan ISMAP | 4.5.4.3 18.2.1.11.P 18.2.1.12.P |
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
Compliance (CPL) 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 CPL domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with CPL 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 CPL domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Compliance management controls-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Compliance management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ External compliance requirements for cybersecurity and data privacy are identified and documented, based on applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations.
Level 3 — Well Defined
Compliance (CPL) 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 CPL 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 CPL domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain CPL domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of governance, risk management and compliance operations (e.g., GRC platform). ▪ 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 CPL 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 ensure the organization is able to demonstrate security, compliance and/or resilience capability conformity with applicable cybersecurity and data protection laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Compliance (CPL) 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
- CPL-04_A01 a capability exists to demonstrate conformity with applicable cybersecurity and data protection laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations.
- CPL-04_A02 responsibility for demonstrating conformity with applicable cybersecurity and data protection laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations is assigned to designated personnel or roles.
Evidence Requirements
- E-CPL-14 Conformity Attestations & Declarations
-
Documented evidence of conformity assessment results, attestations and/or declarations of conformity, including the designated certifying official.
Compliance
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Document applicable regulatory requirements in a checklist
Small
- Compliance checklist
- Annual compliance review
Medium
- Compliance management program
- Regulatory mapping
- Compliance calendar
Large
- GRC solution (e.g., SCFConnect, Cyturus, SureCloud, SimpleRisk, Ignyte, ZenGRC, Galvanize, MetricStream, Archer, etc.)
- Compliance team
Enterprise
- GRC solution (e.g., SCFConnect, Cyturus, SureCloud, SimpleRisk, Ignyte, ZenGRC, Galvanize, MetricStream, Archer, etc.)
- Dedicated compliance team
- Automated compliance monitoring