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CPL-04: Ability To Demonstrate Conformity

CPL 8 — High Protect

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

  1. CPL-04_A01 a capability exists to demonstrate conformity with applicable cybersecurity and data protection laws, regulations and/or contractual obligations.
  2. 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

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