CPL-09: Assessment Team Subject Matter Expertise
Mechanisms exist to ensure individuals performing audits and/or assessments have reasonable: (1) Professional qualifications to perform the audit and/or assessment; and (2) Subject matter expertise to perform review, interview and test activities for in-scope People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF).
Renumbered: Formerly CPL-01.6 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, CPL-09 was Control Reciprocity. That control is now CPL-14.
Control Question: Does the organization ensure individuals performing audits and/or assessments have reasonable: (1) Professional qualifications to perform the audit and/or assessment; and (2) Subject matter expertise to perform review, interview and test activities for in-scope People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF)?
US (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal FFIEC ITEH 2016 | IV.A.1 |
| USA Federal 33 CFR Part 101 Subpart F | 101.630(f)(4) 101.630(f)(4)(i) |
| USA California CCPA 2025 | 7122(a)(1) 7122(d) |
EMEA (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 | Article 28.5 |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 | 3.3.6-25 3.4.6-43.a |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 | 96.e 100 |
APAC (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | 13.3 16.5 A7-C2 |
| APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 | 9.2.5 |
| APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 | 15.1.4 |
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
Compliance (CPL) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with CPL domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Compliance management-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Compliance efforts are narrowly-limited to certain compliance requirements. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel use an informal process to govern statutory, regulatory and contractual compliance obligations.
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 individuals performing audits and/or assessments have reasonable: (1) Professional qualifications to perform the audit and/or assessment; and (2) Subject matter expertise to perform review, interview and test activities for in-scope People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF).
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
- CPL-09_A01 based on the scope of an audit/assessment, necessary subject matter expertise is defined to perform review, interview and/or test activities for in-scope People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF).
- CPL-09_A02 minimum professional qualifications to participate in an audit and/or assessment are defined.
- CPL-09_A03 auditors/assessors are evaluated for necessary subject matter expertise to perform an audit/assessment.
- CPL-09_A04 auditors/assessors are required to have minimum professional qualifications to participate in an audit/assessment.
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