CRY-02: Use of Cryptographic Controls
Mechanisms exist to facilitate the implementation of cryptographic protections controls using known public standards and trusted cryptographic technologies.
Renumbered: Formerly CRY-01 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, CRY-02 was Cryptographic Module Authentication. That control is now IAC-38.
Control Question: Does the organization facilitate the implementation of cryptographic protections controls using known public standards and trusted cryptographic technologies?
General (56)
US (27)
EMEA (21)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Germany C5 2026 | OIS-08.02B.5 OPS-32.03B.6 OPS-32.01AC.4 OPS-33.02B IAM-09.06B CRY-01.01B CRY-01.01B.1 CRY-01.01B.3 CRY-01.01B.4 CRY-01.02B CRY-02.01B PSS-01.02B.9 |
| EMEA Germany FDPA 2017 | 3.2.48(2)7 |
| EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 | op.exp.10 mp.si.2 mp.info.3 mp.info.4 mp.s.2 |
| EMEA Spain Royal Decree 311 2022 | Article 12(6)(j) |
| EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 | Article 6.1 Article 6.2 Article 6.2(b) Article 6.3 |
| EMEA EU EBA GL/2019/04 | 3.4.4.36(f) |
| EMEA EU GDPR 2016 | Article 32.1(a) |
| EMEA EU NIS2 2022 | Article 21.2(h) |
| EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 2024 | 9.1 9.2(a) 9.2(b) |
| EMEA UK CAP 1850 2020 | B3 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 2024 | 2304 2317 2318 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L1 2024 | 2304 2317 2318 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L2 2024 | 2304 2317 2318 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L3 2024 | 2304 2317 2318 |
| EMEA Israel CDMO 2.0 | Appendix A, 3.1 |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 | 68.e |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia CSCC-1 2019 | 2-7-1 2-7-1-3 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 | 2-8-1 2-8-2 2-8-3-1 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 | 2-6-1 2-7-1 2-7-2 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia SACS-002 2022 | VII.B.TPC-54 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia SAMA CSF 1.0 2017 | 3.3.9 3.3.9.1 3.3.9.4 3.3.9.4.a 3.3.9.4.b 3.3.9.4.c |
APAC (11)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia CCM 2026 | PRO-08 PRO-17 |
| APAC Australia ISM June 2026 | ISM-0142 ISM-0233 ISM-0457 ISM-0460 ISM-0469 ISM-0471 ISM-0472 ISM-0474 ISM-0475 ISM-0476 ISM-0477 ISM-0479 ISM-0481 ISM-0499 ISM-0501 ISM-0869 ISM-0994 ISM-0999 ISM-1059 ISM-1080 ISM-1085 ISM-1091 ISM-1233 ISM-1277 ISM-1446 ISM-1629 ISM-1759 ISM-1761 ISM-1762 ISM-1763 ISM-1764 ISM-1765 ISM-1766 ISM-1767 ISM-1768 ISM-1769 ISM-1770 ISM-1771 ISM-1772 ISM-1781 ISM-1928 ISM-1984 ISM-2017 |
| APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 | 16.0 67.a 70.i |
| APAC India RBI PA 2025 | Annex 1.1.2 Annex 1.1.14 |
| APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 | PR.DS.S1 |
| APAC Japan ISMAP | 5.1.1.17 10.0 10.1 10.1.1 10.1.1.1 10.1.1.2 10.1.1.3 10.1.1.4 10.1.1.5 10.1.1.6 10.1.1.7 10.1.1.8 10.1.1.9.PB 10.1.1.10.P 13.2.1.6 14.1.3 14.1.3.1 14.1.3.2 14.1.3.3 14.1.3.4 14.1.3.5 14.1.3.6 |
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | 10.20(a) 10.21 10.22 A5-E1(d) A7-D2(a)(v) |
| APAC New Zealand HISF MLHSP 2023 | HHSP37 HML37 |
| APAC New Zealand HISF Suppliers 2023 | HSUP32 |
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 | 8.4.13.C.01 17.1.52.C.01 17.1.52.C.02 17.1.53.C.01 17.1.53.C.02 17.1.53.C.03 17.1.53.C.04 17.1.54.C.01 17.1.55.C.01 17.1.55.C.02 17.1.55.C.03 17.1.55.C.04 17.1.56.C.01 17.1.56.C.02 17.1.57.C.01 17.2.17.C.01 17.2.18.C.01 17.2.19.C.01 17.2.20.C.01 17.2.20.C.02 17.2.21.C.01 17.2.22.C.01 17.2.22.C.02 17.2.23.C.01 17.2.24.C.01 17.2.24.C.02 17.2.24.C.03 17.2.25.C.01 17.2.26.C.01 17.2.26.C.02 17.2.26.C.03 17.2.27.C.01 17.2.27.C.02 17.2.27.C.03 17.2.28.C.01 17.3.6.C.01 17.4.16.C.01 17.4.16.C.02 17.5.6.C.01 17.6.7.C.01 17.7.6.C.01 17.8.10.C.01 17.8.10.C.02 17.8.11.C.01 17.8.12.C.01 17.8.13.C.01 17.8.14.C.01 17.8.15.C.01 17.8.16.C.01 17.8.17.C.01 17.9.30.C.01 17.9.30.C.02 17.9.30.C.03 17.9.31.C.01 17.9.32.C.01 17.9.32.C.02 17.9.38.C.01 17.9.38.C.02 |
| APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 | 6.4.5 10.1.1 10.1.3 10.1.4 |
Americas (4)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Bermuda BMACCC 2020 | 6.22 |
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.13.08 03.13.11 |
| Americas Canada OSFI B-13 2022 | 3.2.2 |
| Americas Canada OSFI Self-Assessment Guidance | 3.2.2 |
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
Cryptographic Protections (CRY) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with CRY domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Cryptography management-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel provide an encryption solution (software or hardware) for the storage of sensitive/regulated data.
Level 2 — Planned & Tracked
Cryptographic Protections (CRY) 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 CRY domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with CRY 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 CRY domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Cryptographic management controls-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Cryptographic management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) that store, process or transmit sensitive/regulated data use cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of information as an alternate to physical safeguards. ▪ External compliance requirements for cryptography are identified and documented, based on applicable laws, regulations and contractual obligations. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel perform an annual review of deployed cryptographic cipher suites and protocols to identify and replace weak and/or deprecated cryptographic cipher suites and protocols. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to implement cryptographic mechanisms that are applicability for statutory, regulatory and/or contractual compliance obligations. ▪ Sensitive/regulated data is encrypted at rest using cryptographic protections that are commensurate with the sensitivity of the data.
Level 3 — Well Defined
Cryptographic Protections (CRY) 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 CRY 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 CRY domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A security engineering team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain CRY domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of cryptographic protections operations (e.g., PKI management tool). ▪ 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 CRY 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 facilitate the implementation of cryptographic protections controls using known public standards and trusted cryptographic technologies.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Cryptographic Protections (CRY) 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
- CRY-02_A01 cryptographic uses are identified / defined.
- CRY-02_A02 cryptographic mechanisms intended to prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive / regulated data are identified.
- CRY-02_A03 organization-defined types of cryptography are implemented to protect the confidentiality of sensitive / regulated data.
- CRY-02_A04 as necessary for compliance requirements, FIPS-validated cryptography is employed to protect the confidentiality of sensitive / regulated data.
- CRY-02_A05 security critical or essential software is defined.
- CRY-02_A06 root of trust mechanisms or cryptographic signatures are identified.
- CRY-02_A07 the integrity of security critical or essential software is verified using root of trust mechanisms or cryptographic signatures.
- CRY-02_A08 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive / regulated data during transmission.
- CRY-02_A09 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive / regulated data while in storage.
- CRY-02_A10 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to detect unauthorized changes to software.
- CRY-02_A11 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to detect unauthorized changes to firmware.
- CRY-02_A12 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to detect unauthorized changes to information.
- CRY-02_A13 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of CUI during transmission.
- CRY-02_A14 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of CUI while in storage.
- CRY-02_A15 the types of cryptography for protecting the confidentiality of CUI are defined.
- CRY-02_A16 the following types of cryptography are implemented to protect the confidentiality of CUI: <A.03.13.11.ODP[01]: types of cryptography>.
- CRY-02_A17 cryptographic protections management operations are conducted according to documented policies, standards, procedures and/or other organizational directives.
- CRY-02_A18 resources are provided to support cryptographic protections management operations, including at a minimum: people, processes, technologies, data and facilities.
- CRY-02_A19 responsibility and authority for the performance of cryptographic protections management-related activities are assigned to designated personnel.
- CRY-02_A20 personnel performing cryptographic protections management-related activities have the skills and knowledge needed to perform their assigned duties.
Evidence Requirements
- E-CRY-01 Cryptographic Protections
-
Documented evidence of organization-approved cryptographic solutions and modules for both data at rest and in transit.
Cryptographic Protections
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
- Configuration Management (CM) program
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Small
- IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
- Configuration Management (CM) program
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Medium
- IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
- Configuration Management (CM) program
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Large
- IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
- Configuration Management (CM) program
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
Enterprise
- IT Asset Management (ITAM) program
- Configuration Management (CM) program
- Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)