CRY-04: Cryptographic Cipher Suites and Protocols Inventory
Mechanisms exist to identify, document and review deployed cryptographic cipher suites and protocols to proactively respond to industry trends regarding the continued viability of utilized cryptographic cipher suites and protocols.
Renumbered: Formerly CRY-01.5 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, CRY-04 was Transmission Integrity. That control is now CRY-06.
Control Question: Does the organization identify, document and review deployed cryptographic cipher suites and protocols to proactively respond to industry trends regarding the continued viability of utilized cryptographic cipher suites and protocols?
General (6)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| NIST 800-171 R3 (source) | 03.13.11 |
| NIST 800-171A R3 (source) | A.03.13.11 |
| NIST CSWP 39 | 3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) | 12.3.3 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) | 12.3.3 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) | 12.3.3 |
US (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal FFIEC ITEH 2016 | II.C.19 |
EMEA (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Germany C5 2026 | CRY-03.01B CRY-03.02B |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia CSCC-1 2019 | 2-7-1-3 |
APAC (4)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 | 16.0 |
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | 10.20(c) 10.20(d) |
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 | 17.9.34.C.01 |
| APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 | 10.1.2 10.1.5 |
Americas (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.13.11 |
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
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.
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 identify, document and review deployed cryptographic cipher suites and protocols to proactively respond to industry trends regarding the continued viability of utilized cryptographic cipher suites and protocols.
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
- CRY-04_A01 cryptographic uses are defined.
- CRY-04_A02 types of cryptography for each specified cryptographic use are defined.
- CRY-04_A03 an inventory of cryptographic cipher suites and protocols is maintained.
- CRY-04_A04 deployed cryptographic cipher suites and protocols are reviewed per an organization-defined frequency to identify industry trends regarding the continued viability of utilized cryptographic cipher suites and protocols.
- CRY-04_A05 documented actions are taken in response to identified industry trends that affect the continued viability of utilized cryptographic cipher suites and protocols.
Evidence Requirements
- E-QTS-04 Cryptographic Asset Inventory
-
Documented evidence of a cryptographic asset inventory.
Quantum Security
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Use TLS 1.2+ and disable weak ciphers on web services (e.g., SSL Labs test)
Small
- Inventory of TLS/cipher configurations for external services
- Annual review against current guidance (e.g., NIST SP 800-52)
Medium
- Cipher suite and protocol inventory maintained via scanning (e.g., Qualys SSL Labs, Nessus)
- Annual review and deprecation of weak algorithms
Large
- Cryptographic governance program
- Automated cryptographic discovery and inventory
- Cipher suite standards updated for industry trends (e.g., PQC readiness)
Enterprise
- Enterprise cryptographic inventory platform (e.g., Keyfactor, Venafi, IBM Guardium Quantum Safe)
- Cipher suite governance with proactive deprecation
- Integration with QTS crypto-agility program