CRY-05: Encrypting Data In Transit
Cryptographic mechanisms exist to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of data in transit.
Renumbered: Formerly CRY-03 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, CRY-05 was Encrypting Data At Rest. That control is now CRY-07.
Control Question: Are cryptographic mechanisms utilized to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of data in transit?
General (49)
US (27)
EMEA (18)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Germany C5 2026 | OPS-09.03B OPS-19.01B.8 OPS-34.02B.6 CRY-04.01B CRY-04.01AS COS-06.01AC PI-01.01B.1 PI-01.01B.2 |
| EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 | op.exp.10 mp.si.2 mp.info.3 mp.info.4 mp.s.1 mp.s.2 |
| EMEA Spain Royal Decree 311 2022 | Article 12(6)(j) |
| EMEA EU Cyber Resiliency Act Annex I 2024 | Annex I, Part I(2)(e) |
| EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 | Article 6.2(a) Article 6.2(c) Article 13.1(e) Article 14.1 Article 14.1(a) Article 35.1(a) Article 35.1(d) |
| EMEA EU EBA GL/2019/04 | 3.4.4.36(f) |
| EMEA UK CAF 4.0 | B3.b |
| EMEA UK CAP 1850 2020 | B3 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 2024 | 2302 2306 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L1 2024 | 2306 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L2 2024 | 2302 2306 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L3 2024 | 2302 2306 |
| EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 | 3.4.4-36.c 3.4.4-36.f |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia IoT CGIoT-1 2024 | 2-4-1 2-4-2 2-4-3 2-6-2 2-7-2 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia CSCC-1 2019 | 2-3-1-5 2-7-1-1 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 | 2-8-3-3 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 | 2-6-1-1 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia SACS-002 2022 | VII.B.TPC-52 VII.B.TPC-53 |
APAC (9)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia CCM 2026 | PRO-08 |
| APAC Australia IoT Code of Practice 2024 | 7.0 |
| APAC Australia ISM June 2026 | ISM-0231 ISM-0232 ISM-0465 ISM-0467 ISM-0469 ISM-0484 ISM-0547 ISM-1139 ISM-1369 ISM-1370 ISM-1372 ISM-1373 ISM-1374 ISM-1375 ISM-1448 ISM-1453 ISM-1506 ISM-1553 ISM-1589 ISM-1781 ISM-1984 ISM-2108 |
| APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 | 13.0 34.e 67.d 69.0 |
| APAC India RBI PA 2025 | Annex 1.1.2 |
| APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 | PR.DS.S1 |
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | A3-1(b) A3-1(c) A5-A2(b) A7-D2(b)(ii) A7-D2(d)(i) A7-D2(e)(iv) A10-B1(d) |
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 | 16.1.33.C.01 17.1.57.C.01 |
| APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 | 5.7.2(d) |
Americas (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Argentina Reg 132 2018 | A.2.1 A.2.3-DS |
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.13.08 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
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. ▪ Sensitive/regulated data is encrypted in transit according to standardized processes.
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 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. ▪ Sensitive/regulated data is encrypted during transmission 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 cryptographic capability exists to protect the confidentiality of data being transmitted.
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-05_A01 the types of cryptography for preventing the unauthorized disclosure of data in transit are defined.
- CRY-05_A02 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of data during transmission.
- CRY-05_A03 organization-defined types of cryptography are implemented to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive / regulated data in transit.
- CRY-05_A04 cryptographic mechanisms are implemented to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of CUI during transmission.
- CRY-05_A05 the types of cryptography for protecting the confidentiality of CUI are defined.
- CRY-05_A06 the following types of cryptography are implemented to protect the confidentiality of CUI: <A.03.13.11.ODP[01]: types of cryptography>.
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
- NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) (https://csrc.nist.gov)
- Transport Layer Security (TLS)
- IPSec encryption
- Encrypted Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
Small
- NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) (https://csrc.nist.gov)
- Transport Layer Security (TLS)
- IPSec encryption
- Encrypted Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
Medium
- NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) (https://csrc.nist.gov)
- Transport Layer Security (TLS)
- IPSec encryption
- Encrypted Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
Large
- NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) (https://csrc.nist.gov)
- Transport Layer Security (TLS)
- IPSec encryption
- Encrypted Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)
Enterprise
- NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP) (https://csrc.nist.gov)
- Transport Layer Security (TLS)
- IPSec encryption
- Encrypted Multiprotocol Label Switching (MPLS)