CRY-05.3: Database Encryption

There is no evidence of a capability to ensure that database servers utilize encryption to protect the confidentiality of the data within the databases.

Cryptographic Protections (CRY) efforts are ad hoc and inconsistent. CMM Level 1 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

• Data classification and handling criteria govern requirements to encrypt sensitive/regulated data during transmission and in storage.
• Network communications containing sensitive/regulated data are protected using a cryptographic mechanism to prevent unauthorized disclosure of information while in transit (e.g., SSH, TLS, VPN, etc.).
• Wireless access is protected via secure authentication and encryption.
• Databases containing sensitive/regulated data use a cryptographic mechanism to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information in the database (e.g., column-level, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), etc.).

Cryptographic Protections (CRY) efforts are requirements-driven and governed at a local/regional level, but are not consistent across the organization. CMM Level 2 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

• Cryptographic management is decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices.
• IT/cybersecurity personnel identify cybersecurity and data protection controls that are appropriate to address applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements for cryptographic management.
• Data classification and handling criteria govern requirements to encrypt sensitive/regulated data during transmission and in storage.
• Decentralized technologies implement cryptographic mechanisms on endpoints to control how sensitive/regulated data is encrypted during transmission and in storage.
• Systems, applications and services that store, process or transmit sensitive/regulated data use cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of information as an alternate to physical safeguards.
• Databases containing sensitive/regulated data use a cryptographic mechanism to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of information in the database (e.g., column-level, Transparent Data Encryption (TDE), etc.).

Cryptographic Protections (CRY) efforts are standardized across the organization and centrally managed, where technically feasible, to ensure consistency. CMM Level 3 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist: o Implements Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) key management controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of keys. o Implements and maintains an internal PKI infrastructure or obtains PKI services from a reputable PKI service provider.

• The Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), or similar function with technical competence to address cybersecurity concerns, analyzes the organization's business strategy to determine prioritized and authoritative guidance for cryptographic protections.
• The CISO, or similar function, develops a security-focused Concept of Operations (CONOPS) that documents management, operational and technical measures for cryptographic protections.
• A Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) function, or similar function, provides governance oversight for the implementation of applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual cybersecurity and data protection controls to protect the confidentiality, integrity, availability and safety of the organization's applications, systems, services and data using cryptographic protections.
• A steering committee is formally established to provide executive oversight of the cybersecurity and data privacy program, including cryptographic protections.
• Data classification and handling criteria govern requirements to encrypt sensitive/regulated data during transmission and in storage.
• Centrally-managed technologies implement cryptographic mechanisms on endpoints to control how sensitive/regulated data is encrypted during transmission and in storage.
• Certificate management is centrally-managed and the use of certificates is monitored.
• Cryptographic keys are proactively managed to protect the Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA) of cryptographic capabilities.
• Systems, applications and services that store, process or transmit sensitive/regulated data use cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of information as an alternate to physical safeguards.
• An IT infrastructure team, or similar function:
• IT/cybersecurity personnel perform an annual review of deployed cryptographic cipher suites and protocols to identify and replace weak cryptographic cipher suites and protocols.

See C|P-CMM3. There are no defined C|P-CMM4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to ensure that database servers utilize encryption to protect the confidentiality of the data within the databases.

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to ensure that database servers utilize encryption to protect the confidentiality of the data within the databases.