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DCH-06.1: Defining Access Authorizations for Sensitive / Regulated Data

DCH 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to explicitly define authorizations for specific individuals and/or roles for logical and/or physical access to sensitive and/or regulated data.

Renumbered: Formerly DCH-01.4 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, DCH-06.1 was Physically Secure All Media. That control is now DCH-14.

Control Question: Does the organization explicitly define authorizations for specific individuals and/or roles for logical and /or physical access to sensitive and/or regulated data?

General (16)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA Privacy Management Framework (PMF) M1.0-POF4
CIS CSC 8.1 3.1 3.3
CIS CSC 8.1 IG1 3.1 3.3
CIS CSC 8.1 IG2 3.1 3.3
CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 3.1 3.3
COBIT 2019 DSS06.02 DSS06.06
CSA CCM 4.1.0 BCR-05
ISO 42001 2023 7.5.3 7.5.3(a) 7.5.3(b)
MPA Content Security Program 5.3.1 OP-3.1
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.01.02 03.01.03 03.01.04.b 03.06.05.d 03.08.01 03.08.02 03.10.01.a 03.15.02.c 03.17.01.c
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.01.02[01] A.03.01.02[02] A.03.01.03[01] A.03.01.03[02] A.03.01.04.a A.03.08.01[01] A.03.08.01[02] A.03.08.02 A.03.10.01.a[01] A.03.10.01.a[02] A.03.10.01.a[03] A.03.15.02.c A.03.17.01.c
NIST 800-172 R3 03.01.17E
NIST 800-172A R3 DS-A.03.01.17E.b A.03.01.17E.ODP[02]
NIST 800-207 NIST Tenet 3 NIST Tenet 4
NIST CSF 2.0 (source) PR.DS
TISAX ISA 6.0.3 1.3.2
US (5)
EMEA (8)
APAC (3)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Japan ISMAP 8.2.3.2
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 A1-2
APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 11.1.6
Americas (2)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Argentina Reg 132 2018 B.1.3-2 B.2.1-2
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.01.02 03.01.03 03.01.04.B 03.06.05.D 03.08.01 03.08.02 03.10.01.A 03.15.02.C 03.17.01.C

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

SCR-CMM Level 2 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude a well-defined and standardized process is required. ▪ At this level of maturity, the “requirements-driven” nature of performing the control is focused on a localized and/or regionalized implementation, not uniform and consistent across the organization. ▪ Requirements are narrowly scoped for applicability and are primarily derived from compliance obligations (e.g., laws, regulations and contracts).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Data Classification & Handling (DCH) 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 DCH 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 DCH 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 DCH domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of data classification and handling 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 DCH 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 explicitly define authorizations for specific individuals and/or roles for logical and /or physical access to sensitive/regulated data.

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

  1. DCH-06.1_A01 specific individuals and/or roles authorized for logical and/or physical access to sensitive / regulated data are defined.
  2. DCH-06.1_A02 only authorized individuals are provided logical and/or physical access to sensitive / regulated data.
  3. DCH-06.1_A03 the system security plan is protected from unauthorized disclosure.
  4. DCH-06.1_A04 the SCRM plan is protected from unauthorized disclosure.

Evidence Requirements

E-DCH-02 Data Handling Practices

Documented evidence of an organization-specific data handling practices (e.g., guidance specific the data classification scheme).

Data Protection
E-DCH-08 Authorization Documentation

Documented evidence of that identifies authorized users and processes acting on behalf of authorized users.

Data Protection

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Logical Access Control (LAC)
  • Physical Access Control (PAC)

Small

  • Logical Access Control (LAC)
  • Physical Access Control (PAC)

Medium

  • Logical Access Control (LAC)
  • Physical Access Control (PAC)
  • Data governance program

Large

  • Logical Access Control (LAC)
  • Physical Access Control (PAC)
  • Data governance program

Enterprise

  • Logical Access Control (LAC)
  • Physical Access Control (PAC)
  • Data governance program

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