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EMB-12: Power Level Monitoring

EMB 4 — Medium Detect

Automated mechanisms exist to monitor the power levels of embedded technologies for decreased or excessive power usage, including battery drainage, to investigate for device tampering.

Renumbered: Formerly EMB-09 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, EMB-12 was Restrict Communications. That control is now EMB-16.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to monitor the power levels of embedded technologies for decreased or excessive power usage, including battery drainage, to investigate for device tampering?

General (1)
Framework Mapping Values
CSA IoT SCF 2 ASM-03
EMEA (2)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Saudi Arabia IoT CGIoT-1 2024 2-11-2
EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 5-1-3-3
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia IoT Code of Practice 2024 10.0

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

Embedded Technology (EMB) 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 EMB 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 EMB domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ An embedded systems team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain EMB domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of embedded technology operations (e.g., Configuration Management Database (CMBD) Asset Management solution). ▪ 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 EMB 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 automatically monitor the power levels of embedded technologies for decreased or excessive power usage, including battery drainage, to investigate for device tampering.

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. EMB-12_A01 automated mechanisms monitor the power levels of embedded technologies for decreased or excessive power usage, including battery drainage.
  2. EMB-12_A02 detected instances of decreased or excessive power usage, including battery drainage, are investigated for device tampering.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Inventory embedded devices and document security settings

Small

  • Embedded device inventory
  • Default credential change policy

Medium

  • Embedded/IoT device security program
  • Network segmentation for IoT

Large

  • IoT/OT security program
  • Network segmentation
  • IoT security platform (e.g., Claroty, Armis)

Enterprise

  • Enterprise IoT/OT security platform (e.g., Claroty, Armis, Dragos)
  • Zero-trust IoT architecture

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