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GOV-03.2: Standardized Terminology

GOV 3 — Low Protect

Mechanisms exist to standardize technology and process terminology to reduce confusion amongst groups and departments.

Renumbered: Formerly SEA-02.1 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization standardize technology and process terminology to reduce confusion amongst groups and departments?

General (11)
US (15)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CERT RMM 1.2 ADM:SG1.SP2
USA Federal FAR 52.204-21 52.204-21(a)
USA Federal 33 CFR Part 101 Subpart F 101.615
USA Federal GLBA CFR 314 2023 314.2
USA Federal HIPAA Administrative Simplification 2013 § 164.103 § 164.304 § 164.402 § 164.501 § 164.504(a)
USA Federal TSA SDP 2021-02F VII.
USA California CCPA 2025 7001
USA Montana CDPA 2025 30-14-2802
USA Nevada NOGE Reg 5 2024 5.260.2
USA New York DFS 23 NYCRR500 2023 Amd 2 500.1
USA Tennessee TIPA 2025 47-18-3201
USA Texas CDPA 2025 541.001
USA Texas SB 2610 2025 542.001(1) 542.001(2) 542.001(3)
USA Texas TRAIGA 2025 Sec. 2 / 503.001(a) 551.001 552.001 552.051(a) 552.054(a) 552.056(a) 553.001
USA Virginia CDPA 2023 59.1-575
EMEA (3)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA EU AI Act Article 3
EMEA EU GDPR 2016 Article 4
EMEA LUX CCSF 22/806 2022 1 123 134
APAC (3)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia SOCI 2028 5
APAC India RBI PA 2025 Annex 1.1.8
APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 1.2.1 10.1.2
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada OSFI B-13 2022 A.1

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

Secure Engineering & Architecture (SEA) 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 SEA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with SEA 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 SEA domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Secure engineering and architecture-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Secure engineering and architecture management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel define entity-specific secure engineering practices to protect the Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability and Safety (CIAS) of the entity's TAASD. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel align secure engineering practices with the entity's broader IT architecture practices. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel use secure engineering practices to influence Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) 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 GOV 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 GOV domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain GOV 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). ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of governance, risk management and compliance operations (e.g., GRC platform). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to standardize technology and process terminology to reduce confusion amongst groups and departments.

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. GOV-03.2_A01 technology and process terminology is standardized to reduce confusion amongst groups and departments.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Follow secure coding basics when developing software

Small

  • Secure coding guidelines for developers
  • Basic security review before release

Medium

  • Formal security engineering principles
  • Secure design patterns
  • Threat modeling

Large

  • Enterprise security engineering program
  • Formal threat modeling
  • Security architecture standards

Enterprise

  • Enterprise security architecture framework (SABSA)
  • Formal threat modeling program
  • Security design patterns library

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