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GOV-03.3: Control Objectives

GOV 5 — Medium Govern

Mechanisms exist to establish control objectives as the basis for the design, selection, implementation and management of the organization's internal security, compliance and resilience control system.

Renumbered: Formerly GOV-09 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization establish control objectives as the basis for the selection, implementation and management of its internal security, compliance and resilience control system?

General (11)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) CC2.1-POF1 CC2.2 CC2.2-POF1 CC2.2-POF7 CC3.1 CC3.1-POF1 CC3.1-POF8 CC3.1-POF9 CC3.1-POF15
COBIT 2019 APO01.04
COSO 2013 6.0 10.0
ISO 27001 2022 (source) 4.1 4.2 4.2(b) 4.2(c) 5.2(b) 6.2 6.2(a) 6.2(b) 6.2(c) 6.2(d) 6.2(e) 6.2(f) 6.2(g) 6.2(h) 6.2(i) 6.2(j) 6.2(k) 6.2(l)
ISO 27701 2025 6.1.3(d)
ISO 31000 2018 5.4.1
ISO 42001 2023 5.1 6.2 8.1
NAIC Insurance Data Security Model Law (MDL-668) 4.D(2)
NIST SP 800-66 R2 164.308(a)(1)
NIST CSF 2.0 (source) GV.SC-03
TISAX ISA 6.0.3 1.1.1 7.1.2
US (6)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CERT RMM 1.2 CTRL:SG1 CTRL:SG1.SP1
USA Federal FFIEC ITEH 2016 II.C.3
USA Federal GLBA CFR 314 2023 314.3(b) 314.3(b)(1) 314.3(b)(2) 314.3(b)(3)
USA Federal HIPAA Security Rule NIST SP 800-66 R2 § 164.306(b)(1) § 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(B)
USA Federal HIPAA Administrative Simplification 2013 § 164.306(b)(1) § 164.308(a)(1)(ii)(B)
USA Federal FCA CRM 2023 609.930(a) 609.930(c)(6)
EMEA (4)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 OIS-02.03B.2
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 28.2(c)
EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 2024 1.1.1(c)
EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 3.2.2-5.c
APAC (3)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia Prudential Standard CPS230 2023 29
APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 GV.OC.S1 GV.RM.S1
APAC Japan ISMAP 4.4.4.1 5.1.1.5
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada OSFI B-13 2022 1.2 2.1.1

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

Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with GOV domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Governance-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists. GRC roles are assigned to existing IT/cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Cybersecurity and data protection governance is informally assigned as an additional duty to existing IT/cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Cybersecurity and data privacy governance practices are informally assigned as an additional duty to existing IT/cybersecurity personnel. ▪ IT /cyber engineering governance is decentralized, with the responsibility for implementing and testing cybersecurity and data protection controls being assigned to the business process owner(s), including the definition and enforcement of roles and responsibilities.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) 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 GOV domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with GOV 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 GOV domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Governance-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists. GRC roles are assigned to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.

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 establish control objectives as the basis for the selection, implementation and management of the organization's internal security, compliance and resilience control system.

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-03.3_A01 control objectives are established as the basis for the design, selection, implementation and management of the organization's internal security, compliance and resilience control system.

Evidence Requirements

E-GOV-24 Control Objectives & Assessment Objectives

Documented evidence of defined control objectives and the Assessment Objectives (AOs) used to evaluate control implementation.

Security, Compliance & Resilience Governance

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Document basic security control objectives in a policy

Small

  • Written control objectives tied to applicable requirements

Medium

  • Formal control objectives framework
  • Mapped to applicable laws and regulations

Large

  • Enterprise control objectives library
  • Mapped to regulatory requirements
  • GRC platform for control tracking

Enterprise

  • Enterprise GRC platform (e.g., ServiceNow GRC, RSA Archer)
  • Control objectives library
  • Automated compliance mapping
  • Continuous control monitoring

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