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GOV-06: Defining Business Context & Mission

GOV 5 — Medium Govern

Mechanisms exist to document the organization's business model and mission.

Renumbered: Formerly GOV-08 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, GOV-06 was Contacts With Authorities. That control is now GOV-15.

Control Question: Does the organization document the organization's business model and mission?

General (14)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) CC1.2-POF1 CC3.1-POF1 CC3.1-POF3 CC3.1-POF15 CC5.1-POF2
COBIT 2019 EDM05.01 EDM05.02 EDM05.03 APO01.01 APO01.02 APO01.03 APO01.04 APO01.06 APO02.01 APO02.05 APO08.01 APO08.02 APO08.03 APO08.04
COSO 2013 6.0 10.0
ISO 22301 2019 4.1 4.2.1 4.2.1(a) 4.2.1(b)
ISO 27001 2022 (source) 4.1 4.2(a) 4.3 5.1
ISO 27701 2025 4.1 6.1.1
ISO 31000 2018 5.4.1
ISO 42001 2023 6.2
NIST AI 100-1 (AI RMF) 1.0 MAP 1.3
NIST CSF 2.0 (source) GV.OC GV.OC-01 GV.OC-04 GV.OV-01 GV.SC-03
NIST Privacy Framework 1.0 ID.IM-P5 ID.BE-P1 ID.BE-P2 GV.RM-P3
SCF DPMP 2026 11.1
Shared Assessments SIG 2025 B.1
TISAX ISA 6.0.3 1.1.1
US (4)
EMEA (7)
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 11.3(a)
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

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

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). ▪ The context of the entity's business model and its mission are documented.

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-06_A01 the organization's mission is defined and documented.
  2. GOV-06_A02 the organization's business model is documented.

Evidence Requirements

E-PRM-01 Cybersecurity Business Plan (CBP)

Documented evidence of a cybersecurity-specific business plan that documents a strategic plan and discrete objectives.

Resource Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Document mission statement and business context in writing

Small

  • Written mission statement and business context document
  • Annual review

Medium

  • Formal business context document
  • Integrated into risk management process

Large

  • Formal business context and mission documentation
  • Linked to enterprise risk management (ERM)
  • Stakeholder review process

Enterprise

  • Enterprise business context framework
  • Integrated ERM platform
  • Formal mission alignment review process
  • Strategic planning documentation

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