GOV-16: Contacts With Groups & Associations
Mechanisms exist to establish contact with selected groups and associations within the security, compliance and resilience communities to: (1) Facilitate ongoing cybersecurity and data protection education and training for organizational personnel; (2) Maintain currency with recommended cybersecurity and data protection practices, techniques and technologies; and (3) Share current cybersecurity and/or data protection-related information including threats, vulnerabilities and incidents.
Renumbered: Formerly GOV-07 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, GOV-16 was Materiality Determination. That control is now GOV-07.
Control Question: Does the organization establish contact with selected groups and associations within the security, compliance and resilience communities to: (1) Facilitate ongoing cybersecurity and data protection education and training for organizational personnel; (2) Maintain currency with recommended cybersecurity and data protection practices, techniques and technologies; and (3) Share current cybersecurity and/or data protection-related information including threats, vulnerabilities and incidents?
General (24)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) | CC2.2-POF4 CC2.3 |
| CSA CCM 4.1.0 | GRC-08 |
| IEC 62443-2-1 2024 | EVENT 1.3 |
| ISO 27002 2022 | 5.6 |
| ISO 27017 2015 | 6.1.4 |
| ISO 27018 2025 | 5.6 |
| NIST 800-53 R4 | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 LOW OT Overlay | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 1 | PM-15 |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 | PM-15 |
| NIST CSF 2.0 (source) | ID.RA-02 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) | 6.3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A (source) | 6.3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A-EP (source) | 6.3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ B-IP (source) | 6.3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C (source) | 6.3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C-VT (source) | 6.3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) | 6.3.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) | 6.3.1 |
US (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 | PM-15 PM-15.a PM-15.b PM-15.c |
| USA Federal C2M2 2.1 | PROGRAM-2j |
| USA Texas DIR SCSC 2.2 2025 | PM-15 |
EMEA (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA EU DORA 2023 | Article 45.1 Article 45.1(a) Article 45.1(b) Article 45.1(c) Article 45.2 |
APAC (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Japan ISMAP | 6.1.4 6.1.4.1 6.1.4.2 6.1.4.3 6.1.4.4 6.1.4.5 6.1.4.6 |
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | 11.20 |
Americas (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada OSFI Self-Assessment Guidance | 3.1.5 |
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. ▪ Cybersecurity and data privacy personnel identify and maintain contact information for local, regional and national cybersecurity / data privacy groups and associations.
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 contact with selected groups and associations within the security, compliance and resilience communities to: (1) Facilitate ongoing cybersecurity and data protection education and training for organizational personnel; (2) Maintain currency with recommended cybersecurity and data protection practices, techniques and technologies; and (3) Share current cybersecurity and/or data protection-related information including threats, vulnerabilities and incidents.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled
Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). ▪ Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review). ▪ Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving
Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Based on predictive analysis, process improvements are implemented according to “continuous improvement” practices that affect process changes. ▪ Stakeholders make time-sensitive decisions to support operational efficiency, which may include automated remediation actions via Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Learning (ML) technologies.
Assessment Objectives
- GOV-16_A01 contact is established and institutionalized with selected groups and associations within the cybersecurity / data privacy community to facilitate ongoing security education and training for organizational personnel.
- GOV-16_A02 contact is established and institutionalized with selected groups and associations within the cybersecurity / data privacy community to maintain currency with recommended security practices, techniques and technologies.
- GOV-16_A03 contact is established and institutionalized with selected groups and associations within the cybersecurity / data privacy community to share current security information, including threats, vulnerabilities and incidents.
Evidence Requirements
- E-THR-02 Industry Associations / Memberships
-
Documented evidence of industry associations the organization utilizes to maintain situational awareness of evolving threats and trends.
Threat Management
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- ISACA chapters (https://www.isaca.org)
- ISC2 chapters (https://www.isc2.org)
- IAPP chapters (https://iapp.org)
- CISA free resources and advisories (https://www.cisa.gov)
- SANS reading room, vendor security blogs
Small
- ISACA chapters (https://www.isaca.org)
- ISC2 chapters (https://www.isc2.org)
- IAPP chapters (https://iapp.org)
- CISA free resources and advisories (https://www.cisa.gov)
- MS-ISAC free membership (https://www.cisecurity.org/ms-isac)
Medium
- ISACA chapters (https://www.isaca.org)
- ISC2 chapters (https://www.isc2.org)
- IAPP chapters (https://iapp.org)
- CISA advisories and threat alerts (https://www.cisa.gov)
- Sector-specific ISAC membership
Large
- ISACA chapters (https://www.isaca.org)
- ISC2 chapters (https://www.isc2.org)
- IAPP chapters (https://iapp.org)
- Sector ISAC active membership (e.g., FS-ISAC, H-ISAC)
- CISA Cyber Information Sharing program
- InfraGard membership (https://www.infragard.org)
Enterprise
- ISACA enterprise membership (https://www.isaca.org)
- ISC2 enterprise programs (https://www.isc2.org)
- IAPP enterprise membership (https://iapp.org)
- Sector ISAC leadership participation
- InfraGard and CISA partnership programs
- Sector-specific policy engagement (FS-ISAC, NTIA, etc.)