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HRS-15: Incompatible Roles

HRS 8 — High Protect

Mechanisms exist to avoid incompatible development-specific roles through limiting and reviewing developer privileges to change hardware, software and firmware components within a production/operational environment.

Renumbered: Formerly HRS-12 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, HRS-15 was Reporting Suspicious Activities. That control is now HRS-18.

Control Question: Does the organization avoid incompatible development-specific roles through limiting and reviewing developer privileges to change hardware, software and firmware components within a production/operational environment?

General (7)
Framework Mapping Values
COBIT 2019 DSS06.03
CSA CCM 4.1.0 CEK-02
ISO 27002 2022 5.3
ISO 27017 2015 6.1.2
ISO 27018 2025 5.3
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.01.04.a
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.01.04.a
EMEA (2)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 op.acc.3
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 21.1(b)
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 10.54(d) 10.54(d)(i) 10.54(d)(ii) 10.54(d)(iii) 10.54(d)(iv)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.01.04.A

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

Human Resources Security (HRS) 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 HRS domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with HRS 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 HRS domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Personnel management-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Personnel management is decentralized at a localized/regionalized function, where there are non-standardized methods to govern personnel matters across the organization. ▪ Localized HR practices are implemented for hiring, managing, training, investigating and terminating employees, contractors and other personnel that work on behalf of the organization. ▪ The HR department, in conjunction with IT and/or cybersecurity personnel, evaluates risk for individuals requiring elevated privileges or access to sensitive/regulated data.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Human Resources Security (HRS) 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 HRS 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 HRS domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Human Resources (HR) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain HRS domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of human resources security operations (e.g., personnel management software 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 HRS 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 avoid incompatible development-specific roles through limiting and reviewing developer privileges to change hardware, software and firmware components within a production/operational environment.

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. HRS-15_A01 duties of individuals requiring separation are identified.
  2. HRS-15_A02 incompatible development-specific roles are avoided by limiting developer privileges to change hardware, software and firmware components within a production/operational environment and by reviewing those privileges per an organization-defined frequency.

Evidence Requirements

E-HRS-25 Separation of Duties (SoD)

Documented evidence of personnel management practices to implement and maintain Separation of Duties (SoD) to prevent potential inappropriate activity without collusion.

Human Resources

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Employee security policy acknowledgment
  • Background check for sensitive roles

Small

  • Security awareness policy
  • Background checks
  • Security onboarding checklist

Medium

  • HR security program
  • Background checks for all staff
  • Security onboarding training

Large

  • Enterprise HR security program
  • Background screening service
  • Automated offboarding workflows

Enterprise

  • Enterprise HR security framework
  • Background screening platform
  • Integrated HR/IAM offboarding
  • Continuous monitoring

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