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IAC-29: Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC)

IAC 5 — Medium Identify

Mechanisms exist to enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information.

Control Question: Does the organization enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information?

US (2)
Framework Mapping Values
US DoD Zero Trust Execution Roadmap 1.2 1.2.1 1.2.2 1.2.3 1.3.3 1.4.2 1.4.4 1.6 1.6.2 1.6.3 1.8 1.8.4 2.3.1 2.3.2 2.3.3 2.3.5 2.4.2
US DHS ZTCF ACC-03 TRF-02

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of a capability to enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

C|P-CMM2 is N/A, since a well-defined process is required to enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Identification & Authentication (IAC) efforts are standardized across the organization and centrally managed, where technically feasible, to ensure consistency. CMM Level 3 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • An Identity & Access Management (IAM) function, or similar function, centrally manages permissions and implements “least privileges” Role Based Access Control (RBAC) practices for the management of user, group and system accounts, including privileged accounts.
  • The Human Resources (HR) department governs personnel management operations and notifies IAM personnel of personnel role changes for RBAC-based provisioning and deprovisioning actions.
  • An IT Asset Management (ITAM) function, or similar function, categorizes endpoint devices according to the data the asset stores, transmits and/ or processes and applies the appropriate technology controls to protect the asset and data that conform to industry-recognized standards for hardening (e.g., DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks or OEM security guides).
  • An IT infrastructure team, or similar function, ensures that statutory, regulatory and contractual cybersecurity and data privacy obligations are addressed to ensure secure configurations are designed, built and maintained.
  • Active Directory (AD), or a similar technology, is used to centrally manage identities and permissions. Only by exception due to a technical or business limitation are solutions authorized to operate a decentralized access control program for systems, applications and services.
  • Administrative processes and technologies enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) to enable policy-driven, dynamic authorizations and support secure sharing of information
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

See C|P-CMM3. There are no defined C|P-CMM4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to enforce Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information.

Assessment Objectives

  1. IAC-29_A01 Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) is enforced for policy-driven, dynamic authorizations that supports the secure sharing of information.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Small

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Medium

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Large

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Enterprise

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

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