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MNT-03: Controlled Maintenance

MNT 10 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to conduct controlled maintenance activities throughout the lifecycle of the Technology Asset, Application and/or Service (TAAS).

Renumbered: Formerly MNT-02 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, MNT-03 was Timely Maintenance. That control is now MNT-04.

Control Question: Does the organization conduct controlled maintenance activities throughout the lifecycle of the Technology Asset, Application and/or Service (TAAS)?

General (25)
Framework Mapping Values
CSA IoT SCF 2 OPA-01
GovRAMP MA-02
GovRAMP Low MA-02
GovRAMP Low+ MA-02
GovRAMP Moderate MA-02
GovRAMP High MA-02
ISO 27002 2022 7.13
ISO 27017 2015 11.2.4
ISO 27018 2025 7.13
NIST 800-53 R4 MA-2
NIST 800-53 R5.2 MA-02
NIST 800-53B R5 (low) (source) MA-02
NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) MA-02
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) MA-02
NIST SP 800-66 R2 164.310(a)
NIST 800-82 R3 MA-02
NIST 800-82 R3 LOW OT Overlay MA-02
NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay MA-02
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay MA-02
NIST 800-161 R1 MA-2
NIST 800-171 R2 (source) 3.7.1
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.04.03.c 03.07.04.a 03.07.05.a
NIST 800-171A (source) 3.7.1
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.04.03.c[01] A.03.07.04.a[02] A.03.07.05.a[01]
NIST CSF 2.0 (source) PR.PS PR.PS-02 PR.PS-03
US (13)
EMEA (7)
APAC (5)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-1079
APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 PR.MA.S1
APAC Japan ISMAP 11.2.4.4
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 A2-C13
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 11.8.10.C.01 11.8.10.C.04 12.5.3.C.01 12.5.3.C.02 12.5.6.C.01 12.5.6.C.02
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.04.03.C 03.07.04.A 03.07.05.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

Maintenance (MNT) 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 MNT domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with MNT 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 MNT domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Maintenance-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Asset management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ IT personnel, in conjunction with asset custodians, develop and maintain facilitate localized/regionalized procedures to conduct controlled and timely maintenance activities throughout the lifecycle of the Technology Asset, Application and/or Service (TAAS). ▪ Maintenance operations may be centralized for certain locations (e.g., datacenters) and decentralized for other locations, both in terms of change management and execution. ▪ Asset custodians track maintenance activities and component failure rates.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Maintenance (MNT) 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 MNT 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 MNT domain capabilities (e.g., maintenance pans) are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ A centralized Change Management Office (CMO), or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain MNT domain capabilities. ▪ Technical procedures (e.g., ITIL change enablement) are utilized along with change management governance capabilities to ensure successful, efficient and secure maintenance operations. ▪ 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 MNT 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 conduct controlled maintenance activities throughout the lifecycle of the Technology Asset, Application and/or Service (TAAS).

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Maintenance (MNT) 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

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. MNT-03_A01 maintenance, repair and replacement of systems, applications and/or services are scheduled in accordance with manufacturer or vendor specifications and/or organizational requirements.
  2. MNT-03_A02 approved configuration-controlled changes to the system are implemented.
  3. MNT-03_A03 system maintenance is performed.
  4. MNT-03_A04 personnel or roles required to explicitly approve the removal of the system or system components from organizational facilities for off-site maintenance or repairs is/are defined.
  5. MNT-03_A05 information to be removed from associated media prior to removal from organizational facilities for off-site maintenance, repair or replacement is defined.
  6. MNT-03_A06 information to be included in organizational maintenance records is defined.
  7. MNT-03_A07 maintenance, repair and replacement of system components are documented in accordance with manufacturer or vendor specifications and/or organizational requirements.
  8. MNT-03_A08 records of maintenance, repair and replacement of system components are reviewed in accordance with manufacturer or vendor specifications and/or organizational requirements.
  9. MNT-03_A09 all maintenance activities, whether performed on site or remotely and whether the system or system components are serviced on site or removed to another location, are approved.
  10. MNT-03_A10 all maintenance activities, whether performed on site or remotely and whether the system or system components are serviced on site or removed to another location, are monitored.
  11. MNT-03_A11 personnel or roles is/are required to explicitly approve the removal of the system or system components from organizational facilities for off-site maintenance, repair or replacement.
  12. MNT-03_A12 equipment is sanitized to remove information from associated media prior to removal from organizational facilities for off-site maintenance, repair or replacement.
  13. MNT-03_A13 all potentially impacted controls are checked to verify that the controls are still functioning properly following maintenance, repair or replacement actions.
  14. MNT-03_A14 information is included in organizational maintenance records.

Evidence Requirements

E-MNT-04 Maintenance Activities

Documented evidence of maintenance activities for the organization's Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS).

Maintenance

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • IT maintenance program

Small

  • IT maintenance program

Medium

  • IT maintenance program
  • VisibleOps security management

Large

  • IT maintenance program
  • VisibleOps security management

Enterprise

  • IT maintenance program
  • VisibleOps security management

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