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MNT-11.3: Restrict Tool Usage

MNT 5 — Medium Protect

Automated mechanisms exist to restrict the use of maintenance tools to authorized maintenance personnel and/or roles.

Renumbered: Formerly MNT-04.4 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to restrict the use of maintenance tools to authorized maintenance personnel and/or roles?

General (6)
Framework Mapping Values
CIS CSC 8.1 2.7
CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 2.7
ISO/SAE 21434 2021 RQ-05-14
NIST 800-53 R4 MA-3(4)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 MA-03(04)
NIST 800-82 R3 MA-03(04)
US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 MA-3(CE-4)

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

Maintenance (MNT) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with MNT domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Maintenance-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Maintenance controls are primarily administrative in nature (e.g., policies & standards) to manage change control processes associated with maintenance operations.

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. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel control and monitor the use of system maintenance tools.

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 automatically restrict the use of maintenance tools to authorized maintenance personnel and/or roles.

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

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. ▪ 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

  1. MNT-11.3_A01 the use of maintenance tools is restricted to authorized personnel only.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)

Small

  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)

Medium

  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)

Large

  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)

Enterprise

  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)

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