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MNT-12: Remote Maintenance

MNT 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to authorize, monitor and control remote, non-local maintenance and diagnostic activities.

Renumbered: Formerly MNT-05 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization authorize, monitor and control remote, non-local maintenance and diagnostic activities?

General (34)
US (11)
EMEA (5)
APAC (2)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC India SEBI CSCRF 2024 PR.MA.S2
APAC Japan ISMAP 11.2.4.8 11.2.4.9 11.2.4.10
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.01.12.D 03.07.05.A 03.07.05.B 03.07.05.C

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. ▪ Instances of non-console administrative access use cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality and integrity of the data being transmitted.

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 authorize, monitor and control remote, non-local maintenance and diagnostic activities.

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-12_A01 nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are approved.
  2. MNT-12_A02 nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are monitored.
  3. MNT-12_A03 the use of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic tools are allowed only as consistent with organizational policy.
  4. MNT-12_A04 the use of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic tools are documented in the security plan for the system.
  5. MNT-12_A05 strong authentication is employed in the establishment of nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic sessions.
  6. MNT-12_A06 records for nonlocal maintenance and diagnostic activities are maintained.
  7. MNT-12_A07 session connections are terminated when nonlocal maintenance is completed.
  8. MNT-12_A08 network connections are terminated when nonlocal maintenance is completed.
  9. MNT-12_A09 multifactor authentication is used to establish nonlocal maintenance sessions via external network connections.
  10. MNT-12_A10 nonlocal maintenance sessions established via external network connections are terminated when nonlocal maintenance is complete.

Evidence Requirements

E-MNT-06 Remote Maintenance Records

Documented evidence of remote maintenance sessions, including pre-approval, notification, cryptographic protection, disconnect verification and audit records.

Maintenance

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Document maintenance activities in a log

Small

  • Maintenance log
  • Authorized maintenance personnel list

Medium

  • Formal maintenance management program
  • CMMS or ticketing system

Large

  • CMMS (e.g., Maximo, ServiceNow)
  • Scheduled maintenance program
  • Vendor access controls

Enterprise

  • Enterprise CMMS platform
  • Automated maintenance scheduling
  • Vendor access controls
  • Remote access controls

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