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MON-01.15: Privileged User Oversight

MON 5 — Medium Detect

Mechanisms exist to implement enhanced activity monitoring for privileged users.

Control Question: Does the organization implement enhanced activity monitoring for privileged users?

General (13)
Framework Mapping Values
CIS CSC 8.1 3.14
CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 3.14
CSA CCM 4 IAM-09 IAM-10 IAM-11 LOG-11
CSA IoT SCF 2 CLS-07
GovRAMP High SI-04(20)
NIST 800-53 R4 SI-4(20)
NIST 800-53 R5 (source) SI-4(20)
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) SI-4(20)
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay SI-4(20)
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.01.07.b
SCF CORE Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures (MA&D) MON-01.15
SCF CORE ESP Level 2 Critical Infrastructure MON-01.15
SCF CORE ESP Level 3 Advanced Threats MON-01.15
US (8)
EMEA (4)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 03.01.07.B

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of a capability to implement enhanced activity monitoring for privileged users.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to implement enhanced activity monitoring for privileged users.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

C|P-CMM2 is N/A, since a well-defined process is required to implement enhanced activity monitoring for privileged users.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Continuous Monitoring (MON) 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: o Governs asset management that ensures compliance with requirements for asset management. o Leverages a Configuration Management Database (CMDB), or similar tool, as the authoritative source of IT assets. o Centrally collects logs and is protected according to the manufacturer’s security guidelines to protect the integrity of the event logs with cryptographic mechanisms. o Monitors the organization for Indicators of Compromise (IoC) and provides 24x7x365 near real-time alerting capability. o Is configured to alert incident response personnel of detected suspicious events such that incident responders can look to terminate suspicious events.

  • An IT Asset Management (ITAM) function, or similar function:
  • A Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM), or similar automated tool:
  • Human Resources (HR) and Legal departments determine what is legally-allowable to support enhanced monitoring for individuals who pose a greater risk to the organization, including privileged users.
  • A Security Operations Center (SOC), or similar capability, configures monitoring technologies to implement the enhanced monitoring profiles for selected users and establish a reporting capability to designated personnel.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Continuous Monitoring (MON) efforts are metrics driven and provide sufficient management insight (based on a quantitative understanding of process capabilities) to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and identify areas for improvement. In addition to CMM Level 3 criteria, CMM Level 4 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • 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.
  • Both business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes.
Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Continuous Monitoring (MON) efforts are “world-class” capabilities that leverage predictive analysis (e.g., machine learning, AI, etc.). In addition to CMM Level 4 criteria, CMM Level 5 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • Stakeholders make time-sensitive decisions to support operational efficiency, which may include automated remediation actions.
  • Based on predictive analysis, process improvements are implemented according to “continuous improvement” practices that affect process changes.

Assessment Objectives

  1. MON-01.15_A01 additional monitoring of privileged users is defined.
  2. MON-01.15_A02 additional monitoring of privileged users is implemented.

Evidence Requirements

E-MON-03 Privileged User Oversight

Documented evidence of privileged user activity being logged and included as part of the centralized event log collection and review/analysis process.

Event Log Monitoring

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)

Small

  • Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM)
  • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)

Medium

  • Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM)
  • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)

Large

  • Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM)
  • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)

Enterprise

  • Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM)
  • Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP)

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