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MON-12.1: Event Log & Security-Relevant Telemetry Backup on Separate Physical Systems / Components

MON 5 — Medium Detect

Mechanisms exist to back up event logs and security-relevant telemetry onto a physically different system or system component than the Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM) or similar automated tool.

Renumbered: Formerly MON-08.1 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization back up event logs onto a physically different system or system component than the Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM) or similar automated tool?

General (22)
Framework Mapping Values
CSA IoT SCF 2 MON-05 MON-06
GovRAMP AU-09(02)
GovRAMP Moderate AU-09(02)
GovRAMP High AU-09(02)
NIST 800-53 R4 AU-4(1) AU-9(2)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 AU-04(01) AU-09(02)
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) AU-09(02)
NIST 800-82 R3 AU-04(01) AU-09(02)
NIST 800-82 R3 LOW OT Overlay AU-04(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay AU-04(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay AU-04(01) AU-09(02)
NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 AU-09(02)
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.03.08.a
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.03.08.a[01]
NIST 800-172 R3 03.03.01E
NIST 800-172A R3 DS-A.03.03.01E
OWASP Top 10 2025 A09:2025
PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) 10.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A-EP (source) 10.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C (source) 10.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) 10.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) 10.3.3
US (2)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CISA CPG 2022 2.U
USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) AU-09(02)
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Saudi Arabia CSCC-1 2019 2-11-1-5 2-11-2
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 16.6.12.C.02 16.6.12.C.03 16.6.13.C.01 16.6.13.C.02 16.6.13.C.03 16.6.13.C.04
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.03.08.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

Continuous Monitoring (MON) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with MON domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Event monitoring-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Monitoring is primarily reactive in nature, focused on identifying incidents that occurred. ▪ Event log reviews primarily rely on manual processes to identify anomalous behaviors.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Continuous Monitoring (MON) 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 MON domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with MON 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 MON domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Continuous monitoring-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Continuous monitoring may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Continuous Monitoring (MON) 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 MON domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Cybersecurity personnel use a structured process via Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) to review and analyze logs. ▪ A Security Operations Center (SOC) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain MON domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of continuous monitoring operations (e.g., Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM)). ▪ 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 MON 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). ▪ Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC) enforce security event logging to contain sufficient information to establish necessary details of activity and allow for forensics analysis. ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to back up event logs onto a physically different system or system component than the Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM) or similar automated tool.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

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. MON-12.1_A01 the frequency at which event logs and security-relevant telemetry are transferred to a different system, system component or media other than the system or system component conducting the logging is defined.
  2. MON-12.1_A02 event logs and security-relevant telemetry are transferred per an organization-defined frequency to a different system, system component or media other than the system or system component conducting the logging.
  3. MON-12.1_A03 event logs and security-relevant telemetry are stored per an organization-defined frequency in a repository that is part of a physically different system or system component than the system or component being audited.

Evidence Requirements

E-MON-12 Event Log Protection & Time Synchronization

Documented evidence of event log protection (access restriction, cryptographic protection, separate backup) and synchronization with an authoritative time source.

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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