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MON-18.1: Session Audit

MON 7 — High Detect

Mechanisms exist to provide session audit capabilities that can: (1) Capture and log all content related to a user session; and (2) Remotely view all content related to an established user session in real time.

Renumbered: Formerly MON-12 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization provide session audit capabilities that can: (1) Capture and log all content related to a user session; and (2) Remotely view all content related to an established user session in real time?

General (7)

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 provide session audit capabilities that can: (1) Capture and log all content related to a user session; and (2) Remotely view all content related to an established user session in real time.

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-18.1_A01 user session auditing practices are defined (e.g., record, view, hear or log).
  2. MON-18.1_A02 users or roles who can audit the content of a user session are defined.
  3. MON-18.1_A03 circumstances under which the content of a user session can be audited are defined.
  4. MON-18.1_A04 designated users or roles are provided with the capability to audit the content of a user session under organization-defined circumstances.
  5. MON-18.1_A05 the capability for organization's the content of a user session under organization-defined circumstances is implemented.
  6. MON-18.1_A06 session auditing activities are developed in consultation with legal counsel and in accordance with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines.
  7. MON-18.1_A07 session auditing activities are integrated in consultation with legal counsel and in accordance with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines.
  8. MON-18.1_A08 session auditing activities are used in consultation with legal counsel and in accordance with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards and guidelines.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • ManageEngine PAM360 (https://manageengine.com)
  • Basic privileged session recording (e.g., built-in OS logging)

Small

  • ManageEngine PAM360 (https://manageengine.com)
  • Privileged Access Workstation (PAW) or jump server logging

Medium

  • ManageEngine PAM360 (https://manageengine.com)
  • Ekran User Activity Monitoring (UAM) (https://ekransystem.com)
  • Privileged Access Management (PAM) solution with session recording

Large

  • ManageEngine PAM360 (https://manageengine.com)
  • Ekran User Activity Monitoring (UAM) (https://ekransystem.com)
  • CyberArk Privileged Session Manager or BeyondTrust Session Management

Enterprise

  • Enterprise PAM with session audit (e.g., CyberArk, BeyondTrust, Delinea)
  • ManageEngine PAM360 (https://manageengine.com)
  • Ekran User Activity Monitoring (UAM) (https://ekransystem.com)
  • AI-powered anomalous behavior detection in privileged sessions

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