MON-18.2: Real-Time Session Monitoring
Mechanisms exist to enable authorized personnel the ability to remotely view and hear content related to an established user session in real time, in accordance with organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations.
Renumbered: Formerly MON-01.17 in SCF 2025.4.
Control Question: Does the organization enable authorized personnel the ability to remotely view and hear content related to an established user session in real time, in accordance with organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations?
General (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | AU-14(03) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | AU-14(03) |
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
SCR-CMM Level 2 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude a well-defined and standardized process is required. ▪ At this level of maturity, the “requirements-driven” nature of performing the control is focused on a localized and/or regionalized implementation, not uniform and consistent across the organization. ▪ Requirements are narrowly scoped for applicability and are primarily derived from compliance obligations (e.g., laws, regulations and contracts).
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 enable authorized personnel the ability to remotely view and hear content related to an established user session in real time, in accordance with organizational standards, as well as statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations.
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
- MON-18.2_A01 the capability for authorized users to remotely view and hear content related to an established user session in real time is provided.
- MON-18.2_A02 the capability for authorized users to remotely view and hear content related to an established user session in real time is implemented.
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Review system logs periodically
Small
- Log monitoring policy
- Regular review of key system logs
Medium
- SIEM (e.g., Wazuh)
- Automated log collection and alerting
Large
- Enterprise SIEM (e.g., Splunk, IBM QRadar)
- Continuous monitoring program
- SOC monitoring
Enterprise
- Enterprise SIEM/SOAR platform
- 24/7 SOC monitoring
- Threat hunting
- Automated incident response