MON-24: Host Intrusion Detection & Prevention Systems (HIDS & HIPS) Monitoring
Mechanisms exist to monitor Host Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS) to actively alert on or block unwanted activities.
Renumbered: Formerly MON-01.6 in SCF 2025.4.
Control Question: Does the organization monitor Host Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS) to actively alert on or block unwanted activities?
General (7)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) | CC7.2 |
| GovRAMP | SI-04(23) |
| GovRAMP Moderate | SI-04(23) |
| GovRAMP High | SI-04(23) |
| NIST 800-53 R4 | SI-4(23) |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | SI-04(23) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | SI-04(23) |
US (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (moderate) | SI-04(23) |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) | SI-04(23) |
| USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 | SC-7(CE-12) |
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 utilize Host-based Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS) to actively alert on or block unwanted activities and send logs to a Security Incident Event Manager (SIEM), or similar automated tool, to maintain situational awareness.
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-24_A01 host-based monitoring mechanisms to be implemented on system components are defined.
- MON-24_A02 system components where host-based monitoring is to be implemented are defined.
- MON-24_A03 host-based monitoring mechanisms are implemented on system components.
- MON-24_A04 Host Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS) are configured to actively alert on or block unwanted activities.
- MON-24_A05 alerts and events generated by Host Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS) are monitored and reviewed.
Evidence Requirements
- E-NET-11 Intrusion Detection / Prevention Deployment
-
Documented evidence of Network and Host Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (NIDS / NIPS, HIDS / HIPS) deployment and monitoring coverage.
Network Security
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Host-based Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS)
Small
- Host-based Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS)
Medium
- Host-based Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS)
- Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
Large
- Host-based Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS)
- Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
Enterprise
- Host-based Intrusion Detection / Prevention Systems (HIDS / HIPS)
- Extended Detection and Response (XDR)