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MON-29.1: Changes by Authorized Individuals

MON 5 — Medium Detect

Mechanisms exist to provide privileged users or roles the capability to change the auditing to be performed on specified system components, based on specific event criteria within specified time thresholds.

Renumbered: Formerly MON-02.8 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization provide privileged users or roles the capability to change the auditing to be performed on specified system components, based on specific event criteria within specified time thresholds?

General (7)
Framework Mapping Values
GovRAMP AU-12(03)
GovRAMP High AU-12(03)
NIST 800-53 R4 AU-12(3)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 AU-12(03)
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) AU-12(03)
NIST 800-82 R3 AU-12(03)
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay AU-12(03)
US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) AU-12(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

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 privileged users or roles the capability to change the auditing to be performed on specified system components, based on specific event criteria within specified time thresholds.

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-29.1_A01 individuals or roles authorized to change the logging on system components are defined.
  2. MON-29.1_A02 system components on which logging is to be performed are defined.
  3. MON-29.1_A03 selectable event criteria with which change logging is to be performed are defined.
  4. MON-29.1_A04 the capability for organization-defined individuals or roles to change the logging to be performed on organization-defined system components based on organization-defined selectable event criteria within organization-defined time thresholds is provided / implemented.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)
  • Privileged Account Management (PAM)

Small

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)
  • Privileged Account Management (PAM)

Medium

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)
  • Privileged Account Management (PAM)

Large

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)
  • Privileged Account Management (PAM)

Enterprise

  • Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC)
  • Role Based Access Control (RBAC)
  • Separation of Duties (SoD)
  • Privileged Account Management (PAM)

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