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NET-09: Network Device Plane Segmentation

NET 7 — High Protect

Automated mechanisms exist to separate network appliance functions (e.g., management, control and data planes) to prevent ordinary traffic from accessing functions that: (1) Manage network appliances; and/or (2) Affect network operations.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, NET-09 was Session Integrity. That control is now NET-29.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to separate network appliance functions (e.g., management, control and data planes) to prevent ordinary traffic from accessing functions that: (1) Manage network appliances; and/or (2) Affect network operations?

EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 IAM-07.04AC COS-02.01B.3 COS-05.01B COS-05.02B COS-05.01AC

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

Network Security (NET) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with NET domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Network security-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Identification & Authentication (IAC) 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 IAC domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with IAC 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 IAC domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Identity & Access Management (IAM)-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines) to enforce Logical Access Control (LAC). ▪ IAM may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel to implement Role Based Access Control (RBAC) practices for the management of user, group and system accounts, including privileged accounts. ▪ A directory services technology is used to centrally manage identities and permissions with RBAC. Due to technical or business limitations, asset/process owners are empowered to operate a decentralized access control program for their specific Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) that cannot be integrated into directory services.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Network Security (NET) 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 NET domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with NET domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A network security management team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain NET domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of network security operations (e.g., network management solution and log aggregator). ▪ 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 NET 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 the principles of least privileges and least functionality for boundary protection technologies. ▪ Automated mechanisms exist to separate network appliance functions (e.g., management, control and data planes) to prevent ordinary traffic from accessing functions that: (1) Manage network appliances; and/or (2) Affect network operations.

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. NET-09_A01 automated mechanisms separate network appliance functions (e.g., management, control and data planes).
  2. NET-09_A02 separation prevents ordinary traffic from accessing functions that manage network appliances.
  3. NET-09_A03 separation prevents ordinary traffic from accessing functions that affect network operations.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Management VLAN for network device administration
  • Out-of-band management interface for network devices

Small

  • Management VLAN for network device administration
  • Restrict management access to jump server

Medium

  • Dedicated out-of-band management network
  • Separate control plane and data plane configuration
  • Management VLAN with strict ACLs

Large

  • Dedicated out-of-band management network (OOB)
  • Software-defined networking (SDN) with plane separation
  • Management plane protection with strict ACLs

Enterprise

  • Dedicated OOB management network infrastructure
  • SDN platform with automated plane segmentation
  • Management plane micro-segmentation
  • Automated configuration enforcement

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