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NET-18: Authenticated Proxy

NET 3 — Low Protect

Mechanisms exist to force systems and processes to authenticate Internet-bound traffic with a proxy to enable user, group and/or location-aware security controls.

Renumbered: Formerly NET-18.8 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, NET-18 was DNS & Content Filtering. That control is now NET-17.

Control Question: Does the organization force systems and processes to authenticate Internet-bound traffic with a proxy to enable user, group and/or location-aware security controls?

US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal DHS CISA TIC 3.0 3.PEP.WE.APROX

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

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. ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to force systems and processes to authenticate Internet-bound traffic with a proxy to enable user, group and/or location-aware security controls.

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-18_A01 systems and processes are required to authenticate Internet-bound traffic with a proxy to enable user, group and/or location-aware security controls.

Evidence Requirements

E-NET-01 Content / DNS Filtering

Documented evidence of the methods that content / DNS filtering is implemented to prevent Internet traffic from prohibited content and/or hostile web sites.

Network Security

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Note: Typically not required at this size; DNS filtering with user identification (e.g., Cisco Umbrella, Cloudflare Gateway)

Small

  • Cloud secure web gateway with user authentication (e.g., Cloudflare Gateway, Cisco Umbrella, Zscaler)

Medium

  • Authenticated proxy for sensitive network access

Large

  • Enterprise authenticated proxy with user-level access controls

Enterprise

  • Enterprise authenticated proxy platform (e.g., Zscaler, Bluecoat)
  • User-level policy enforcement
  • SSO integration

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