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NET-18.1: Route Internal Traffic to Proxy Servers

NET 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to route internal communications traffic to external networks through organization-approved proxy servers at managed interfaces.

Control Question: Does the organization route internal communications traffic to external networks through organization-approved proxy servers at managed interfaces?

General (13)
US (7)
EMEA (2)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Saudi Arabia CSCC-1 2019 2-4-1-3
EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 2-4-1-11
APAC (2)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-0260 ISM-0570 ISM-1237
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 14.3.6.C.01 14.3.6.C.02 14.3.6.C.03 15.2.46.C.02

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

Network Security (NET) 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 NET domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with NET 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 NET domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Network security-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Network security management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ IT personnel define secure networking practices to protect the Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability and Safety (CIAS) of the organization's TAASD. ▪ Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC) enforce the principles of least privileges and least functionality for boundary protection technologies. ▪ SBC enforce Internet-bound network traffic routing through a proxy device for URL content filtering to limit a user's ability to connect to prohibited content.

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 route internal communications traffic to external networks through organization-approved proxy servers at managed interfaces.

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-18.1_A01 internal communications traffic to be routed to external networks is defined.
  2. NET-18.1_A02 external networks to which internal communications traffic is to be routed are defined.
  3. NET-18.1_A03 internal communications traffic is routed to external networks through authenticated proxy servers at managed interfaces.

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

  • Route internet traffic through a web proxy/filter

Small

  • Web proxy for internet traffic (e.g., Squid)
  • Proxy usage policy

Medium

  • Secure web proxy for internet traffic routing
  • Proxy policy enforcement

Large

  • Enterprise secure web gateway (SWG) with proxy (e.g., Symantec, Zscaler)

Enterprise

  • Enterprise SWG (e.g., Zscaler, Netskope, Symantec Web Security)
  • All internet traffic routed through proxy
  • SSL inspection

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