Skip to main content

OPS-05: Service Delivery (Business Process Support)

OPS 7 — High Protect

Mechanisms exist to define supporting business processes and implement appropriate governance and service management to ensure appropriate planning, delivery and support of the organization's technology capabilities supporting business functions, workforce, and/or customers based on industry-recognized standards to achieve the specific goals of the process area.

Renumbered: Formerly OPS-03 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, OPS-05 was Secure Practices Guidelines. That control is now OPS-06.

Control Question: Does the organization define supporting business processes and implement appropriate governance and service management to ensure appropriate planning, delivery and support of its technology capabilities supporting business functions, workforce, and/or customers based on industry-recognized standards to achieve the specific goals of the process area?

General (16)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) CC2.1 CC2.1-POF1 CC2.1-POF2 CC2.1-POF3 CC2.1-POF4 CC2.2-POF1 CC2.3-POF2 CC2.3-POF6 CC3.1-POF7 CC3.1-POF8 CC3.1-POF9 CC3.1-POF10 CC3.1-POF11 CC3.1-POF12 CC3.1-POF13 CC3.1-POF14 CC3.1-POF15 CC3.1-POF16 CC5.3-POF3 PI1.1 PI1.3-POF1 PI1.3-POF2 PI1.3-POF3 PI1.3-POF4 PI1.3-POF5 PI1.4-POF1 PI1.4-POF2 PI1.4-POF3 PI1.4-POF4 PI1.5-POF1 PI1.5-POF2 PI1.5-POF3 PI1.5-POF4
COBIT 2019 APO01.11 APO08.05 APO09.02 APO09.03 APO09.04 APO09.05 APO11.01 APO11.02 APO11.03 APO11.04 APO11.05
COSO 2013 13.0
CSA IoT SCF 2 IAM-16
ISO/SAE 21434 2021 RQ-05-13
ISO 27001 2022 (source) 8.1
ISO 27002 2022 5.37
ISO 27017 2015 12.1.1
ISO 27018 2025 5.2(a) 5.37 8.5(a)
ISO 42001 2023 A.6.2.7 A.6.2.8 A.9 A.9.2 A.9.3 A.9.4
NIST 800-53 R4 IP-4 IP-4(1)
NIST SP 800-66 R2 164.310(b) 164.316(b)
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.15.01.a
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.15.01.a[04]
NIST 800-218 PO.3.2
NIST Privacy Framework 1.0 ID.IM-P5
US (6)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 IP-4 IP-4(1)
USA Federal DHS CISA TIC 3.0 3.UNI.SADMI
USA Federal CJIS Security Policy 6.0 5.1.2
USA Federal 21 CFR Part 11 2025 11.10
USA Federal HIPAA Security Rule NIST SP 800-66 R2 § 164.310(b) § 164.312(e)(2)(ii) § 164.316(b)(2)(ii)
USA Federal HIPAA Administrative Simplification 2013 § 164.310(b) § 164.312(e)(2)(ii) § 164.316(b)(2)(ii)
EMEA (4)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany BAIT 2017 8.1 11.1 11.2 11.3 11.4 11.5 11.6 11.7 11.8
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 org.3
EMEA EU DORA 2023 Article 9.1 Article 9.2
EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 3.5-51
APAC (3)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia Prudential Standard CPS230 2023 12(b)
APAC Japan ISMAP 13.1.1.11.P 13.1.4.1.P 13.1.4.2.P 14.1.1.19.P 14.1.1.20.P
APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 7.1.1
Americas (4)

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

Security Operations (OPS) 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 OPS domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with OPS 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 OPS domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Security operations management-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Security operations 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 and/or cybersecurity personnel create “run books,” or SOPs, to capture operational knowledge in documentation form for critical business functions and/or for sensitive/regulated obligations to protect the Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability and Safety (CIAS) of the organization's TAASD.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Security Operations (OPS) 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 OPS 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 OPS domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Security Operations Center (SOC), or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain OPS domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of security operations management (e.g., SIEM solution and EDR/XDR tools). ▪ 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 OPS 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). ▪ Cybersecurity personnel create “run books,” or SOPs, to capture operational knowledge in documentation form for critical business functions and/or for sensitive/regulated obligations. ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to define supporting business processes and implement appropriate governance and service management to ensure appropriate planning, delivery and support of the organization's technology capabilities supporting business functions, workforce, and/or customers based on industry-recognized standards to achieve the specific goals of the process area.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Security Operations (OPS) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). ▪ Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review). ▪ Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.

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. OPS-05_A01 supporting business processes are defined.
  2. OPS-05_A02 appropriate governance and service management is implemented to ensure appropriate planning, delivery and support of business functions, workforce, and/or customers.

Evidence Requirements

E-TPM-04 Service Level Agreements (SLAs)

Documented evidence of third-party Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to support business operations.

Third-Party Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Documented Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP)

Small

  • Documented Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP)

Medium

  • Documented Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)
  • ITIL 4 (https://axelos.com)

Large

  • Documented Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)
  • ITIL 4 (https://axelos.com)
  • COBIT 2019 Framework (https://isaca.org)

Enterprise

  • Documented Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP)
  • VisibleOps (https://itpi.org)
  • ITIL 4 (https://axelos.com)
  • COBIT 2019 Framework (https://isaca.org)

The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) is maintained by SCF Council. Use of SCF content is subject to the SCF Terms & Conditions.

Manage this control in SCF Connect

Track implementation status, collect evidence, and map controls to your compliance frameworks automatically.