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PES-24.1: Automation Support for Water Damage Protection

PES 5 — Medium Protect

Facility security mechanisms exist to detect the presence of water in the vicinity of critical systems and alert facility maintenance and IT personnel.

Renumbered: Formerly PES-07.6 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization detect the presence of water in the vicinity of critical systems and alert facility maintenance and IT personnel?

General (8)
Framework Mapping Values
COBIT 2019 DSS01.04
GovRAMP PE-15(01)
GovRAMP High PE-15(01)
NIST 800-53 R4 PE-15(1)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 PE-15(01)
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) PE-15(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 PE-15(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay PE-15(01)
US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) PE-15(01)

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

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) 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 PES domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with PES 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 PES domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Physical security / facilities management-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Physical security / facilities management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Physical security controls and technologies primarily focus on protecting High Value Assets (HVAs), including environments where sensitive/regulated data is stored, transmitted and processed.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Physical & Environmental Security (PES) 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 PES 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 PES domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A facilities 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 physical and environmental security operations (e.g., facility management solution, visitor log management automation and proximity badge access). ▪ 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 PES 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). ▪ An implemented and operational physical security capability exists to detect the presence of water in the vicinity of critical systems and alert facility maintenance and IT personnel.

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. PES-24.1_A01 personnel or roles to be alerted when the presence of water is detected near the system is/are defined.
  2. PES-24.1_A02 automated mechanisms used to detect the presence of water near the system are defined.
  3. PES-24.1_A03 the presence of water near the system can be detected automatically.
  4. PES-24.1_A04 organization-defined personnel or roles is/are alerted using organization-defined automated mechanisms.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Inexpensive water leak sensor with phone alert near server equipment

Small

  • Water leak sensors with alerting in server room (e.g., Govee, Honeywell)

Medium

  • Environmental monitoring with water detection and alerts (e.g., APC NetBotz, Monnit)
  • Alerts routed to IT and facilities

Large

  • Data center environmental monitoring with leak detection cables
  • Integration with facility alarm system
  • Automated alerting to IT and facilities

Enterprise

  • Enterprise DCIM/environmental monitoring with leak detection (e.g., Nlyte, Schneider EcoStruxure, Vertiv)
  • Automated alerting and response procedures
  • Integration with building management system

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