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PRI-20.3: System of Records Notice (SORN)

PRI 1 — Low Identify

Mechanisms exist to draft, publish and keep System of Records Notices (SORN) updated in accordance with regulatory guidance.

Renumbered: Formerly PRI-02.4 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization draft, publish and keep System of Records Notices (SORN) updated in accordance with regulatory guidance?

General (5)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST 800-53 R4 TR-2(1)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 PT-06
NIST 800-53B R5 (privacy) (source) PT-06
NIST 800-82 R3 PT-06
SCF DPMP 2026 11.6
US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 TR-2 TR-2.a TR-2.b TR-2(1)

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

Privacy (PRI) 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 PRI domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with PRI 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 PRI domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Data privacy management-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Data privacy management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ The data privacy program is developed to work with IT and cybersecurity staff to ensure that applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual data privacy obligations for Personal Data (PD) are properly identified and implemented.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Privacy (PRI) 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 PRI 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 PRI domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A data privacy team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain PRI domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of data privacy operations (e.g., privacy notice management software and customer management solution). ▪ 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 PRI 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 capability exists to draft, publish and keep System of Records Notices (SORN) updated in accordance with regulatory guidance.

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. PRI-20.3_A01 System of Records Notices (SORNs) are drafted in accordance with OMB guidance for systems that process information that will be maintained in a Privacy Act system of records.
  2. PRI-20.3_A02 new and significantly modified system of records notices are submitted to the OMB and appropriate congressional committees for advance review for systems that process information that will be maintained in a Privacy Act system of records.
  3. PRI-20.3_A03 System of Records Notices (SORNs) are published in the Federal Register for systems that process information that will be maintained in a Privacy Act system of records.
  4. PRI-20.3_A04 System of Records Notices (SORNs) are kept accurate, up-to-date and scoped in accordance with policy for systems that process information that will be maintained in a Privacy Act system of records.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Data classification program
  • Data privacy program
  • Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
  • Product / project management

Small

  • Data classification program
  • Data privacy program
  • Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
  • Product / project management

Medium

  • Data classification program
  • Data privacy program
  • Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
  • Product / project management

Large

  • Data classification program
  • Data privacy program
  • Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
  • Product / project management

Enterprise

  • Data classification program
  • Data privacy program
  • Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA)
  • Product / project management

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