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PRM-05.1: Commitment To Continual Improvements

PRM 7 — High Govern

Mechanisms exist to commit appropriate resources needed for continual improvement of the organization's Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP), including: (1) Staffing; (2) Budget; (3) Processes; and (4) Technologies.

Renumbered: Formerly GOV-01.3 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization commit appropriate resources needed for continual improvement of its Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP), including: (1) Staffing; (2) Budget; (3) Processes; and (4) Technologies?

General (10)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA Privacy Management Framework (PMF) M1.3-POF4
BSI Standard 200-1 4.4 7.4 7.5 8.4
COBIT 2019 APO14.01
COSO 2013 2.0
ISO/SAE 21434 2021 RQ-05-08
ISO 27017 2015 5.1 7.2.1
ISO 27018 2025 5.4
ISO 27701 2025 5.1 9.3.3 10.1
ISO 31000 2018 5.2
NIST Privacy Framework 1.0 PR.PO-P5
US (2)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CERT RMM 1.2 EF:SG3.SP1 EF:SG3.SP3 EF:SG4.SP3
USA Federal FFIEC ITEH 2016 I.C
EMEA (9)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA CHE FINMA Circular 2023/1 IV.C-62
EMEA Germany BAIT 2017 2.2 4.4
EMEA Spain Royal Decree 311 2022 Article 12(6)(ñ) Article 27
EMEA EU EBA GL/2019/04 3.4.6.48
EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 2024 1.1.1(d) 1.1.1(e)
EMEA Israel CDMO 2.0 4.1, Stage 5 Appendix A, 1.1
EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 3.3.1-14
EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 1-1-3 1-3-4 2-3-4
EMEA Saudi Arabia SACS-002 2022 VII.B.TPC-69
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Japan ISMAP 4.6.1.1 4.6.1.2 4.6.3.3

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

Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with GOV domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Governance-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists. GRC roles are assigned to existing IT/cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Cybersecurity and data protection governance is informally assigned as an additional duty to existing IT/cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains an informal process to review and respond to observed trends.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Cybersecurity & Data Protection Governance (GOV) 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 GOV domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with GOV 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 GOV domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Governance-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ No formal Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team exists. GRC roles are assigned to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Project & Resource Management (PRM) 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 PRM 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 PRM domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A Project Management Office (PMO), or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain PRM domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of project and resource management operations (e.g., project 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 PRM 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). ▪ The Chief Information Officer (CIO), or similar function, analyzes the organization's business strategy and prioritizes the objectives and resourcing of the security function, based on broader business requirements. ▪ Appropriate resources needed for continual improvement of the organization's Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP), including: (1) Staffing; (2) Budget; (3) Processes; and (4) Technologies.

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. PRM-05.1_A01 resources committed for continual improvement of the organization's Security, Compliance & Resilience Program (SCRP) include staffing, budget, processes and technologies.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Document budget/staffing commitments in a written plan

Small

  • Annual review of security budget and staffing needs
  • Written improvement roadmap

Medium

  • Formal SCRP improvement plan with defined budget
  • Annual steering committee review of progress

Large

  • Formal Security Program roadmap with dedicated budget
  • Quarterly steering committee reviews
  • KPIs and metrics tracking

Enterprise

  • Enterprise security program roadmap
  • Board-approved cybersecurity budget
  • Dedicated GRC team for continual improvement tracking
  • Metrics dashboard for program maturity

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