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QTS-07: Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) Discovery & Visibility

QTS 7 — High Protect

Mechanisms exist to gain situational awareness into the organization's current cryptographic landscape through a formal discovery process that uses a combination of: (1) Automated tools; and (2) Manual techniques.

Control Question: Does the organization gain situational awareness into its current cryptographic landscape through a formal discovery process that uses a combination of: (1) Automated tools; and (2) Manual techniques?

General (1)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST CSWP 39 5.0

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

SCR-CMM Level 2 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude a well-defined and standardized process is required. ▪ At this level of maturity, the “requirements-driven” nature of performing the control is focused on a localized and/or regionalized implementation, not uniform and consistent across the organization. ▪ Requirements are narrowly scoped for applicability and are primarily derived from compliance obligations (e.g., laws, regulations and contracts).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Quantum Security (QTS) 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 QTS 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 QTS domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A risk management team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain QTS domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of risk management operations (e.g., risk management solution, GRC platform and TPRM tool). ▪ 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 QTS 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 gain situational awareness into the organization's current cryptographic landscape through a formal discovery process that uses a combination of: (1) Automated tools; and (2) Manual techniques.

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. QTS-07_A01 means to gain situational awareness into the organization's current cryptographic landscape through a formal discovery process are defined.
  2. QTS-07_A02 the discovery process uses available tools to generate situational awareness.

Evidence Requirements

E-QTS-04 Cryptographic Asset Inventory

Documented evidence of a cryptographic asset inventory.

Quantum Security

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Manual list of where cryptography is used (TLS certificates, VPN, encrypted backups, email)

Small

  • Manual cryptographic algorithm inventory
  • Free scanning tools for common quantum-vulnerable implementations

Medium

  • Automated cryptographic discovery tools
  • Cryptographic inventory as part of vulnerability management
  • NIST guidance on cryptographic discovery (https://csrc.nist.gov/pqc)

Large

  • Automated cryptographic discovery and inventory platform
  • Integration with asset management and vulnerability scanning
  • Regular cryptographic posture reporting

Enterprise

  • Enterprise cryptographic discovery platform
  • Continuous cryptographic inventory maintenance
  • Integration with GRC, asset management, and SIEM
  • Automated quantum exposure reporting

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