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SAT-05.1: Sensitive / Regulated Data Storage, Handling & Processing

SAT 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to ensure that every user accessing a system processing, storing or transmitting sensitive and/or regulated data is formally trained in data handling requirements.

Renumbered: Formerly SAT-03.3 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization ensure that every user accessing a system processing, storing or transmitting sensitive and/or regulated data is formally trained in data handling requirements?

General (31)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA Privacy Management Framework (PMF) M1.2-POF3
AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) CC2.2-POF9
CIS CSC 8.1 14.5
CIS CSC 8.1 IG1 14.5
CIS CSC 8.1 IG2 14.5
CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 14.5
CSA CCM 4.1.0 DSP-17
CSA IoT SCF 2 TRN-02
ISO 27018 2025 6.3(a)
ISO 29100 2024 6.10
MPA Content Security Program 5.3.1 OR-3.3
NIST 800-53 R4 AR-5
NIST 800-53 R5.2 AT-03(05)
NIST 800-53B R5 (privacy) (source) AT-03(05)
NIST 800-82 R3 AT-03(05)
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.01.22.a 03.02.01.a.01 03.02.02.a.01
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.01.22.a A.03.02.01.a.01[01] A.03.02.02.a.01[01]
NIST 800-218 PO.2.2
PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) 9.5.1 9.5.1.3 12.6.3.1 12.6.3.2
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A-EP (source) 12.6.3.1
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ B (source) 9.5.1 9.5.1.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ B-IP (source) 9.5.1 9.5.1.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C (source) 9.5.1 9.5.1.3 12.6.3.1
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C-VT (source) 12.6.3.1
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) 9.5.1 9.5.1.3 12.6.3.1 12.6.3.2
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) 9.5.1 9.5.1.3 12.6.3.1 12.6.3.2
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ P2PE (source) 9.5.1 9.5.1.3
SCF DPMP 2026 1.6
SPARTA 4.0 CM0041
SWIFT CSF 2025 7.2
TISAX ISA 6.0.3 2.1.4
US (12)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 AR-5 AR-5.a AR-5.b AR-5.c
USA Federal NNPI (unclass) 2010 12-2.b
USA Federal CJIS Security Policy 6.0 AT-3(5)
USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 2.D.2.1-1.1 2.D.2.1-1.2 2.D.2.1-1.3 2.D.2.1-1.4 2.D.2.1-2.1 2.D.2.1-2.2 2.D.2.1-2.3 2.D.2.1-2.4 2.D.2.1-2.5 2.D.2.1-2.6 2.D.2.1-2.7
USA Federal GLBA CFR 314 2023 314.4(e)(1)
USA Federal NISPOM 2020 §117.12(a) §117.12(d) §117.12(e)(3) §117.12(e)(4) §117.12(e)(5) §117.12(f) §117.12(h) §117.12(h)(1) §117.12(h)(2) §117.12(h)(2)(i) §117.12(h)(2)(ii) §117.12(h)(2)(iii) §117.12(h)(2)(iv) §117.12(h)(2)(v) §117.12(h)(2)(vi) §117.12(h)(2)(vii)
USA Federal FIPPS 1973 2.0
USA California CCPA 2025 7100(a) 7123(c)(12) 7123(c)(13)
USA Illinois IPA 2009 35(a)(2) 37(a)(2)
USA Massachusetts 201 CMR 17.00 2008 17.04(8)
USA New York DFS 23 NYCRR500 2023 Amd 2 500.10(a)(2)
USA Vermont Act 171 2018 2447(c)(8)
EMEA (7)
APAC (4)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-0831 ISM-1059
APAC Japan ISMAP 7.2.2.16 7.2.2.19.PB
APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 21.1.6.C.01 22.1.11.C.01
APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 3.6.1
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.01.22.A 03.02.01.A.01 03.02.02.A.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

Security Awareness & Training (SAT) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with SAT domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Security awareness and training-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ Security awareness and training methods are often generic, without organization-specific content.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Security Awareness & Training (SAT) 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 SAT domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with SAT 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 SAT domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Security Awareness & Training-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Security Awareness & Training may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ Users are educated on their responsibilities to protect TAASD assigned to them or under their supervision. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel create/govern security and awareness training to meet specific statutory, regulatory and/or contractual compliance obligations. ▪ Privileged users receive formal security and/or data privacy awareness training to ensure they understand their unique roles and responsibilities. ▪ The responsibility for training users and enforcing policies may be assigned to user's immediate supervisor(s)/manager(s), including the definition and enforcement of the user's specific role(s) and responsibilities. ▪ Security awareness and training methods are role-based (e.g., handling sensitive/regulated data).

Level 3 — Well Defined

Security Awareness & Training (SAT) 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 SAT 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 SAT domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A security awareness & training team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain SAT domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of security awareness and training management (e.g., Computer Based Learning (CBL) solutions). ▪ 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 SAT 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 ensure that every user accessing a system processing, storing or transmitting sensitive/regulated data is formally trained in data handling requirements.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Security Awareness & Training (SAT) 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. SAT-05.1_A01 personnel or roles to be provided with initial and refresher training in the employment and operation of sensitive / regulated data processing and transparency controls is/are defined.
  2. SAT-05.1_A02 the frequency at which to provide refresher training in the employment and operation of sensitive / regulated data processing and transparency controls is defined.
  3. SAT-05.1_A03 organization-defined personnel or roles are provided with initial and refresher training organization-defined frequency in the employment and operation of sensitive / regulated data processing and transparency controls.

Evidence Requirements

E-SAT-05 Role-Based Training

Documented evidence of specialized user training for privileged users, executives, individuals who handle sensitive/regulated data, etc.

Education

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Provide security training for executives and leadership

Small

  • Executive security awareness briefing

Medium

  • Formal executive security awareness program
  • Board-level cybersecurity briefings

Large

  • Enterprise executive security program
  • Board cybersecurity education
  • Executive threat briefings

Enterprise

  • Enterprise board and executive security education program
  • Regular threat briefings
  • Tabletop exercises for leadership

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