SAT-06.2: Suspicious Communications & Anomalous System Behavior
Mechanisms exist to provide training to personnel on organization-defined indicators of malware to recognize suspicious communications and anomalous behavior.
Renumbered: Formerly SAT-03.2 in SCF 2025.4.
Control Question: Does the organization provide training to personnel on organization-defined indicators of malware to recognize suspicious communications and anomalous behavior?
General (25)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) | CC2.2-POF13 CC2.3-POF12 |
| CIS CSC 8.1 | 14.6 |
| CIS CSC 8.1 IG1 | 14.6 |
| CIS CSC 8.1 IG2 | 14.6 |
| CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 | 14.6 |
| IMO Maritime Cyber Risk Management | 3.5.4.2 |
| MPA Content Security Program 5.3.1 | OR-3.3 |
| NIST 800-53 R4 | AT-3(4) |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | AT-02(04) AT-02(05) |
| NIST SP 800-66 R2 | 164.308(a)(5) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | AT-02(04) AT-02(05) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay | AT-02(04) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay | AT-02(04) |
| NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 | AT-02(05) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 | AT-2(4) AT-2(5) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 | AT-2(4) AT-2(5) |
| NIST 800-172 R3 | 03.02.01E |
| NIST 800-172A R3 | DS-A.03.02.01E.a.02 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) | 11.5 11.5.1 11.5.1.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A-EP (source) | 11.5.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) | 11.5.1 |
| PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) | 11.5.1 11.5.1.1 |
| SCF DPMP 2026 | 1.6 |
| SPARTA 4.0 | CM0041 |
| SWIFT CSF 2025 | 2.9 |
US (7)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal DHS CISA TIC 3.0 | 3.PEP.ID.BBASE 3.UNI.DTDIS |
| USA Federal CMMC 2.0 Level 3 | AT.L3-3.2.1E |
| USA Federal FFIEC ITEH 2016 | II.C.12 |
| USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 | AT-2(CE-4) |
| USA Federal HIPAA Security Rule NIST SP 800-66 R2 | § 164.308(a)(5)(ii)(B) |
| USA Federal HIPAA Administrative Simplification 2013 | § 164.308(a)(5)(ii)(B) |
| USA New York DFS 23 NYCRR500 2023 Amd 2 | 500.14(a)(1) |
EMEA (6)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Germany C5 2026 | HR-03.03B.4 |
| EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 2024 | 3.3.1 3.3.2 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 2024 | 2602 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L2 2024 | 2602 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L3 2024 | 2602 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia ECC-1 2018 | 1-10-3-1 |
APAC (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia ISM June 2026 | ISM-0817 ISM-0824 ISM-1740 |
Americas (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada OSFI B-13 2022 | 3.1.7 |
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). ▪ Security awareness training covers reporting of unauthorized alterations and evidence of tampering of equipment
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 provide training to personnel on organization-defined indicators of malware to recognize suspicious communications and anomalous behavior.
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
- SAT-06.2_A01 indicators of malicious code are defined.
- SAT-06.2_A02 literacy training on recognizing suspicious communications and anomalous behavior in organizational systems using organization-defined indicators of malicious code is provided.
- SAT-06.2_A03 literacy training on the advanced persistent threat is provided.
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Provide security training for system administrators
Small
- Role-specific security training for system administrators
Medium
- Formal privileged user security training program
Large
- Enterprise privileged user security training program
- Regular refresher training
Enterprise
- Enterprise role-based technical security training (e.g., SANS courses)
- Privileged user training tracks
- Annual recertification