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SAT-12: Security, Compliance & Resilience Knowledge Sharing

SAT 3 — Low Identify

Mechanisms exist to improve knowledge sharing across security, compliance and resilience personnel allowing for: (1) Efficient operations; and (2) Rapid and effective response to incidents.

Renumbered: Formerly SAT-05 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization improve knowledge sharing across security, compliance and resilience personnel allowing for: (1) Efficient operations; and (2) Rapid and effective response to incidents?

US (1)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CISA CPG 2022 1.D

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.

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 improve knowledge sharing across security, compliance and resilience personnel allowing for: (1) Efficient operations; and (2) Rapid and effective response to incidents.

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. SAT-12_A01 a process to improve cybersecurity and data protection knowledge sharing across security personnel is defined.
  2. SAT-12_A02 cybersecurity and data protection knowledge sharing is implemented across security personnel allowing for more rapid and effective response to incidents.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Informal security knowledge sharing (e.g., team meetings, email updates)
  • Subscribe to CISA and NIST security alerts

Small

  • Regular security briefings or newsletter
  • CISA and NIST alert subscriptions for the security team

Medium

  • Internal security knowledge sharing program
  • Cross-functional security briefings
  • Lessons learned from incidents and assessments

Large

  • Formal knowledge sharing program (security communities of practice)
  • Internal security portal or wiki
  • Cross-functional security training and briefings

Enterprise

  • Enterprise security knowledge management platform
  • Communities of practice for security specializations
  • Cross-organizational knowledge sharing and lessons learned
  • Integration with LMS and professional development programs

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