SEA-02: Security, Compliance & Resilience Aware Design
Mechanisms exist to formally incorporate the organization's secure architecture principles into engineering, product and model design requirements to ensure security, compliance and resilience are built in by default and by design.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, SEA-02 was Alignment With Enterprise Architecture. That control is now SEA-04.
Control Question: Does the organization formally incorporate its secure architecture principles into engineering, product and model design requirements to ensure security, compliance and resilience are built in by default and by design?
General (6)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| NIST 800-37 R2 | TASK P-16 |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | SA-08(01) SA-08(08) SA-08(20) SA-08(25) SA-08(26) SA-08(28) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | SA-08(01) SA-08(08) SA-08(20) SA-08(25) SA-08(26) SA-08(28) |
| NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 | SA-08(08) |
| NIST 800-172 R3 | 03.15.01E |
| NIST 800-172A R3 | DS-A.03.15.01E.a.01 DS-A.03.15.01E.a.02 |
US (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal DoW BaTB IT 2026 | 4 |
| USA Federal DoW BaTB OT 2026 | 3 8 |
| USA Federal NRC 10 CFR 73.54 2015 | 73.54(c)(2) |
EMEA (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Saudi Arabia SAMA CSF 1.0 2017 | 3.3.4.3.d |
APAC (4)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia CCM 2026 | PRO-01 |
| APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 | 20.0 |
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 | 2.3.28.C.01 |
| APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 | 3.6.1 A.1.1 |
Americas (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada OSFI Self-Assessment Guidance | 2.1.2 |
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
Secure Engineering & Architecture (SEA) 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 SEA domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with SEA 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 SEA domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Secure engineering and architecture-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Secure engineering and architecture management 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
Secure Engineering & Architecture (SEA) 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 SEA 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 SEA domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ A cybersecurity engineering / architecture team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain RSK domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of secure engineering 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 SEA 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). ▪ Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC) enforce the secure engineering principles on all applicable Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to formally incorporate the organization's secure architecture principles into engineering, product and model design requirements to ensure security, compliance and resilience are built in by default and by design.
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
- SEA-02_A01 secure architecture principles are incorporated into engineering, product and model design requirements to ensure security, compliance and resilience are built in by default and by design.
Evidence Requirements
- E-TDA-02 Secure Engineering & Data Privacy (SEDP)
-
Documented evidence of a Secure Engineering & Data Privacy (SEDP) program. This is program-level documentation in the form of a runbook, playbook or a similar format provides guidance on organizational practices that support existing policies and standards.
Technology Design & Acquisition
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Security design checklist for new systems or applications
- OWASP Top 10 design guidance
Small
- OWASP secure design principles
- Security requirements in development projects
Medium
- Security-by-design requirements integrated into SDLC
- Threat modeling for new systems
- OWASP Threat Dragon or similar
Large
- Enterprise secure-by-design program
- Threat modeling requirements in SDLC
- Security architecture approval for new projects
- Privacy and security design reviews
Enterprise
- Enterprise security-aware design program
- Automated threat modeling integration in SDLC
- Security and privacy design reviews for all new systems
- Board-approved security-by-design policy