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SEA-14.1: Randomness

SEA 5 — Medium Protect

Automated mechanisms exist to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets?

General (6)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST 800-53 R4 SC-30(2)
NIST 800-53 R5 (source) SC-30(2)
NIST 800-53 R5 (NOC) (source) SC-30(2)
NIST 800-161 R1 SC-30(2)
NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 SC-30(2)
NIST 800-161 R1 Level 3 SC-30(2)

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of a capability to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

C|P-CMM2 is N/A, since a well-defined process is required to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Secure Engineering & Architecture (SEA) efforts are standardized across the organization and centrally managed, where technically feasible, to ensure consistency. CMM Level 3 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • IT/cybersecurity architects, or a similar function, enable the implementation a “layered defense” network architecture that enables a resilient defense-in-depth approach through the use of industry-recognized cybersecurity and data privacy practices in the specification, design, development, implementation and modification of systems and services (e.g., DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks or OEM security guides).
  • IT/cybersecurity engineers, or a similar function, operationalize enterprise architecture, aligned with industry-recognized leading practices, with consideration for cybersecurity and data privacy principles, including resiliency expectations, that addresses risk to organizational operations, assets, individuals, other organizations.
  • A Validated Architecture Design Review (VADR), or similar process, is used to evaluate design criteria for secure practices and conformance with requirements for applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual controls to determine if the system/application/service is designed, built and operated in a secure and resilient manner.
  • A Change Advisory Board (CAB), or similar function, governs changes to systems, applications and services to ensure their stability, reliability and predictability.
  • A formal Change Management (CM) program helps to ensure that no unauthorized changes are made, all changes are documented, services are not disrupted and resources are used efficiently.
  • An Identity & Access Management (IAM) function, or similar function, enables the implementation of identification and access management controls for “least privileges” practices, allowing for the management of user, group and system accounts, including privileged accounts.
  • An IT Asset Management (ITAM) function, or similar function, categorizes assets according to the data the asset stores, transmits and/ or processes and applies the appropriate technology controls to protect the asset and data.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

See C|P-CMM3. There are no defined C|P-CMM4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to introduce randomness into organizational operations and assets.

Assessment Objectives

  1. SEA-14.1_A01 changes to organizational systems and system components to introduce a degree of unpredictability into operations are defined.
  2. SEA-14.1_A02 the frequency of changes by system and system components is defined.
  3. SEA-14.1_A03 organizational systems and system components necessitating unpredictability are identified.
  4. SEA-14.1_A04 changes to organizational systems and system components are implemented frequently to introduce a degree of unpredictability into operations.
  5. SEA-14.1_A05 technical and procedural means to confuse and mislead adversaries are defined.
  6. SEA-14.1_A06 technical and procedural means are employed to confuse and mislead adversaries.

Technology Recommendations

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