SEA-24: Concealment & Misdirection
Mechanisms exist to utilize concealment and misdirection techniques for Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) to confuse and mislead adversaries.
Renumbered: Formerly SEA-14 in SCF 2025.4.
Control Question: Does the organization utilize concealment and misdirection techniques for Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) to confuse and mislead adversaries?
General (11)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| CR CMM 2026 | CR4.1.3 |
| MITRE ATT&CK 16 | T1068 T1189 T1190 T1203 T1210 T1211 T1212 |
| NIST 800-53 R4 | SC-30 |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | SC-30 SC-30(04) SC-30(05) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | SC-30 SC-30(04) SC-30(05) |
| NIST 800-160 Vol2 R1 | SC-30 SC-30(04) SC-30(05) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 | SC-30 SC-30(4) SC-30(5) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 | SC-30 SC-30(4) SC-30(5) |
| NIST 800-161 R1 Level 3 | SC-30 SC-30(4) SC-30(5) |
| NIST 800-172 R3 | 03.13.03E |
| NIST 800-172A R3 | DS-A.03.13.03E |
APAC (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC India RBI Digital Payments 2021 | 56.i |
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. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel define entity-specific secure engineering practices to protect the Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability and Safety (CIAS) of the entity's TAASD. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel align secure engineering practices with the entity's broader IT architecture practices. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel use secure engineering practices to influence Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC).
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 utilize concealment and misdirection techniques for TAAS to confuse and mislead adversaries.
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-24_A01 concealment and misdirection techniques to be employed to confuse and mislead adversaries potentially targeting systems are defined.
- SEA-24_A02 systems for which concealment and misdirection techniques are to be employed are defined.
- SEA-24_A03 time periods to employ concealment and misdirection techniques for systems are defined.
- SEA-24_A04 concealment and misdirection techniques are employed for systems for time periods to confuse and mislead adversaries.
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Note: Typically not required at this size
Small
- Note: Typically not required at this size; deception tokens (e.g., Thinkst Canarytokens free)
Medium
- Deception tokens and honey accounts (e.g., Thinkst Canary, canarytokens.org)
- Non-descriptive naming of critical systems
Large
- Deception technology platform (e.g., Thinkst Canary, Zscaler Deception, SentinelOne Singularity Hologram)
- Decoy systems and credentials
Enterprise
- Enterprise deception and misdirection program (decoy networks, honey accounts, decoy documents)
- Integration with SIEM/SOAR
- Moving target defense where applicable