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Risk Management Framework - RMF SP 800-37

Risk Management Framework for Information Systems and Organizations: A System Life Cycle Approach for Security and Privacy (nist.gov)

Prepare Essential activities to prepare the organization to manage security and privacy risks.

Implement the controls and document how controls are deployed.

Categorize the system and information processed, stored, and transmitted based on impact analysis. 

Assess to determine if the controls are in place, operating as intended, and producing the desired results. 

Select the set of NIST SP 800-53 controls to protect the system based on risk assessment(s)

Authorize: Senior official makes a risk-based decision to authorize the system (to operate).

Monitor: Continuously monitor control implementation and risks to the system. 
Table 1: RMF Steps Including Resources for Implementers and Supporting NIST Publications *Read More at Risk Management Framework (RMF) Overview - Risk Management | CSRC

Cybersecurity Framework

Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) Framework Core (nist.gov)

Identify –   Develop an organizational understanding to manage cybersecurity risk to systems, people, assets, data, and capabilities. The activities in the Identify Function are foundational for effective use of the Framework. Understanding the business context, the resources that support critical functions, and the related cybersecurity risks enables an organization to focus and prioritize its efforts, consistent with its risk management strategy and business needs. Examples of outcome Categories within this Function include Asset Management; Business Environment; Governance; Risk Assessment; and Risk Management Strategy.

Protect – Develop and implement appropriate safeguards to ensure delivery of critical services. The Protect Function supports the ability to limit or contain the impact of a potential cybersecurity event. Examples of outcome Categories within this Function include Identity Management and Access Control; Awareness and Training; Data Security; Information Protection Processes and Procedures; Maintenance; and Protective Technology.

Detect – Develop and implement appropriate activities to identify the occurrence of a cybersecurity event. The Detect Function enables the timely discovery of cybersecurity events. Examples of outcome Categories within this Function include Anomalies and Events; Security Continuous Monitoring; and Detection Processes. 

Respond – Develop and implement appropriate activities to take action regarding a detected cybersecurity incident. The Respond Function supports the ability to contain the impact of a potential cybersecurity incident. Examples of outcome Categories within this Function include Response Planning; Communications; Analysis; Mitigation; and Improvements.

Recover – Develop and implement appropriate activities to maintain plans for resilience and to restore any capabilities or services that were impaired due to a cybersecurity incident. The Recover Function supports timely recovery to normal operations to reduce the impact of a cybersecurity incident. Examples of outcome Categories within this Function include Recovery Planning; Improvements; and Communications. 

Read more about NIST Cybersecurity Framework CSF

Cybersecurity RoadMap

NIST SCAP & XCCDF

Details
Written by: Robin Basham
Parent Category: Services
Category: Cybersecurity RoadMap

The Security Content Automation Protocol - SCAP

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The Security Content Automation Protocol 

  • Suite of specifications that standardize format/nomenclature by which software flaw and security configuration information is communicated, both to machines and humans
  • Multi-purpose framework of specifications that support automated configuration, vulnerability and patch checking, technical control compliance activities, and security measurement
  • Promote interoperability of security products, and fostering the use of standard expressions of security content
  • Mandated by FedRAMP Continuous Monitoring

5 Specification Categories

  • Languages -> standard vocabularies/conventions for expressing security policy, technical check mechanisms, and assessment results   ->  Extensible Configuration Checklist Description Format (XCCDF), Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL®), and Open Checklist Interactive Language (OCIL™)
  • Reporting Formats -> provide necessary constructs to express collected information in standardized formats -> Asset Reporting Format (ARF) and Asset Identification
  • Enumerations   ->  define standard nomenclature and official dictionary expressed using that nomenclature -> Common Platform Enumeration (CPE™), Common Configuration Enumeration (CCE™), and Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE®)
  • Measurement and scoring systems -> evaluation of specific characteristics of a security weakness (i.e., software vulnerabilities and security configuration issues) and, based on those characteristics, generating a score that reflects their relative severity   ->  Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS), Common Configuration Scoring System (CCSS)
  • Integrity -> preserve the integrity of SCAP content and results -> Trust Model for Security Automation Data (TMSAD)

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FIPS PUB 200 Minimum Security Requirements

FIPS PUB 200 Minimum Security Requirements - Visit FIPS 200, Minimum Security Requirements for Federal Info and Info Systems | CSRC (nist.gov)
  • Access Control (AC)
  • Awareness and Training (AT)
  • Audit and Accountability (AU)
  • Certification, Accreditation, and Security Assessments (CA)
  • Configuration Management (CM)
  • Contingency Planning (CP)
  • Identification and Authentication (IA)
  • Incident Response (IR)

Read FIPS PUB 200 Minimum Security Requirements
  • Maintenance (MA)
  • Media Protection (MP)
  • Physical and Environmental Protection (PE)
  • Planning (PL)
  • Personnel Security (PS)
  • Risk Assessment (RA)
  • System and Services Acquisition (SA)
  • System and Communications Protection (SC)
  • System and Information Integrity (SI)

NIST Reading

Whether you're preparing for Cybersecurity certification, working with government standards, or simply starting your career in compliance, these are the NIST Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS), Special Publication (SP), and Interagency Report (IR) topics you need to know. (The Perils of Mount Must Read™ Confessions of a Cliff Note Junky) These resources go onto the "Mountain of Must Read". If you don't recognize the standard reference, you've missed critical understanding. As of 2022, this is the minimum NIST alphabet. All of these documents are found at https://csrc.nist.gov/publications/ Be very careful about static content. Look at links before you launch them. Never use alternate sites for the Computer Security Resource Center. Get the full list here <NIST Reading Extended>

FIPS Publication 140-2 Security Requirements for Cryptographic Modules [FIPS 140-2]
FIPS Publication 199 Standards for Security Categorization of Federal Information and Information Systems [FIPS 199]
FIPS Publication 200 Minimum Security Requirements for Federal Information and Information Systems [FIPS 200]
FIPS Publication 201-1 Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of Federal Employees and Contractors [FIPS 201-1]		 NISTIR 8212 ISCMA: An Information Security Continuous Monitoring Program Assessment
NIST SP 800-18 Guide for Developing Security Plans for Federal Information Systems [SP 800-18]
NIST SP 800-30 Risk Management Guide for Information Technology Systems [NIST SP 800-30]
NIST SP 800-34 Contingency Planning Guide for Federal Information Systems [SP 800-34]

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