SC-36 Distributed Processing and Storage

Guidance: nonePolicy clause: noneWhat these mean

Baselines	Implementation level	Enhancements
Not in a baseline	Organization	2 (0 in a baseline)

Related controls: CP-6, CP-7, PL-8, SC-32

Control statement

Distribute the following processing and storage components across multiple [Selection: physical locations; logical domains]: [Assignment: organization-defined processing and storage components].

NIST discussion

Distributing processing and storage across multiple physical locations or logical domains provides a degree of redundancy or overlap for organizations. The redundancy and overlap increase the work factor of adversaries to adversely impact organizational operations, assets, and individuals. The use of distributed processing and storage does not assume a single primary processing or storage location. Therefore, it allows for parallel processing and storage.

Control enhancements

SC-36(1) Polling Techniques

Baselines: Not in a baseline

• (a) Employ polling techniques to identify potential faults, errors, or compromises to the following processing and storage components: [Assignment: organization-defined distributed processing and storage components] ; and
• (b) Take the following actions in response to identified faults, errors, or compromises: [Assignment: organization-defined actions].

Discussion and assessment objectives for SC-36(1)

Distributed processing and/or storage may be used to reduce opportunities for adversaries to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of organizational information and systems. However, the distribution of processing and storage components does not prevent adversaries from compromising one or more of the components. Polling compares the processing results and/or storage content from the distributed components and subsequently votes on the outcomes. Polling identifies potential faults, compromises, or errors in the distributed processing and storage components.

Determine if:

• SC-36(01)(a) polling techniques are employed to identify potential faults, errors, or compromises to [Assignment: organization-defined distributed processing and storage components];
• SC-36(01)(b) [Assignment: organization-defined actions] are taken in response to identified faults, errors, or compromise.

Examine: System and communications protection policy; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; list of distributed processing and storage components subject to polling; system polling techniques and associated documentation or records; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.

Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; system developers/integrators.

Test: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing polling techniques.

SC-36(2) Synchronization

Baselines: Not in a baseline

Synchronize the following duplicate systems or system components: [Assignment: organization-defined duplicate systems or system components].

Discussion and assessment objectives for SC-36(2)

SC-36 and CP-9(6) require the duplication of systems or system components in distributed locations. The synchronization of duplicated and redundant services and data helps to ensure that information contained in the distributed locations can be used in the mission or business functions of organizations, as needed.

Determine if [Assignment: organization-defined duplicate systems or system components] are synchronized.

Examine: System and communications protection policy; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; list of distributed processing and storage components subject to polling; system polling techniques and associated documentation or records; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.

Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; system developers/integrators.

Test: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing duplicate system or system component synchronization.

Assessment objectives (SP 800-53A)

Objectives and methods for SC-36

Determine if:

• SC-36[01] [Assignment: organization-defined processing components] are distributed across [Selection: physical locations; logical domains];
• SC-36[02] [Assignment: organization-defined storage components] are distributed across [Selection: physical locations; logical domains].

Examine: System and communications protection policy; contingency planning policy and procedures; contingency plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; list of system physical locations (or environments) with distributed processing and storage; system facility diagrams; processing site agreements; storage site agreements; system security plan; other relevant documents or records.

Interview: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system; organizational personnel with contingency planning and plan implementation responsibilities; system developers/integrators.

Test: Organizational processes for distributed processing and storage across multiple physical locations; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the capability to distribute processing and storage across multiple physical locations.