SC-38 Operations Security

Guidance: nonePolicy clause: noneWhat these mean

Baselines	Implementation level	Enhancements
Not in a baseline	Organization	None

Related controls: CA-2, CA-7, PL-1, PM-9, PM-12, RA-2, RA-3, RA-5, SC-7, SR-3, SR-7

Control statement

Employ the following operations security controls to protect key organizational information throughout the system development life cycle: [Assignment: organization-defined operations security controls].

NIST discussion

Operations security (OPSEC) is a systematic process by which potential adversaries can be denied information about the capabilities and intentions of organizations by identifying, controlling, and protecting generally unclassified information that specifically relates to the planning and execution of sensitive organizational activities. The OPSEC process involves five steps: identification of critical information, analysis of threats, analysis of vulnerabilities, assessment of risks, and the application of appropriate countermeasures. OPSEC controls are applied to organizational systems and the environments in which those systems operate. OPSEC controls protect the confidentiality of information, including limiting the sharing of information with suppliers, potential suppliers, and other non-organizational elements and individuals. Information critical to organizational mission and business functions includes user identities, element uses, suppliers, supply chain processes, functional requirements, security requirements, system design specifications, testing and evaluation protocols, and security control implementation details.

Assessment objectives (SP 800-53A)

Objectives and methods for SC-38

Determine if [Assignment: organization-defined operations security controls] are employed to protect key organizational information throughout the system development life cycle.

Examine: System and communications protection policy; procedures addressing operations security; security plan; list of operations security safeguards; security control assessments; risk assessments; threat and vulnerability assessments; plans of action and milestones; system development life cycle documentation; 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: Organizational processes for protecting organizational information throughout the system development life cycle; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing safeguards to protect organizational information throughout the system development life cycle.