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CA-7

Continuous Monitoring

Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring (CA)
Baselines
Low · IncludedModerate · IncludedHigh · Included
Description

Develop a system-level continuous monitoring strategy and implement continuous monitoring in accordance with the organization-level continuous monitoring strategy that includes: Establishing the following system-level metrics to be monitored: [assignment]; Establishing [assignment] for monitoring and [assignment] for assessment of control effectiveness; Ongoing control assessments in accordance with the continuous monitoring strategy; Ongoing monitoring of system and organization-defined metrics in accordance with the continuous monitoring strategy; Correlation and analysis of information generated by control assessments and monitoring; Response actions to address results of the analysis of control assessment and monitoring information; and Reporting the security and privacy status of the system to [assignment] [assignment].

Discussion

Continuous monitoring at the system level facilitates ongoing awareness of the system security and privacy posture to support organizational risk management decisions. The terms "continuous" and "ongoing" imply that organizations assess and monitor their controls and risks at a frequency sufficient to support risk-based decisions. Different types of controls may require different monitoring frequencies. The results of continuous monitoring generate risk response actions by organizations. When monitoring the effectiveness of multiple controls that have been grouped into capabilities, a root-cause analysis may be needed to determine the specific control that has failed. Continuous monitoring programs allow organizations to maintain the authorizations of systems and common controls in highly dynamic environments of operation with changing mission and business needs, threats, vulnerabilities, and technologies. Having access to security and privacy information on a continuing basis through reports and dashboards gives organizational officials the ability to make effective and timely risk management decisions, including ongoing authorization decisions. Automation supports more frequent updates to hardware, software, and firmware inventories, authorization packages, and other system information. Effectiveness is further enhanced when continuous monitoring outputs are formatted to provide information that is specific, measurable, actionable, relevant, and timely. Continuous monitoring activities are scaled in accordance with the security categories of systems. Monitoring requirements, including the need for specific monitoring, may be referenced in other controls and control enhancements, such as [AC-2g](#ac-2_smt.g), [AC-2(7)](#ac-2.7), [AC-2(12)(a)](#ac-2.12_smt.a), [AC-2(7)(b)](#ac-2.7_smt.b), [AC-2(7)(c)](#ac-2.7_smt.c), [AC-17(1)](#ac-17.1), [AT-4a](#at-4_smt.a), [AU-13](#au-13), [AU-13(1)](#au-13.1), [AU-13(2)](#au-13.2), [CM-3f](#cm-3_smt.f), [CM-6d](#cm-6_smt.d), [CM-11c](#cm-11_smt.c), [IR-5](#ir-5), [MA-2b](#ma-2_smt.b), [MA-3a](#ma-3_smt.a), [MA-4a](#ma-4_smt.a), [PE-3d](#pe-3_smt.d), [PE-6](#pe-6), [PE-14b](#pe-14_smt.b), [PE-16](#pe-16), [PE-20](#pe-20), [PM-6](#pm-6), [PM-23](#pm-23), [PM-31](#pm-31), [PS-7e](#ps-7_smt.e), [SA-9c](#sa-9_smt.c), [SR-4](#sr-4), [SC-5(3)(b)](#sc-5.3_smt.b), [SC-7a](#sc-7_smt.a), [SC-7(24)(b)](#sc-7.24_smt.b), [SC-18b](#sc-18_smt.b), [SC-43b](#sc-43_smt.b) , and [SI-4](#si-4).

Implementation guidance

No content available.

CSF 2.0 crosswalk
DE.AE-02Potentially adverse events are analyzed to better understand associated activitiesDetect
DE.AE-03Information is correlated from multiple sourcesDetect
DE.CM-01Networks and network services are monitored to find potentially adverse eventsDetect
DE.CM-02The physical environment is monitored to find potentially adverse eventsDetect
DE.CM-03Personnel activity and technology usage are monitored to find potentially adverse eventsDetect
DE.CM-06External service provider activities and services are monitored to find potentially adverse eventsDetect
DE.CM-09Detect
ID.IM-01Improvements are identified from evaluationsIdentify
ID.IM-02Identify
ID.IM-03Improvements are identified from execution of operational processes, procedures, and activitiesIdentify
ID.RA-01Vulnerabilities in assets are identified, validated, and recordedIdentify
ID.RA-07Changes and exceptions are managed, assessed for risk impact, recorded, and trackedIdentify