NS-7 Simplify network security configuration
Use centralised tooling to simplify and manage network security configuration across a complex environment rather than maintaining rules device by device.
4
artefacts
0
held by a system
0
at each review
hard
to go live
Policy repository / GRC workspace
where the evidence lives
teal = a system already holds it · olive = produced at each review
system holds itEvidence a system already holds
none for this control
periodic reviewEvidence produced at each review
none for this control
governing documentDocuments that govern the control
- Central network security management tooling in use · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Policy hierarchy showing inherited and local rules · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Change process for network rules · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Report of rules deviating from the central policy · Policy repository / GRC workspace
First move
This control is evidenced by people and documents, not systems. Put the document under version control with an owner and review date, and log each review as a record with reviewer and date. Do not try to automate it.
Common gaps auditors find
- rules maintained per subnet by different teams
- no central view so conflicting rules coexist
- manual rule edits outside the management tool
Do this for your whole sheet
Paste the rows you run your controls from and get this mapping for every control at once, with the periodic-review ones flagged and a first move per row. No account for the first run.
Build my evidence sheetNS-6 Deploy web application firewall · NS-8 Detect and disable insecure services and protocols