MP-3 Media Marking
a. Mark system media indicating the distribution limitations, handling caveats, and applicable security markings (if any) of the information; and b. Exempt organization-defined types of system media from marking if the media remain within organization-defined controlled areas.
Source: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, MP-3. The statement above is our statement of the clause, read from the published text and cited so you can check it against the official text, not the instrument verbatim. Open NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 in the compliance library.
Base controls and their enhancements. Which apply follows the baseline you are assessed against (for example FedRAMP Moderate or High, or the low, moderate and high baselines of SP 800-53B). Text in square brackets is a parameter your organisation sets.
These are the artefacts auditors commonly ask for on this requirement, our guidance rather than text from the standard. Your assessor decides what is sufficient in your context, and asks for samples across the period when a report covers one.
system holds itEvidence a system already holds
none for this control
periodic reviewEvidence produced at each review
- Test of Organizational processes for marking information media; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing media marking · Data governance / DLP tooling
governing documentDocuments that govern the control
- System media protection policy · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Procedures addressing media marking · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Physical and environmental protection policy and procedures · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- List of system media marking security attributes · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Designated controlled areas · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- System security plan · Policy repository / GRC workspace
First move
Common gaps auditors find
- Removable media holding sensitive data carries no marking of distribution limitations or handling caveats
- Media treated as exempt from marking is found outside the controlled areas that justify the exemption
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 sheet