SC-29(1) Heterogeneity | Virtualization Techniques
Employ virtualization techniques to support the deployment of a diversity of operating systems and applications that are changed organization-defined frequency.
Source: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, SC-29(1). 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
- Change control records · Document repository
- Configuration management records · Cloud console / configuration management
periodic reviewEvidence produced at each review
- System audit records · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Test of Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the employment of a diverse set of information technologies; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing virtualization techniques · Document repository
governing documentDocuments that govern the control
- System and communications protection policy · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Configuration management policy and procedures · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- System design documentation · Document repository
- System configuration settings and associated documentation · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- System architecture · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- List of operating systems and applications deployed using virtualization techniques · Document repository
First move
Common gaps auditors find
- Virtualization is not used to deploy a diversity of operating systems and applications
- Diverse images are not changed at the organization-defined frequency
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.
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