SC-42 Sensor Capability and Data
a. Prohibit Selection (one or more): the use of devices possessing [organization-defined environmental sensing capabilities in organization-defined facilities, areas, or systems; the remote activation of environmental sensing capabilities on organizational systems or system components with the following exceptions: organization-defined exceptions where remote activation of sensors is allowed]; and b. Provide an explicit indication of sensor use to organization-defined group of users.
Source: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, SC-42. 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
- System audit records · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Test of Mechanisms implementing access controls for the remote activation of system sensor capabilities; mechanisms implementing the capability to indicate sensor use · Document repository
governing documentDocuments that govern the control
- System and communications protection policy · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Procedures addressing sensor capabilities and data collection · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Access control policy and procedures · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- System design documentation · Document repository
- System configuration settings and associated documentation · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- System security plan · Policy repository / GRC workspace
- Privacy plan · Policy repository / GRC workspace
First move
Common gaps auditors find
- Devices with environmental sensing capabilities are used in the defined areas despite the prohibition
- Remote activation of sensing capabilities is not prevented, or users get no explicit indication of sensor use
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 sheetSC-41 Port and I/O Device Access · SC-42(1) Sensor Capability and Data | Reporting to Authorized Individuals or Roles