RMF (i)

PPSM (Ports, Protocols, and Services Management) under RMF.

• BLUF: (1) It's a program established by US Department of Defense (DoD) Instruction 8551.01 to standardize the management of these elements within DoD information networks. (2) The authorized use of ports, protocols, and services within DoD information systems.

• Focus: (3)

• • 1. Reduce the attack surface by minimizing unnecessary access points.

    2. Improve security posture by controlling communication channels.

    3. Enhance compliance with security regulations.

  • Benefits of Integrating with RMF (PPSM aligns with RMF) via: (4)

    1. Contributing to the categorization (security impact level) of information systems during the Prepare (Step: 1).

    2. Supporting the identification and mitigation of security risks associated with ports, protocols, and services during the Assess (Step: 5).

    3. Informing the development of security controls for approved ports, protocols, and services during the Authorize (Step: 6).

    4. Assisting with continuous monitoring for unauthorized or anomalous use of ports, protocols, and services during the Monitor (Step: 7).

  • Key Components: (4)

    1. DoD Instruction 8551.01: This instruction outlines the policies and procedures for PPSM implementation within the DoD.

    2. Category Assurance List (CAL): This list contains the authorized ports, protocols, and services for DoD information systems, categorized by security impact level.

    3. PPSM Registry: This is the central repository for registering all declared uses of ports, protocols, and services within DoD systems.

    4. DoD Cyber Exchange (DoD CE): DoD CE provides resources and guidance for implementing PPSM, including training and best practices.

Risk Management Framework (RMF): 

• BLUF: A comprehensive, flexible, repeatable, and measurable 7-step process that any organization can use to manage information security and privacy risk for organizations and systems and links to a suite of NIST standards and guidelines to support the implementation of risk management programs to meet the requirements of the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA).

• AV-2: 

  1. STIG (Security Technical Implementation Guide) is a set of configuration standards and security checklists for a specific product, such as an operating system, database, or application. Developed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), STIGs provide a detailed, step-by-step roadmap for "hardening" a system to reduce its attack surface and mitigate vulnerabilities. 

• Tools: Archer; Nexxus; eMASS;

• Links: NIST & CISA Resources  |  NIST RMF.

• Value (4): (1) Comprehensive: Addresses all aspects of information security risk, not just technical controls. (2) Flexible: Can be adapted to fit the needs of any organization, regardless of size or industry. (3) Repeatable: Provides a consistent approach to risk management that can be applied over time. (4) Measurable: Allows organizations to track their progress in managing information security risk.

• 7 Steps: (URL) -- via NIST 800-53

  1. Prepare: -- BLUF: Essential activities to prepare the organization to manage security and privacy risks

     • Outcomes (5): (1) Key risk management roles identified. (2) Organizational risk management strategy established, risk tolerance determined. (3) Organization-wide risk assessment. (4) An organization-wide strategy for continuous monitoring was developed and implemented. (5) Common controls identified.

  2. Categorize: -- BLUF: Categorize the system and information processed, stored, and transmitted based on an impact analysis.

     • Outcomes (3): (1) System characteristics documented. (2) Security categorization of the system and information completed. (3) Categorization decision reviewed/approved by authorizing official

  3. Select: -- BLUF: Select the set of NIST SP 800-53 controls to protect the system based on risk assessment(s)

     • Outcomes (5): (1) Control baselines selected and tailored. (2) Controls designated as system-specific, hybrid, or common. (3) Controls allocated to specific system components. (4) System-level continuous monitoring strategy developed. (5) Security and privacy plans that reflect the control selection, designation, and allocation are reviewed and approved

     • STIGS -- Alignment begins here. Organizations select an initial set of security controls from the NIST SP 800-53 catalog. STIGs are a key resource for providing implementation guidance for these controls. Many NIST controls have a direct correlation with specific STIG requirements. 

  4. Implement: -- BLUF: Implement the controls and document how controls are deployed.

     • Outcomes (2): (1) Controls specified in security and privacy plans implemented. (2) Security and privacy plans updated to reflect controls as implemented.

     • STIGS -- Direct alignment. In this step, the organization implements the selected security controls. This is where system administrators and engineers actively apply the specific security settings and configurations outlined in the STIGs. They use the STIG checklists to harden the system according to DoD and federal standards. 

  5. Assess: -- BLUF: Assess to determine if the controls are in place, operating as intended, and producing the desired results.

     • Outcomes (8): (1) Assessor/assessment team selected (2) Security and privacy assessment plans developed (3) Assessment plans are reviewed and approved (4) Control assessments conducted following assessment plans (5) Security and privacy assessment reports developed (6) Remediation actions to address deficiencies in controls are taken (7) Security and privacy plans are updated to reflect control implementation changes based on assessments and remediation actions (8) Plan of action and milestones (POAM) -- Core Elemets of a POAM, include:

       1. Weakness or Deficiency: A clear, specific description of the security flaws. This identifies what is wrong, such as an unimplemented security control or a vulnerability discovered during a scan.

       2. Responsible Party: The individual or team assigned to address the weakness. This ensures accountability for remediation.

       3. Resources Required: An estimate of the resources needed to fix the issue, including personnel, time, and financial costs.

       4. Milestones: A list of specific, measurable, and time-bound subtasks that must be completed to fix the deficiency. This breaks a larger task into manageable steps.

       5. Scheduled Completion Date: A firm deadline for when the entire weakness will be fully remediated. This is often based on the severity of the risk.

       6. Status: The current state of the remediation effort (e.g., "in progress," "completed," or "delayed")

     • STIGS -- The controls are tested to ensure they are implemented correctly and operating as intended. STIGs are the basis for this assessment. An assessor will use the STIG's checklist to verify that the system is configured properly, often using automated tools to scan for compliance. Any finding of non-compliance becomes a deficiency to be addressed in a Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM). 

  6. Authorize: -- BLUF:  Senior official makes a risk-based decision to authorize the system (to operate).

     • Outcomes (4): (1) Authorization package (executive summary, system security, and privacy plan, assessment report(s), POAM) (2) Risk determination rendered (3) Risk responses provided (4) Authorization for the system or common controls is approved or denied.

  7. Monitor: -- BLUF: Continuously monitor control implementation and risks to the system.

     • Outcomes (5): (1) System and environment of operation monitored by continuous monitoring strategy (2) Ongoing assessments of control effectiveness conducted by continuous monitoring strategy (3) Output of continuous monitoring activities analyzed and responded to (4) Process in place to report security and privacy posture to management (5) Ongoing authorizations conducted using results of continuous monitoring activities.

     • STIGS -- After authorization, the system is continuously monitored for security changes and vulnerabilities. The organization must continuously check for and apply new STIG updates and patches to maintain its security posture. Non-compliance discovered during monitoring is documented and addressed in the POAM. 

Azure offers a diverse range of tools that can be effectively leveraged to support various Risk Management Frameworks. The specific tools you choose will depend on the specific framework you're implementing and your organizational needs, but here are some 

• Key Capabilities-Tools across Azure to a robust RMF: (5)

  1. Identity and Access Management (IAM): (3)

     • Azure Active Directory (AD): Provides centralized identity management and controls access to resources based on predefined permissions and roles.

     • Azure Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second factor for user authentication, reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

     • Azure Conditional Access: Enforces dynamic access control policies based on factors like user location, device, and risk level.

  2. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): (3)

     • Azure Sentinel (SIEM): Collects and analyzes security data from across your Azure environment and on-premises infrastructure, providing visibility into potential threats and security incidents.

     • Azure Defender for Cloud: continuously monitors for security vulnerabilities and threats across your Azure resources.

     • Log Analytics: Analyzes security logs from various sources for threat detection and incident response.

  3. Compliance and Audit: (3)

     • Azure Policy: Creates, assigns, and enforces security policies across your Azure resources to ensure compliance with internal standards or external regulations.

     • Azure Security Center: Provides recommendations and insights to improve your security posture and compliance with various standards.

     • Compliance Manager: Simplifies compliance activities by providing pre-built compliance assessments and recommendations for various standards like HIPAA, SOC 2, and GDPR.

  4. Data Security and Protection: (3)

     • Azure Key Vault: Securely manages encryption keys, secrets, and certificates used for data protection within your Azure environment.

     • Azure Data Encryption: Encrypts data at rest and in transit across various Azure services to protect against unauthorized access.

     • Azure Digital Rights Management (DRM): Controls access to and usage of sensitive data, even after it leaves your Azure environment.

  5. Governance and Reporting: (3)

     • Azure Cost Management: Provides insights into your Azure spending and helps identify potential cost risks.

     • Azure Resource Manager (ARM): Simplifies resource management and enables consistent governance across your Azure environment.

     • Azure Monitor: Collects and aggregates data from your Azure resources to enable monitoring and reporting on performance and security metrics.

• Azure's Own Risk Management Resources -- (Methodology):

  1. Azure Well-Architected Framework: Provides best practices and resources for building secure and reliable Azure architectures.

  2. Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure: Offers guidance on implementing Azure securely and reliably.

  3. Microsoft Security Compliance Reference: Provides detailed information on how to comply with various security standards using Azure services.