MP

MEDIA PROTECTION POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Control: The organization develops, disseminates, and reviews/updates [Assignment: organization defined frequency]:

a. A formal, documented media protection policy that addresses purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, management commitment, coordination among organizational entities, and compliance; and

b. Formal, documented procedures to facilitate the implementation of the media protection policy and associated media protection controls.

Supplemental Guidance: This control is intended to produce the policy and procedures that are required for the effective implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the media protection family. The policy and procedures are consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance. Existing organizational policies and procedures may make the need for additional specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The media protection policy can be included as part of the general information security policy for the organization. Media protection procedures can be developed for the security program in general and for a particular information system, when required. The organizational risk management strategy is a key factor in the development of the media protection policy.

Related control: PM-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: NIST Special Publications 800-12, 800-100.

MEDIA ACCESS

Control: The organization restricts access to [Assignment: organization-defined types of digital and non-digital media] to [Assignment: organization-defined list of authorized individuals] using [Assignment: organization-defined security measures].

Supplemental Guidance: This control is intended to produce the policy and procedures that are required for the effective implementation of selected security controls and control enhancements in the media protection family. The policy and procedures are consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance. Existing organizational policies and procedures may make the need for additional specific policies and procedures unnecessary. The media protection policy can be included as part of the general information security policy for the organization. Media protection procedures can be developed for the security program in general and for a particular information system, when required. The organizational risk management strategy is a key factor in the development of the media protection policy.

Related control: MP-4, PE-3.

Control Enhancements:

(1) The organization employs automated mechanisms to restrict access to media storage areas and to audit access attempts and access granted.

Enhancement Supplemental Guidance: This control enhancement is primarily applicable to media storage areas within an organization where a significant volume of media is stored and is not applicable to every location where some media is stored (e.g., in individual offices).

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publication 800-111.

MEDIA MARKING

Control: The organization:

a. Marks, in accordance with organizational policies and procedures, removable information system media and information system output indicating the distribution limitations, handling caveats, and applicable security markings (if any) of the information; and

b. Exempts [Assignment: organization-defined list of removable media types] from marking as long as the exempted items remain within [Assignment: organization-defined controlled areas].

Supplemental Guidance: The term marking is used when referring to the application or use of human-readable security attributes. The term labeling is used when referring to the application or use of security attributes with regard to internal data structures within the information system (see AC-16, Security Attributes). Removable information system media includes both digital media (e.g., diskettes, magnetic tapes, external/removable hard drives, flash/thumb drives, compact disks, digital video disks) and non-digital media (e.g., paper, microfilm). An organizational assessment of risk guides the selection of media requiring marking. Marking is generally not required for media containing information determined by the organization to be in the public domain or to be publicly releasable. Some organizations, however, may require markings for public information indicating that the information is publicly releasable. Organizations may extend the scope of this control to include information system output devices containing organizational information, including, for example, monitors and printers. Marking of removable media and information system output is consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance.

Related control: None.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: FIPS Publication 199.

MEDIA STORAGE

Control: The organization:

a. Physically controls and securely stores [Assignment: organization-defined types of digital and non-digital media] within [Assignment: organization-defined controlled areas] using [Assignment: organization-defined security measures];

b. Protects information system media until the media are destroyed or sanitized using approved equipment, techniques, and procedures.

Supplemental Guidance: Information system media includes both digital media (e.g., diskettes, magnetic tapes, external/removable hard drives, flash/thumb drives, compact disks, digital video disks) and non-digital media (e.g., paper, microfilm). This control also applies to mobile computing and communications devices with information storage capability (e.g., notebook/laptop computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, digital cameras, and audio recording devices). Telephone systems are also considered information systems and may have the capability to store information on internal media (e.g., on voicemail systems). Since telephone systems do not have, in most cases, the identification, authentication, and access control mechanisms typically employed in other information systems, organizational personnel use extreme caution in the types of information stored on telephone voicemail systems. A controlled area is any area or space for which the organization has confidence that the physical and procedural protections are sufficient to meet the requirements established for protecting the information and/or information system.

An organizational assessment of risk guides the selection of media and associated information contained on that media requiring physical protection. Fewer protection measures are needed for media containing information determined by the organization to be in the public domain, to be publicly releasable, or to have limited or no adverse impact on the organization or individuals if accessed by other than authorized personnel. In these situations, it is assumed that the physical access controls to the facility where the media resides provide adequate protection.

As part of a defense-in-depth strategy, the organization considers routinely encrypting information at rest on selected secondary storage devices. The employment of cryptography is at the discretion of the information owner/steward. The selection of the cryptographic mechanisms used is based upon maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of the information. The strength of mechanisms is commensurate with the classification and sensitivity of the information.

Related control: AC-3, AC-19, CP-6, CP-9, MP-2, PE-3.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publications 800-56, 800-57, 800-111.

MEDIA TRANSPORT

Control: The organization:

a. Protects and controls [Assignment: organization-defined types of digital and non-digital media] during transport outside of controlled areas using [Assignment: organization-defined security measures];

b. Maintains accountability for information system media during transport outside of controlled areas; and

c. Restricts the activities associated with transport of such media to authorized personnel.

Supplemental Guidance: Information system media includes both digital media (e.g., diskettes, magnetic tapes, removable hard drives, flash/thumb drives, compact disks, digital video disks) and non-digital media (e.g., paper, microfilm). This control also applies to mobile computing and communications devices with information storage capability (e.g., notebook/laptop computers, personal digital assistants, cellular telephones, digital cameras, and audio recording devices) that are transported outside of controlled areas. Telephone systems are also considered information systems and may have the capability to store information on internal media (e.g., on voicemail systems). Since telephone systems do not have, in most cases, the identification, authentication, and access control mechanisms typically employed in other information systems, organizational personnel use caution in the types of information stored on telephone voicemail systems that are transported outside of controlled areas. A controlled area is any area or space for which the organization has confidence that the physical and procedural protections provided are sufficient to meet the requirements established for protecting the information and/or information system.

Physical and technical security measures for the protection of digital and non-digital media are commensurate with the classification or sensitivity of the information residing on the media, and consistent with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, policies, regulations, standards, and guidance. Locked containers and cryptography are examples of security measures available to protect digital and non-digital media during transport. Cryptographic mechanisms can provide confidentiality and/or integrity protections depending upon the mechanisms used. An organizational assessment of risk guides: (i) the selection of media and associated information contained on that media requiring protection during transport; and (ii) the selection and use of storage containers for transporting non-digital media. Authorized transport and courier personnel may include individuals from outside the organization (e.g., U.S. Postal Service or a commercial transport or delivery service).

Related control: AC-19, CP-9.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publication 800-60.

MEDIA SANITIZATION

Control: The organization:

a. Sanitizes information system media, both digital and non-digital, prior to disposal, release out of organizational control, or release for reuse; and

b. Employs sanitization mechanisms with strength and integrity commensurate with the classification or sensitivity of the information.

Supplemental Guidance: This control applies to all media subject to disposal or reuse, whether or not considered removable. Sanitization is the process used to remove information from information system media such that there is reasonable assurance that the information cannot be retrieved or reconstructed. Sanitization techniques, including clearing, purging, and destroying media information, prevent the disclosure of organizational information to unauthorized individuals when such media is reused or released for disposal. The organization uses its discretion on the employment of sanitization techniques and procedures for media containing information deemed to be in the public domain or publicly releasable, or deemed to have no adverse impact on the organization or individuals if released for reuse or disposal.

Related control: None.

Control Enhancements: None.

References: FIPS Publication 199; NIST Special Publications 800-60, 800-88; Web: WWW.NSA.GOV/IA/GUIDANCE/MEDIA_DESTRUCTION_GUIDANCE/INDEX.SHTML.