CA-5(1)_automation-support-for-accuracy-and-currency

CA-5(1) Automation Support for Accuracy and Currency

Enhancement of: CA-5

High-Level Description

Family: Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring (CA) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Using automated tools helps maintain the accuracy, currency, and availability of the plan of action and milestones and facilitates the coordination and sharing of security and privacy information throughout the organization. Such coordination and information sharing help to identify systemic weaknesses or deficiencies in organizational systems and ensure that appropriate resources are directed at the most critical system vulnerabilities in a timely manner.

What to Check

• Verify CA-5(1) Automation Support for Accuracy and Currency is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for CA-5(1)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control CA-5

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for CA-5(1) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.

Step 2: Validate Implementation

# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly

# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null

Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness

Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.

Tools

Remediation Guide

Control Statement

Ensure the accuracy, currency, and availability of the plan of action and milestones for the system using [organization-defined].

Implementation Guidance

Using automated tools helps maintain the accuracy, currency, and availability of the plan of action and milestones and facilitates the coordination and sharing of security and privacy information throughout the organization. Such coordination and information sharing help to identify systemic weaknesses or deficiencies in organizational systems and ensure that appropriate resources are directed at the most critical system vulnerabilities in a timely manner.

Risk Assessment

CWE Categories

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - CA-5(1)
• NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)
• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog

Checklist

• Control documented in SSP
• Implementation evidence collected
• Operating effectiveness validated
• Continuous monitoring in place
• Related controls (none) reviewed