cyberstrikeus CP-11 Alternate Communications Protocols
High-Level Description
Family: Contingency Planning (CP) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Contingency plans and the contingency training or testing associated with those plans incorporate an alternate communications protocol capability as part of establishing resilience in organizational systems. Switching communications protocols may affect software applications and operational aspects of systems. Organizations assess the potential side effects of introducing alternate communications protocols prior to implementation.
What to Check
- Verify CP-11 Alternate Communications Protocols is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for CP-11
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for CP-11 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
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Provide the capability to employ [organization-defined] in support of maintaining continuity of operations.
Implementation Guidance
Contingency plans and the contingency training or testing associated with those plans incorporate an alternate communications protocol capability as part of establishing resilience in organizational systems. Switching communications protocols may affect software applications and operational aspects of systems. Organizations assess the potential side effects of introducing alternate communications protocols prior to implementation.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| CP-11 Alternate Communications Protocols not implemented | Medium | Contingency Planning |
| CP-11 partially implemented | Low | Incomplete Contingency Planning |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| N/A | No direct CWE mapping |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - CP-11
- 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 (CP-2, CP-8, CP-13) reviewed