SI-4(7) Automated Response to Suspicious Events
Enhancement of: SI-4
High-Level Description
Family: System and Information Integrity (SI) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Least-disruptive actions include initiating requests for human responses.
What to Check
- Verify SI-4(7) Automated Response to Suspicious Events is documented in SSP
- Validate all 2 control requirements are implemented
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for SI-4(7)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control SI-4
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SI-4(7) 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 |
|---|---|---|
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check integrity monitoring | cloud_audit_monitoring |
| AWS CLI | Review GuardDuty/Inspector | aws guardduty list-detectors |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Notify [organization-defined] of detected suspicious events; and Take the following actions upon detection: [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Least-disruptive actions include initiating requests for human responses.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| SI-4(7) Automated Response to Suspicious Events not implemented | High | System and Information Integrity |
| SI-4(7) partially implemented | Medium | Incomplete System and Information Integrity |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| CWE-20 | Improper Input Validation |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - SI-4(7)
- 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