RMF Control CM-6: Configuration Settings requires organizations to establish and document configuration settings for information systems and their components that reflect the most restrictive mode consistent with operational requirements; implement the configuration settings; identify, document, and approve any deviations from established configuration settings; and monitor and control changes to the configuration settings in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Supplemental Guidance
The Risk Management Framework (RMF) is a cybersecurity framework that provides a process for managing cybersecurity risk to systems and organizations. RMF Control CM-6: Configuration Settings is one of the controls in the CM family, which addresses configuration management.
Configuration settings are the parameters that can be changed in hardware, software, or firmware components of an information system that affect the security posture and/or functionality of the system. Configuration settings can be set manually or through automated tools.
Benefits of Implementing RMF Control CM-6
There are a number of benefits to implementing RMF Control CM-6, including:
- Improved security posture: Configuration settings can be used to harden information systems and reduce the risk of security incidents.
- Reduced risk of security incidents: Configuration settings can help to reduce the risk of security incidents by making it more difficult for attackers to exploit vulnerabilities.
- Improved compliance: Many regulations require organizations to have controls in place to manage configuration settings.
How to Implement RMF Control CM-6
To implement RMF Control CM-6, organizations should:
- Identify the information systems and their components that need to have configuration settings established and documented.
- Establish and document configuration settings for the identified information systems and their components.
- Implement the configuration settings.
- Identify, document, and approve any deviations from established configuration settings.
- Monitor and control changes to the configuration settings in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Examples of Configuration Settings
Some examples of configuration settings include:
- Password length and complexity requirements
- Account lockout policies
- Software update policies
- Firewall and intrusion detection system rules
- Access control lists (ACLs)
Conclusion
RMF Control CM-6: Configuration Settings is an important control that can help organizations to improve their security posture, reduce the risk of security incidents, and improve compliance. By implementing RMF Control CM-6, organizations can establish and document configuration settings for information systems and their components that reflect the most restrictive mode consistent with operational requirements; implement the configuration settings; identify, document, and approve any deviations from established configuration settings; and monitor and control changes to the configuration settings in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Additional Tips for Implementing RMF Control CM-6
- Use a configuration management tool: A configuration management tool can help organizations to automate the process of managing configuration settings.
- Regularly review and update configuration settings: Organizations should regularly review and update configuration settings to ensure that they are still effective and meet the organization’s changing needs.
- Involve stakeholders in the configuration management process: Organizations should involve stakeholders, such as IT staff, security staff, and business owners, in the configuration management process. This will help to ensure that the configuration settings are aligned with the organization’s business needs and security requirements.
By following these tips, organizations can effectively implement RMF Control CM-6 and improve their security posture.
Here are some additional tips for managing configuration settings:
- Use a central repository to store configuration settings: This will help to ensure that all configuration settings are stored in a central location and that they are accessible to authorized personnel.
- Use version control to track changes to configuration settings: This will help to ensure that all changes to configuration settings are tracked and that previous versions of configuration settings can be restored if necessary.
- Require approval for all changes to configuration settings: This will help to ensure that all changes to configuration settings are carefully considered and that they do not introduce new security vulnerabilities.
- Monitor configuration settings for changes: This will help to detect any unauthorized changes to configuration settings and to respond to them promptly.
By following these tips, organizations can effectively manage configuration settings and improve their security posture.