Overview:
Monitor the information system including inbound and outbound communications traffic, to detect attacks and indicators of potential attacks.
Action Items:
3.14.6[a]
Determine if: the system is monitored to detect attacks and indicators of potential attacks.
3.14.6[b]
Determine if: inbound communications traffic is monitored to detect attacks and indicators of potential attacks.
3.14.6[c]
Determine if: outbound communications traffic is monitored to detect attacks and indicators of potential attacks.
POTENTIAL ASSESSMENT METHODS AND OBJECTS
1
Examine: System and information integrity policy; procedures addressing system monitoring tools and techniques; continuous monitoring strategy; system and information integrity policy; procedures addressing system monitoring tools and techniques; facility diagram or layout; system security plan; system monitoring tools and techniques documentation; system design documentation; locations within system where monitoring devices are deployed; system protocols; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit logs and records; other relevant documents or records].
2
Interview: System or network administrators; personnel with information security responsibilities; personnel installing, configuring, and maintaining the system; personnel with responsibility monitoring the system; personnel with responsibility for the intrusion detection system].
3
Test: Organizational processes for system monitoring; mechanisms supporting or implementing intrusion detection capability and system monitoring; mechanisms supporting or implementing system monitoring capability; organizational processes for intrusion detection and system monitoring; mechanisms supporting or implementing the monitoring of inbound and outbound communications traffic].
Related Documents (document name and content will vary by organization):
1) System and information integrity policy
2) procedures addressing system monitoring tools and techniques
3) continuous monitoring strategy
4) system and information integrity policy
5) procedures addressing system monitoring tools and techniques
6) facility diagram or layout
7) system security plan
8) system monitoring tools and techniques documentation
9) system design documentation
10) locations within system where monitoring devices are deployed
11) system protocols
12) system configuration settings and associated documentation
13) system audit logs and records
14) other relevant documents or records
Additional Guidance:
System monitoring includes external and internal monitoring. External monitoring includes the observation of events occurring at the system boundary (i.e., part of perimeter defense and boundary protection). Internal monitoring includes the observation of events occurring within the system. Organizations can monitor systems, for example, by observing audit record activities in real time or by observing other system aspects such as access patterns, characteristics of access, and other actions. The monitoring objectives may guide determination of the events. System monitoring capability is achieved through a variety of tools and techniques (e.g., intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, malicious code protection software, scanning tools, audit record monitoring software, network monitoring software).
Strategic locations for monitoring devices include, for example, selected perimeter locations and near server farms supporting critical applications, with such devices being employed at managed system interfaces. The granularity of monitoring information collected is based on organizational monitoring objectives and the capability of systems to support such objectives.
System monitoring is an integral part of continuous monitoring and incident response programs. Output from system monitoring serves as input to continuous monitoring and incident response programs. A network connection is any connection with a device that communicates through a network (e.g., local area network, Internet). A remote connection is any connection with a device communicating through an external network (e.g., the Internet). Local, network, and remote connections can be either wired or wireless.
Unusual or unauthorized activities or conditions related to inbound and outbound communications traffic include, for example, internal traffic that indicates the presence of malicious code in systems or propagating among system components, the unauthorized exporting of information, or signaling to external systems. Evidence of malicious code is used to identify potentially compromised systems or system components. System monitoring requirements, including the need for specific types of system monitoring, may be referenced in other requirements. NIST Special Publication 800-94 provides guidance on intrusion detection and prevention systems.
Article ID: 214
Created: September 26, 2022
Last Updated: September 26, 2022
Author: Matthew Burdick
Online URL: http://www.compliancewiki.org/article/nist-800-171-information-system-monitoring-3-14-6-214.html