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The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) Is The Common Controls Framework (CCF)

The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) is a comprehensive cybersecurity and data privacy control framework designed to help organizations implement and manage information security, risk management and compliance requirements. The SCF is a metaframework that is a "framework of frameworks" made up of over 100 cybersecurity and data privacy laws, regulations and frameworks. The end result is a comprehensive control framework that contains over 1,300 controls and is logically organized into 33 domains. There are multiple benefits to using the SCF:

The “sweet spot” for the SCF is medium to large organizations, but it has been successfully used by small organizations. Any organization with complex compliance requirements can benefit from using the SCF. SCF is used by organizations to:

The SCF is much more than just a cybersecurity control set, since the SCF has:

What Is The Secure Controls Framework (SCF)?

If you are not familiar with the Secure Controls Framework (SCF), it was developed with the ambitious goal of providing a comprehensive catalog of cybersecurity and privacy control guidance to cover the strategic, operational and tactical needs of organizations, regardless of its size, industry or country of origin. By using the SCF, your IT, cybersecurity, legal and project teams can speak the same language about controls and requirement expectations!

SCF download 

The SCF is an open source project that provides free cybersecurity and privacy controls for business. The SCF focuses on internal controls, which are the cybersecurity and privacy-related policies, standards, procedures and other processes that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that business objectives will be achieved and undesired events will be prevented, detected and corrected. 

Where Can I Find SCF-Based Policies, Standards & Procedures?

If you use the SCF, you will want to buy one of these bundles, since the Digital Security Program (DSP) has 1-1 mapping between the SCF and the DSP. We sell the policies, standards, procedures & more that will compliment the SCF controls that you use! The DSP provides you with SCF-aligned policies, standards, guidelines, metrics, controls and capability maturity criteria. The Cybersecurity Standardized Operating Procedures (CSOP) provides you with SCF-aligned procedures/control activities. These two products alone can save you hundreds of hours of document writing and can help your organization hit the ground running with the SCF. 

authorized Secure Controls Framework content provider

The SCF is designed to empower organizations to design, implement and manage both cybersecurity and privacy principles to address strategic, operational and tactical guidance. It is far more than building for compliance - we know that if you build-in security and privacy principles, complying with statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations will come naturally. It is comprised of thirty-two (32) domains that cover the high-level topics that are expected to be addressed by cybersecurity and privacy-related statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations. 

These bundles can help you operationalize your cybersecurity and privacy programs by efficiently mapping to over 100 statutory, regulatory and contractual frameworks. This will allow your cyber and privacy teams to speak the same language and more efficiently manage risks.

scf cybersecurity data protection controls

ComplianceForge Is A SCF Licensed Content Provider (LCP)

ComplianceForge is able to sell cybersecurity and data protection policies, standards and procedures based on the Secure Controls Framework (SCF) as a SCF Licensed Content Provider (LCP). The benefit ComplianceForge brings to operationalizing the SCF is (1) decreased cost and (2) increased speed of adoption. ComplianceForge's SCF-based policies, standards and procedures can save an organization a significant amount of money from the labor-related costs to research, write and refine cybersecurity documentation. ComplianceForge's SCF-based documentation can also be obtained the same day you purchase it, so the time savings is immense.

SCF Licensed Content Provider

Best-In-Class Coverage

Where the SCF is truly unique is its industry-agnostic focus on both security and privacy controls that creates a hybrid that makes up for shortcomings by leading frameworks:

Cybersecurity Framework Heatmap Image of cybersecurity compliance tools by ComplianceForge showcasing Secure Controls Framework documentation.

The SCF is designed to empower organizations to design, implement and manage both cybersecurity and privacy principles to address strategic, operational and tactical guidance. It is far more than building for compliance - we know that if you build-in security and privacy principles, complying with statutory, regulatory and contractual obligations will come naturally. Controls are often a missing piece in a company's cybersecurity program or controls exist in "compliance islands" where the controls are only applicable to certain compliance requirements, such as SOX, PCI DSS or NIST 800-171. That might be easy from a compliance perspective, but it is not good security. The SCF is designed to help companies be both secure and compliant. 

Focus On What Matters - Data-Centric Approach To Governing People, Processes & Technology

It is important to understand that controls exist to protect an organization’s data. In support of this concept of being data-centric, look at the example of asset management requirements in terms of cybersecurity and privacy – those administrative, technical and physical security controls do not primarily exist to protect the inherent value of the asset, but the data it contains, because assets are merely data containers. Assets, such as laptops, servers and network infrastructure are commodities that can be easily replaced, but the data cannot. This mindset of being data-centric is crucial to understand when developing, implementing and governing a cybersecurity and privacy program.

data privacy system of systems layered privacy defense

While most organizations do not have a Data Centric Architecture (DCA), based on technical debt and legacy processes, it is possible to implement Data Centric Security (DCS) that can put the organization on a path to building a DCA. This all comes down to designing, implementing and managing the appropriate cybersecurity and privacy controls that govern people, processes and technology. This is where the DSP and SCF can be invaluable.

SCF people processes technology data                      

 

scf statutory regulatory contractual compliance controls

Understanding the requirements for both cybersecurity and privacy principles involves a simple process of distilling expectations. This process is all part of documenting reasonable expectations that are “right-sized” for an organization, since every organization has unique requirements. The approach looks at the following spheres of influence to identify applicable controls:

Statutory Obligations - These are US state, federal and international laws

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Regulatory Obligations - These are requirements from regulatory bodies or governmental agencies

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Contractual Obligations - These are requirements that are stipulated in contracts, vendor agreements, etc.

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Industry-Recognized Leading Practices - These are requirements that are based on an organization’s specific industry.

 

 

cias vs cia

For years, the "CIA Triad" defined the pillars of cybersecurity. Things have changed and it is now the "CIAS Quadrant" that governs the reasons for implementing cybersecurity and privacy controls. These four pillars are Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability and Safety. The DSP & SCF can help you implement these four principles of cybersecurity and privacy in your organization!

CONFIDENTIALITY - Confidentiality addresses preserving restrictions on information access and disclosure so that access is limited to only authorized users and services.

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INTEGRITY - Integrity addresses the concern that sensitive data has not been modified or deleted in an unauthorized and undetected manner.

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AVAILABILITY - Availability addresses ensuring timely and reliable access to and use of information.

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SAFETY - Safety addresses reducing risk associated with embedded technologies that could fail or be manipulated by nefarious actors.

 

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