---

id: "MP-08" title: "Media Downgrading" family: "MP" family_name: "Media Protection" sort_id: "mp-08" priority: "P2" implementation_level: "organization" enhancements: - mp-8.1 - mp-8.2 - mp-8.3 - mp-8.4

---

Establish {{ insert: param, mp-08_odp.01 }} that includes employing downgrading mechanisms with strength and integrity commensurate with the security category or classification of the information;

Verify that the system media downgrading process is commensurate with the security category and/or classification level of the information to be removed and the access authorizations of the potential recipients of the downgraded information;

Identify {{ insert: param, mp-08_odp.02 }} ; and

Downgrade the identified system media using the established process.

Guidance

Media downgrading applies to digital and non-digital media subject to release outside of the organization, whether the media is considered removable or not. When applied to system media, the downgrading process removes information from the media, typically by security category or classification level, such that the information cannot be retrieved or reconstructed. Downgrading of media includes redacting information to enable wider release and distribution. Downgrading ensures that empty space on the media is devoid of information.

Assessment Objective: a {{ insert: param, mp-08_odp.01 }} is established;

Assessment Objective: the {{ insert: param, mp-08_odp.01 }} includes employing downgrading mechanisms with strength and integrity commensurate with the security category or classification of the information;

Assessment Objective: there is verification that the system media downgrading process is commensurate with the security category and/or classification level of the information to be removed;

Assessment Objective: there is verification that the system media downgrading process is commensurate with the access authorizations of the potential recipients of the downgraded information;

Assessment Objective: {{ insert: param, mp-08_odp.02 }} is identified;

Assessment Objective: the identified system media is downgraded using the {{ insert: param, mp-08_odp.01 }}.

System media protection policy

procedures addressing media downgrading

system categorization documentation

list of media requiring downgrading

records of media downgrading

audit records

system security plan

other relevant documents or records

Organizational personnel with system media downgrading responsibilities

organizational personnel with information security responsibilities

system/network administrators

Organizational processes for media downgrading

mechanisms supporting and/or implementing media downgrading