id: "SA-08(05)" title: "Efficiently Mediated Access" family: "SA" family_name: "System and Services Acquisition" sort_id: "sa-08.05" priority: "P1" implementation_level: "system" parent: "SA-08" enhancement: True


Statement

Implement the security design principle of efficiently mediated access in {{ insert: param, sa-08.05_odp }}.

Guidance

The principle of efficiently mediated access states that policy enforcement mechanisms utilize the least common mechanism available while satisfying stakeholder requirements within expressed constraints. The mediation of access to system resources (i.e., CPU, memory, devices, communication ports, services, infrastructure, data, and information) is often the predominant security function of secure systems. It also enables the realization of protections for the capability provided to stakeholders by the system. Mediation of resource access can result in performance bottlenecks if the system is not designed correctly. For example, by using hardware mechanisms, efficiently mediated access can be achieved. Once access to a low-level resource such as memory has been obtained, hardware protection mechanisms can ensure that out-of-bounds access does not occur.

Assessment Objective

{{ insert: param, sa-08.05_odp }} implement the security design principle of efficiently mediated access.

System and services acquisition policy

procedures addressing the security design principle of efficiently mediated access used in the specification, design, development, implementation, and modification of the system

system design documentation

security and privacy requirements and specifications for the system

system security and privacy architecture

system security plan

other relevant documents or records

Organizational personnel with acquisition/contracting responsibilities

organizational personnel with the responsibility for determining system security and privacy requirements

organizational personnel with system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification responsibilities

system developers

organizational personnel with information security responsibilities

Organizational processes for applying the security design principle of efficiently mediated access in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification

mechanisms supporting the application of the security design principle of efficiently mediated access in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification