id: "SA-08(12)" title: "Hierarchical Protection" family: "SA" family_name: "System and Services Acquisition" sort_id: "sa-08.12" priority: "P1" implementation_level: "system" parent: "SA-08" enhancement: True
Statement
Implement the security design principle of hierarchical protection in {{ insert: param, sa-08.12_odp }}.
Guidance
The principle of hierarchical protection states that a component need not be protected from more trustworthy components. In the degenerate case of the most trusted component, it protects itself from all other components. For example, if an operating system kernel is deemed the most trustworthy component in a system, then it protects itself from all untrusted applications it supports, but the applications, conversely, do not need to protect themselves from the kernel. The trustworthiness of users is a consideration for applying the principle of hierarchical protection. A trusted system need not protect itself from an equally trustworthy user, reflecting use of untrusted systems in "system high" environments where users are highly trustworthy and where other protections are put in place to bound and protect the "system high" execution environment.
Assessment Objective
{{ insert: param, sa-08.12_odp }} implement the security design principle of hierarchical protection.
System and services acquisition policy
procedures addressing the security design principle of hierarchical protection 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 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 hierarchical protection in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification
mechanisms supporting the application of the security design principle of hierarchical protection in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification