id: "SA-08(18)" title: "Trusted Communications Channels" family: "SA" family_name: "System and Services Acquisition" sort_id: "sa-08.18" priority: "P1" implementation_level: "system" parent: "SA-08" enhancement: True


Statement

Implement the security design principle of trusted communications channels in {{ insert: param, sa-08.18_odp }}.

Guidance

The principle of trusted communication channels states that when composing a system where there is a potential threat to communications between components (i.e., the interconnections between components), each communication channel is trustworthy to a level commensurate with the security dependencies it supports (i.e., how much it is trusted by other components to perform its security functions). Trusted communication channels are achieved by a combination of restricting access to the communication channel (to ensure an acceptable match in the trustworthiness of the endpoints involved in the communication) and employing end-to-end protections for the data transmitted over the communication channel (to protect against interception and modification and to further increase the assurance of proper end-to-end communication).

Assessment Objective

{{ insert: param, sa-08.18_odp }} implement the security design principle of trusted communications channels.

System and services acquisition policy

procedures addressing the security design principle of trusted communications channels 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 trusted communications channels in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification

mechanisms supporting the application of the security design principle of trusted communications channels in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification