id: "SA-08(32)" title: "Sufficient Documentation" family: "SA" family_name: "System and Services Acquisition" sort_id: "sa-08.32" priority: "P1" implementation_level: "system" parent: "SA-08" enhancement: True
Statement
Implement the security design principle of sufficient documentation in {{ insert: param, sa-08.32_odp }}.
Guidance
The principle of sufficient documentation states that organizational personnel with responsibilities to interact with the system are provided with adequate documentation and other information such that the personnel contribute to rather than detract from system security. Despite attempts to comply with principles such as human factored security and acceptable security, systems are inherently complex, and the design intent for the use of security mechanisms and the ramifications of the misuse or misconfiguration of security mechanisms are not always intuitively obvious. Uninformed and insufficiently trained users can introduce vulnerabilities due to errors of omission and commission. The availability of documentation and training can help to ensure a knowledgeable cadre of personnel, all of whom have a critical role in the achievement of principles such as continuous protection. Documentation is written clearly and supported by training that provides security awareness and understanding of security-relevant responsibilities.
Assessment Objective
{{ insert: param, sa-08.32_odp }} implement the security design principle of sufficient documentation.
System and services acquisition policy
procedures addressing the security design principle of sufficient documentation used in the specification, design, development, implementation, and modification of the system
system design documentation
system configuration settings and associated documentation
change control records
security and privacy requirements and specifications for the system
system security and privacy documentation
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 sufficient documentation in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification
mechanisms supporting the application of the security design principle of sufficient documentation in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification
mechanisms that enforce security policies
organizational processes for managing change configuration
mechanisms supporting configuration control