id: "SI-23" title: "Information Fragmentation" family: "SI" family_name: "System and Information Integrity" sort_id: "si-23" priority: "P1" implementation_level: "system"


Statement

Based on {{ insert: param, si-23_odp.01 }}:

Fragment the following information: {{ insert: param, si-23_odp.02 }} ; and

Distribute the fragmented information across the following systems or system components: {{ insert: param, si-23_odp.03 }}.

Guidance

One objective of the advanced persistent threat is to exfiltrate valuable information. Once exfiltrated, there is generally no way for the organization to recover the lost information. Therefore, organizations may consider dividing the information into disparate elements and distributing those elements across multiple systems or system components and locations. Such actions will increase the adversary’s work factor to capture and exfiltrate the desired information and, in so doing, increase the probability of detection. The fragmentation of information impacts the organization’s ability to access the information in a timely manner. The extent of the fragmentation is dictated by the impact or classification level (and value) of the information, threat intelligence information received, and whether data tainting is used (i.e., data tainting-derived information about the exfiltration of some information could result in the fragmentation of the remaining information).

Assessment Objective: under {{ insert: param, si-23_odp.01 }}, {{ insert: param, si-23_odp.02 }} is fragmented;

Assessment Objective: under {{ insert: param, si-23_odp.01 }} , the fragmented information is distributed across {{ insert: param, si-23_odp.03 }}.

System and information integrity policy

system and information integrity procedures

personally identifiable information processing policy

procedures addressing software and information integrity

system design documentation

system configuration settings and associated documentation

procedures to identify information for fragmentation and distribution across systems/system components

list of distributed and fragmented information

list of circumstances requiring information fragmentation

enterprise architecture

system security architecture

system security plan

privacy plan

other relevant documents or records

Organizational personnel with information security and privacy responsibilities

organizational personnel with systems security engineering responsibilities

system developers

security architects

Organizational processes to identify information for fragmentation and distribution across systems/system components

automated mechanisms supporting and/or implementing information fragmentation and distribution across systems/system components