Security requirement
Integrate analysis of audit records with analysis of [Organization-defined: SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE(S)] to further enhance the ability to identify inappropriate or unusual activity.
Discussion
Integrated analysis of audit records requires that the analysis of information generated by scanning, monitoring, or other data collection activities is integrated with the analysis of audit record information. Security information and event management (SIEM) tools can facilitate audit record aggregation or consolidation from multiple system components as well as audit record correlation and analysis. The use of standardized audit record analysis scripts developed by organizations (with localized script adjustments, as necessary) provides more cost-effective approaches to analyzing audit record information. The correlation of audit record information with vulnerability scanning information is important in determining the veracity of vulnerability scans of the system and in correlating attack detection events with scanning results. Correlation with performance data can uncover denial-of-service (DoS) attacks or other types of attacks that result in the unauthorized use of resources. Correlation with system monitoring information can also assist in uncovering attacks and relating audit information to operational situations. This requirement enhances SP 800-171 requirement 03.03.05.
Tailoring decisions required
Resolve these values through the governing organization’s approved tailoring and risk-management process before declaring the requirement implemented.
Protection strategies supported
These classifications are carried from the official SP 800-172 OSCAL record and help explain the enhanced requirement’s defensive purpose.
Implementation perspective
Treat Integrated Analysis of Audit Records as an enhanced CUI protection outcome for elevated threat conditions that must be reflected in the system boundary, documented implementation, operational behavior, and assessment evidence. Pay particular attention to event selection, trustworthy logging, review, retention, and support for CUI investigations.
- Confirm the federal agency selected this enhanced requirement for the critical program or high-value asset and identify the CUI system components, services, users, and external connections in scope.
- Resolve every organization-defined parameter through an approved governance and tailoring process.
- Map each clause of the requirement to an accountable owner, implementation mechanism, and evidence source.
- Verify that inherited and shared implementations are supported by current provider evidence and responsibility boundaries.
- Collect evidence during normal operation and review changes, exceptions, and deficiencies on a risk-based cadence.
Questions to ask
- Which critical-program or high-value-asset CUI, data flows, users, and services are protected by this enhanced requirement?
- Which portions are implemented locally, inherited, shared, or not applicable, and what evidence supports that determination?
- Do the system security plan, deployed configuration, operating process, and assessment evidence tell the same story?
- What change, incident, or threshold should trigger reassessment?
Evidence and validation
- logging standards and event-selection decisions
- sample audit records and retention settings
- time synchronization evidence
- alert review and investigation records
Common failure patterns
- collecting logs without defined use cases
- critical CUI events absent from the audit trail
- retention shorter than investigative needs
- logs modifiable by the same administrators being monitored
Assessment objectives and methods
Assessment objectives (1)
analysis of audit records is integrated with analysis of [Organization-defined: SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE(S)] to further enhance the ability to identify inappropriate or unusual activity.
Examine
- Audit and accountability policy
- system security plan
- procedures addressing audit review, analysis, and reporting
- system design documentation
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- integrated analysis of audit records, vulnerability scanning information, performance data, network monitoring information and associated documentation
- other relevant documents or records
Interview
- Personnel with audit review, analysis, and reporting responsibilities
- personnel with information security responsibilities
Test
- Mechanisms implementing the capability to integrate analysis of audit records with analysis of data or information sources
Source NIST SP 800-53 controls
These controls are referenced by the official SP 800-172 Rev. 3 OSCAL record. Open the corresponding control pages for complete control text, enhancements, D3FEND mappings, and related learning.
Authoritative sources
- NIST SP 800-172 Revision 3 official publication ↗
- NIST SP 800-172A Revision 3 official publication ↗
- NIST OSCAL Content release used for this import ↗
Bare Metal Cyber is an independent educational publisher and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NIST. The official publications, the responsible federal agency, and the governing contract or agreement determine applicability, tailoring, assessment depth, and required implementation.