Control statement
- a.Physically control and securely store [Organization-defined: organization-defined types of digital and/or non-digital media] within [Organization-defined: organization-defined controlled areas] ; and
- b.Protect system media types defined in MP-4a until the media are destroyed or sanitized using approved equipment, techniques, and procedures.
Discussion
System media includes digital and non-digital media. Digital media includes flash drives, diskettes, magnetic tapes, external or removable hard disk drives (e.g., solid state, magnetic), compact discs, and digital versatile discs. Non-digital media includes paper and microfilm. Physically controlling stored media includes conducting inventories, ensuring procedures are in place to allow individuals to check out and return media to the library, and maintaining accountability for stored media. Secure storage includes a locked drawer, desk, or cabinet or a controlled media library. The type of media storage is commensurate with the security category or classification of the information on the media. Controlled areas are spaces that provide physical and procedural controls to meet the requirements established for protecting information and systems. Fewer controls may be needed for media that contains information determined to be in the public domain, publicly releasable, or have limited adverse impacts on organizations, operations, or individuals if accessed by other than authorized personnel. In these situations, physical access controls provide adequate protection.
Organization-defined parameters
These values must be resolved through the organization’s tailoring and governance process. Bracketed parameter references in the control text identify where a decision is required.
From control text to operational evidence
Use Media Storage as a testable risk decision. Translate the official statement into accountable people, repeatable processes, configured technology, and evidence that demonstrates the outcome over time. In this family, pay particular attention to media accountability, handling, sanitization, transport, and disposal across physical and digital forms.
Implementation workflow
- Define the control boundary, responsible owner, inherited portions, and systems or processes in scope.
- Resolve each organization-defined parameter before declaring the control implemented.
- Document how the implementation satisfies every clause of the official control statement.
- Collect evidence as a normal byproduct of operation rather than only before an assessment.
- Review exceptions, changes, and monitoring results on a risk-based cadence.
Evidence examples
- media inventories and chain-of-custody records
- sanitization certificates
- transport and storage procedures
- removable-media control logs
Common failure patterns
- cloud snapshots and virtual media excluded from policy
- sanitization method not matched to media type
- untracked removable media
- disposal vendors accepted without verification
Questions practitioners should ask
- What risk decision is this control intended to support in this system?
- Which parts are implemented locally, inherited, shared, or not applicable—and what evidence supports that decision?
- Do the documented narrative, deployed configuration, operating process, and collected evidence agree?
- What event or threshold requires the implementation to be reviewed or changed?
Assessment objectives and methods
Show the assessment objective
- MP-04a.
- MP-04a.[01][Organization-defined: types of digital media] are physically controlled;
- MP-04a.[02][Organization-defined: types of non-digital media] are physically controlled;
- MP-04a.[03][Organization-defined: types of digital media] are securely stored within [Organization-defined: controlled areas];
- MP-04a.[04][Organization-defined: types of non-digital media] are securely stored within [Organization-defined: controlled areas];
- MP-04b.system media types (defined in MP-04_ODP[01], MP-04_ODP[02], MP-04_ODP[03], MP-04_ODP[04]) are protected until the media are destroyed or sanitized using approved equipment, techniques, and procedures.
Examine
- System media protection policy
- procedures addressing media storage
- physical and environmental protection policy and procedures
- access control policy and procedures
- system media
- designated controlled areas
- system security plan
- other relevant documents or records
Interview
- Organizational personnel with system media protection and storage responsibilities
- organizational personnel with information security responsibilities
Test
- Organizational processes for storing information media
- mechanisms supporting and/or implementing secure media storage/media protection
Related controls
These relationships come from the official OSCAL catalog. They indicate useful dependencies or context, not automatic inheritance or equivalence.
Control enhancements
Enhancements add specificity, strength, or scope to the base control. Baseline badges show explicit selections in the official SP 800-53B OSCAL profiles.
MP-4(1) — Cryptographic Protection
This enhancement is marked withdrawn in the official OSCAL catalog. Related-control metadata below may identify where its intent was incorporated.
MP-4(2) — Automated Restricted Access
Restrict access to media storage areas and log access attempts and access granted using [Organization-defined: organization-defined automated mechanisms].
Official discussion
Automated mechanisms include keypads, biometric readers, or card readers on the external entries to media storage areas.
Organization-defined parameters (4)
Assessment objectives and methods
- MP-04(02)[01]access to media storage areas is restricted using [Organization-defined: automated mechanisms];
- MP-04(02)[02]access attempts to media storage areas are logged using [Organization-defined: automated mechanisms];
- MP-04(02)[03]access granted to media storage areas is logged using [Organization-defined: automated mechanisms].
Examine
- System media protection policy
- procedures addressing media storage
- access control policy and procedures
- physical and environmental protection policy and procedures
- system design documentation
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- media storage facilities
- access control devices
- access control records
- audit records
- system security plan
- other relevant documents or records
Interview
- Organizational personnel with system media protection and storage responsibilities
- organizational personnel with information security responsibilities
- system/network administrators
Test
- Automated mechanisms restricting access to media storage areas
- automated mechanisms auditing access attempts and access granted to media storage areas
Related controls
Authoritative sources
Bare Metal Cyber is an independent educational publisher and is not affiliated with or endorsed by NIST. Official control requirements and interpretations remain with NIST and the responsible authorizing organization.