MP-4 MP · Media Protection

Media Storage

LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGH
1 Enhancement 1 Overlay 14 Related Controls
Graph
Export ▾

Requirements NIST SOURCE

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

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.

Enhancements NIST SOURCE

MP-4(1) Cryptographic Protection WITHDRAWN

Withdrawn. Incorporated into SC-28(1).

MP-4(2) Automated Restricted Access LOW MODERATE HIGH

Restrict access to media storage areas and log access attempts and access granted using [organization-defined automated mechanisms].

Discussion

Automated mechanisms include keypads, biometric readers, or card readers on the external entries to media storage areas.

Open full page for MP-4(2) →

Implementation Guidance

Engineering Interpretation

Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.

No engineering interpretation has been authored for MP-4 yet. This section is architected to receive it — see the Requirements and Assessment sections above for the authoritative NIST source content in the meantime.

Assessment

NIST SP 800-53A REV 5.2.0

Assessment Objectives

  1. types of digital media to be physically controlled are defined (if selected);
  2. types of non-digital media to be physically controlled are defined (if selected);
  3. types of digital media to be securely stored are defined (if selected);
  4. types of non-digital media to be securely stored are defined (if selected);
  5. controlled areas within which to securely store digital media are defined;
  6. controlled areas within which to securely store non-digital media are defined;
  7. <MP-04_ODP[01] types of digital media> are physically controlled;
  8. <MP-04_ODP[02] types of non-digital media> are physically controlled;
  9. <MP-04_ODP[03] types of digital media> are securely stored within <MP-04_ODP[05] controlled areas>;
  10. <MP-04_ODP[04] types of non-digital media> are securely stored within <MP-04_ODP[06] controlled areas>;
  11. 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

[SELECT FROM: 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

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with system media protection and storage responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for storing information media; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing secure media storage/media protection].

Overlays

OT/ICS Overlay SP 800-82r3

NIST SP 800-82r3 Appendix F, Table 22. Blank baseline means the control/control enhancement is not selected in that initial OT baseline.

LOW

Not applicable at this tier.

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for MP-4. This section is architected to display, per product: STIG ID, Finding ID, Severity, Title, Description, Check, Fix, CCI, and NIST control mapping — but nothing is populated here until a real DISA STIG/CCI dataset is ingested.

Learn more about STIG/CCI integration →

Evidence

Potential Evidence — Derived

Categorized from the SP 800-53A "Examine"/"Test" artifact list above by keyword — not an authoritative NIST evidence list.

Policy

  • System media protection policy
  • physical and environmental protection policy and procedures
  • access control policy and procedures
  • system security plan

Testing

  • Organizational processes for storing information media
  • mechanisms supporting and/or implementing secure media storage/media protection

Other Records

  • procedures addressing media storage
  • system media
  • designated controlled areas
  • other relevant documents or records