Media Downgrading
LOW MODERATE HIGHRequirements NIST SOURCE
Requirement Context
This element is part of MP-8 — Media Downgrading. See the Assessment section below for the related SP 800-53A examine/interview/test procedures. No engineering interpretation has been authored for this control yet.
Requirement Context
This element is part of MP-8 — Media Downgrading. See the Assessment section below for the related SP 800-53A examine/interview/test procedures. No engineering interpretation has been authored for this control yet.
Requirement Context
This element is part of MP-8 — Media Downgrading. See the Assessment section below for the related SP 800-53A examine/interview/test procedures. No engineering interpretation has been authored for this control yet.
Requirement Context
This element is part of MP-8 — Media Downgrading. See the Assessment section below for the related SP 800-53A examine/interview/test procedures. No engineering interpretation has been authored for this control yet.
Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)
Media downgrading applies to digital and non-digital media subject to release outside of the organization, whether the media is considered removable or not. When applied to system media, the downgrading process removes information from the media, typically by security category or classification level, such that the information cannot be retrieved or reconstructed. Downgrading of media includes redacting information to enable wider release and distribution. Downgrading ensures that empty space on the media is devoid of information.
Enhancements NIST SOURCE
MP-8(1) Documentation of Process LOW MODERATE HIGH
Document system media downgrading actions.
Discussion
Organizations can document the media downgrading process by providing information, such as the downgrading technique employed, the identification number of the downgraded media, and the identity of the individual that authorized and/or performed the downgrading action.
MP-8(2) Equipment Testing LOW MODERATE HIGH
Test downgrading equipment and procedures [organization-defined frequency] to ensure that downgrading actions are being achieved.
Discussion
None.
MP-8(3) Controlled Unclassified Information LOW MODERATE HIGH
Downgrade system media containing controlled unclassified information prior to public release.
Discussion
The downgrading of controlled unclassified information uses approved sanitization tools, techniques, and procedures.
MP-8(4) Classified Information LOW MODERATE HIGH
Downgrade system media containing classified information prior to release to individuals without required access authorizations.
Discussion
Downgrading of classified information uses approved sanitization tools, techniques, and procedures to transfer information confirmed to be unclassified from classified systems to unclassified media.
Implementation Guidance
Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.
No engineering interpretation has been authored for MP-8 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
Assessment Objectives
- a system media downgrading process is defined;
- system media requiring downgrading is defined;
- a <MP-08_ODP[01] system media downgrading process> is established;
- the <MP-08_ODP[01] system media downgrading process> includes employing downgrading mechanisms with strength and integrity commensurate with the security category or classification of the information;
- there is verification that the system media downgrading process is commensurate with the security category and/or classification level of the information to be removed;
- there is verification that the system media downgrading process is commensurate with the access authorizations of the potential recipients of the downgraded information;
- <MP-08_ODP[02] system media requiring downgrading> is identified;
- the identified system media is downgraded using the <MP-08_ODP[01] system media downgrading process>.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: System media protection policy; procedures addressing media downgrading; system categorization documentation; list of media requiring downgrading; records of media downgrading; audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].
Interview
[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with system media downgrading responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system/network administrators].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for media downgrading; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing media downgrading].
STIGs & CCIs
No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for MP-8. 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
Categorized from the SP 800-53A "Examine"/"Test" artifact list above by keyword — not an authoritative NIST evidence list.
Policy
- System media protection policy
- system security plan
Testing
- Organizational processes for media downgrading
- mechanisms supporting and/or implementing media downgrading
Other Records
- procedures addressing media downgrading
- system categorization documentation
- list of media requiring downgrading
- records of media downgrading
- audit records
- other relevant documents or records