Supplier Diversity
LOW MODERATE HIGHRequirements NIST SOURCE
Require that [controls] allocated to [locations and architectural layers] are obtained from different suppliers.
Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)
Information technology products have different strengths and weaknesses. Providing a broad spectrum of products complements the individual offerings. For example, vendors offering malicious code protection typically update their products at different times, often developing solutions for known viruses, Trojans, or worms based on their priorities and development schedules. By deploying different products at different locations, there is an increased likelihood that at least one of the products will detect the malicious code. With respect to privacy, vendors may offer products that track personally identifiable information in systems. Products may use different tracking methods. Using multiple products may result in more assurance that personally identifiable information is inventoried.
Implementation Guidance
Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.
No engineering interpretation has been authored for PL-8(2) 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
- controls to be allocated are defined;
- locations and architectural layers are defined;
- <PL-08(02)_ODP[01] controls> that are allocated to <PL-08(02)_ODP[02] locations and architectural layers> are required to be obtained from different suppliers.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: Security and privacy planning policy; procedures addressing information security and privacy architecture development; enterprise architecture documentation; information security and privacy architecture documentation; system security plan; privacy plan; security and privacy CONOPS for the system; IT acquisitions policy; other relevant documents or records].
Interview
[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with security and privacy planning and plan implementation responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security and privacy architecture development responsibilities; organizational personnel with acquisition responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security and privacy responsibilities].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for obtaining information security and privacy safeguards from different suppliers].
Overlays
STIGs & CCIs
No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for PL-8(2). 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
- Security and privacy planning policy
- system security plan
- privacy plan
- IT acquisitions policy
Configuration
- procedures addressing information security and privacy architecture development
- enterprise architecture documentation
- information security and privacy architecture documentation
Testing
- Organizational processes for obtaining information security and privacy safeguards from different suppliers
Other Records
- security and privacy CONOPS for the system
- other relevant documents or records