← SA-4
SA-4(3) SA · System and Services Acquisition

Development Methods, Techniques, and Practices

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 0 Related Controls
Graph
Export ▾

Requirements NIST SOURCE

Require the developer of the system, system component, or system service to demonstrate the use of a system development life cycle process that includes:

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Following a system development life cycle that includes state-of-the-practice software development methods, systems engineering methods, systems security and privacy engineering methods, and quality control processes helps to reduce the number and severity of latent errors within systems, system components, and system services. Reducing the number and severity of such errors reduces the number of vulnerabilities in those systems, components, and services. Transparency in the methods and techniques that developers select and implement for systems engineering, systems security and privacy engineering, software development, component and system assessments, and quality control processes provides an increased level of assurance in the trustworthiness of the system, system component, or system service being acquired.

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 SA-4(3) 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. systems engineering methods are defined;
  2. one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: { <SA-04(03)_ODP[03] system security engineering methods>; <SA-04(03)_ODP[04] privacy engineering methods>};
  3. system security engineering methods are defined (if selected);
  4. privacy engineering methods are defined (if selected);
  5. one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: { <SA-04(03)_ODP[06] software development methods>; <SA-04(03)_ODP[07] testing, evaluation, assessment, verification, and validation methods>; <SA-04(03)_ODP[08] quality control processes>};
  6. software development methods are defined (if selected);
  7. testing, evaluation, assessment, verification, and validation methods are defined (if selected);
  8. quality control processes are defined (if selected);
  9. the developer of the system, system component, or system service is required to demonstrate the use of a system development life cycle process that includes <SA-04(03)_ODP[01] systems engineering methods>;
  10. the developer of the system, system component, or system service is required to demonstrate the use of a system development life cycle process that includes <SA-04(03)_ODP[02] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES>;
  11. the developer of the system, system component, or system service is required to demonstrate the use of a system development life cycle process that includes <SA-04(03)_ODP[05] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and services acquisition policy; system and services acquisition procedures; procedures addressing the integration of security and privacy requirements, descriptions, and criteria into the acquisition process; solicitation documents; acquisition documentation; acquisition contracts for the system, system component, or system service; list of systems security and privacy engineering methods to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process; list of software development methods to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process; list of testing, evaluation, or validation techniques to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process; list of quality control processes to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process; system security plan; privacy plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with acquisition/contracting responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security and privacy responsibilities; organizational personnel with system life cycle responsibilities; system developers or service provider].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for development methods, techniques, and processes].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control SA-4 — see the SA-4(3) entries within each baseline below.

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

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (10)
  • Added: (12)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (9) (10)
  • Added: (12)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (5) (9) (10)
  • Added: (12)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SA-4(3). 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 and services acquisition policy
  • system security plan
  • privacy plan

Testing

  • Organizational processes for development methods, techniques, and processes

Other Records

  • system and services acquisition procedures
  • procedures addressing the integration of security and privacy requirements, descriptions, and criteria into the acquisition process
  • solicitation documents
  • acquisition documentation
  • acquisition contracts for the system, system component, or system service
  • list of systems security and privacy engineering methods to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process
  • list of software development methods to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process
  • list of testing, evaluation, or validation techniques to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process
  • list of quality control processes to be included in the developer�s system development life cycle process
  • other relevant documents or records