Inverse Modification Threshold
LOW MODERATE HIGHRequirements NIST SOURCE
Implement the security design principle of inverse modification threshold in [systems or system components].
Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)
The principle of inverse modification threshold builds on the principle of trusted components and the principle of hierarchical trust and states that the degree of protection provided to a component is commensurate with its trustworthiness. As the trust placed in a component increases, the protection against unauthorized modification of the component also increases to the same degree. Protection from unauthorized modification can come in the form of the component’s own self-protection and innate trustworthiness, or it can come from the protections afforded to the component from other elements or attributes of the security architecture (to include protections in the environment of operation).
Implementation Guidance
Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.
No engineering interpretation has been authored for SA-8(11) 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
- systems or system components that implement the security design principle of inverse modification threshold are defined;
- <SA-08(11)_ODP systems or system components> implement the security design principle of inverse modification threshold.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: System and services acquisition policy; procedures addressing the security design principle of inverse modification threshold used in the specification, design, development, implementation, and modification of the system; system design documentation; security and privacy requirements and specifications for the system; system security and privacy architecture; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].
Interview
[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with the responsibility for determining system security and privacy requirements; organizational personnel with system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification responsibilities; system developers; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for applying the security design principle of inverse modification threshold in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification; mechanisms supporting the application of the security design principle of inverse modification threshold in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification].
Overlays
STIGs & CCIs
No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SA-8(11). 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 and services acquisition policy
- system security plan
Configuration
- system design documentation
- system security and privacy architecture
Testing
- Organizational processes for applying the security design principle of inverse modification threshold in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification
- mechanisms supporting the application of the security design principle of inverse modification threshold in system specification, design, development, implementation, and modification
Other Records
- procedures addressing the security design principle of inverse modification threshold used in the specification, design, development, implementation, and modification of the system
- security and privacy requirements and specifications for the system
- other relevant documents or records