Symmetric Keys

LOW MODERATE HIGH

1 Overlay 0 Related Controls

Requirements NIST SOURCE

Produce, control, and distribute symmetric cryptographic keys using [one of: NIST FIPS-validated; NSA-approved] key management technology and processes.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

SP 800-56A, SP 800-56B , and SP 800-56C provide guidance on cryptographic key establishment schemes and key derivation methods. SP 800-57-1, SP 800-57-2 , and SP 800-57-3 provide guidance on cryptographic key management.

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 SC-12(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

NIST SP 800-53A REV 5.2.0

Assessment Objectives

one of the following PARAMETER VALUES is selected: {NIST FIPS-validated; NSA-approved};
symmetric cryptographic keys are produced using <SC-12(02)_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE> key management technology and processes;
symmetric cryptographic keys are controlled using <SC-12(02)_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE> key management technology and processes;
symmetric cryptographic keys are distributed using <SC-12(02)_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE> key management technology and processes.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; procedures addressing cryptographic key establishment and management; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit records; list of FIPS-validated cryptographic products; list of NSA-approved cryptographic products; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; organizational personnel with responsibilities for cryptographic key establishment or management].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing symmetric cryptographic key establishment and management].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control SC-12 — see the SC-12(2) 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)

MODERATE

Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

HIGH

Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
Included: (1)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SC-12(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

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 communications protection policy
system security plan

Configuration

system design documentation
system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing symmetric cryptographic key establishment and management

Other Records

procedures addressing cryptographic key establishment and management
system audit records
list of FIPS-validated cryptographic products
list of NSA-approved cryptographic products
other relevant documents or records