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SC-12(3) SC · System and Communications Protection

Asymmetric Keys

LOW MODERATE HIGH
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Produce, control, and distribute asymmetric cryptographic keys using [one of: NSA-approved key management technology and processes; prepositioned keying material; DoD-approved or DoD-issued Medium Assurance PKI certificates; DoD-approved or DoD-issued Medium Hardware Assurance PKI certificates and hardware security tokens that protect the user’s private key; certificates issued in accordance with organization-defined requirements].

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(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. one of the following PARAMETER VALUES is selected: {NSA-approved key management technology and processes; prepositioned keying material; DoD-approved or DoD-issued Medium Assurance PKI certificates; DoD-approved or DoD-issued Medium Hardware Assurance PKI certificates and hardware security tokens that protect the user�s private key; certificates issued in accordance with organization-defined requirements};
  2. asymmetric cryptographic keys are produced using <SC-12(03)_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE>;
  3. asymmetric cryptographic keys are controlled using <SC-12(03)_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE>;
  4. asymmetric cryptographic keys are distributed using <SC-12(03)_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE>.

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 NSA-approved cryptographic products; list of approved PKI Class 3 and Class 4 certificates; 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; organizational personnel with responsibilities for PKI certificates].

Test

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

Overlays

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

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(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 communications protection policy
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing asymmetric cryptographic key establishment and management

Other Records

  • procedures addressing cryptographic key establishment and management
  • system audit records
  • list of NSA-approved cryptographic products
  • list of approved PKI Class 3 and Class 4 certificates
  • other relevant documents or records