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SC-28(3) SC · System and Communications Protection

Cryptographic Keys

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 2 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Provide protected storage for cryptographic keys [one of: ; hardware-protected key store].

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is an example of a hardware-protected data store that can be used to protect cryptographic keys.

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-28(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: { <SC-28(03)_ODP[02] safeguards>; hardware-protected key store};
  2. safeguards for protecting the storage of cryptographic keys are defined (if selected);
  3. protected storage for cryptographic keys is provided using <SC-28(03)_ODP[01] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; procedures addressing the protection of information at rest; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; cryptographic mechanisms and associated configuration documentation; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing hardware-based key store protection].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control SC-28 — see the SC-28(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

Not applicable at this tier.

MODERATE

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

HIGH

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

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SC-28(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
  • cryptographic mechanisms and associated configuration documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing hardware-based key store protection

Other Records

  • procedures addressing the protection of information at rest
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records