Virtualization Techniques
LOW MODERATE HIGHRequirements NIST SOURCE
Employ virtualization techniques to support the deployment of a diversity of operating systems and applications that are changed [frequency].
Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)
While frequent changes to operating systems and applications can pose significant configuration management challenges, the changes can result in an increased work factor for adversaries to conduct successful attacks. Changing virtual operating systems or applications, as opposed to changing actual operating systems or applications, provides virtual changes that impede attacker success while reducing configuration management efforts. Virtualization techniques can assist in isolating untrustworthy software or software of dubious provenance into confined execution environments.
Implementation Guidance
Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.
No engineering interpretation has been authored for SC-29(1) 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
- the frequency at which to change the diversity of operating systems and applications deployed using virtualization techniques is defined;
- virtualization techniques are employed to support the deployment of a diverse range of operating systems and applications that are changed <SC-29(01)_ODP frequency>.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; configuration management policy and procedures; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; list of operating systems and applications deployed using virtualization techniques; change control records; configuration management records; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].
Interview
[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; organizational personnel with responsibilities for implementing approved virtualization techniques to the system].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the employment of a diverse set of information technologies; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing virtualization techniques].
STIGs & CCIs
No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SC-29(1). 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 communications protection policy
- system security plan
Configuration
- configuration management policy and procedures
- system design documentation
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- system architecture
- configuration management records
Testing
- Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the employment of a diverse set of information technologies
- mechanisms supporting and/or implementing virtualization techniques
Other Records
- list of operating systems and applications deployed using virtualization techniques
- change control records
- system audit records
- other relevant documents or records