Maximum Bandwidth
LOW MODERATE HIGHRequirements NIST SOURCE
Reduce the maximum bandwidth for identified covert [one of: storage; timing] channels to [values].
Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)
The complete elimination of covert channels, especially covert timing channels, is usually not possible without significant performance impacts.
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-31(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
Assessment Objectives
- one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: {storage; timing};
- values for the maximum bandwidth for identified covert channels are defined;
- the maximum bandwidth for identified covert <SC-31(02)_ODP[01] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES> channels is reduced to <SC-31(02)_ODP[02] values>.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; procedures addressing covert channel analysis; acquisition contracts for systems or services; acquisition documentation; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; covert channel analysis documentation; 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 covert channel analysis responsibilities; system developers/integrators].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Organizational process for conducting covert channel analysis; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing covert channel analysis; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the capability to reduce the bandwidth of covert channels].
STIGs & CCIs
No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SC-31(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
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
- Organizational process for conducting covert channel analysis
- mechanisms supporting and/or implementing covert channel analysis
- mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the capability to reduce the bandwidth of covert channels
Other Records
- procedures addressing covert channel analysis
- acquisition contracts for systems or services
- acquisition documentation
- covert channel analysis documentation
- system audit records
- other relevant documents or records