NIST SP 800-53 SI-6 Security and Privacy Function Verification

Requirements NIST SOURCE

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Transitional states for systems include system startup, restart, shutdown, and abort. System notifications include hardware indicator lights, electronic alerts to system administrators, and messages to local computer consoles. In contrast to security function verification, privacy function verification ensures that privacy functions operate as expected and are approved by the senior agency official for privacy or that privacy attributes are applied or used as expected.

Enhancements NIST SOURCE

SI-6(1) Notification of Failed Security Tests WITHDRAWN

Withdrawn. Incorporated into SI-6.

SI-6(2) Automation Support for Distributed Testing LOW MODERATE HIGH

Implement automated mechanisms to support the management of distributed security and privacy function testing.

Discussion

The use of automated mechanisms to support the management of distributed function testing helps to ensure the integrity, timeliness, completeness, and efficacy of such testing.

Open full page for SI-6(2) →

SI-6(3) Report Verification Results LOW MODERATE HIGH

Report the results of security and privacy function verification to [personnel or roles].

Discussion

Organizational personnel with potential interest in the results of the verification of security and privacy functions include systems security officers, senior agency information security officers, and senior agency officials for privacy.

Open full page for SI-6(3) →

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 SI-6 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

security functions to be verified for correct operation are defined;
privacy functions to be verified for correct operation are defined;
one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: { <SI-06_ODP[04] system transitional states>; upon command by user with appropriate privilege; <SI-06_ODP[05] frequency>};
system transitional states requiring the verification of security and privacy functions are defined; (if selected)
frequency at which to verify the correct operation of security and privacy functions is defined; (if selected)
personnel or roles to be alerted of failed security and privacy verification tests is/are defined;
one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: {shut the system down; restart the system; <SI-06_ODP[08] alternative action(s)>};
alternative action(s) to be performed when anomalies are discovered are defined (if selected);
<SI-06_ODP[01] security functions> are verified to be operating correctly;
<SI-06_ODP[02] privacy functions> are verified to be operating correctly;
<SI-06_ODP[01] security functions> are verified <SI-06_ODP[03] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES>;
<SI-06_ODP[02] privacy functions> are verified <SI-06_ODP[03] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES>;
<SI-06_ODP[06] personnel or roles> is/are alerted to failed security verification tests;
<SI-06_ODP[06] personnel or roles> is/are alerted to failed privacy verification tests;
<SI-06_ODP[07] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES> is/are initiated when anomalies are discovered.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and information integrity policy; system and information integrity procedures; procedures addressing security and privacy function verification; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; alerts/notifications of failed security verification tests; list of system transition states requiring security functionality verification; system audit records; system security plan; privacy plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with security and privacy function verification responsibilities; organizational personnel implementing, operating, and maintaining the system; system/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security and privacy responsibilities; system developer].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for security and privacy function verification; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the security and privacy function verification capability].

Overlays

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

Not applicable at this tier.

HIGH

Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SI-6. 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 information integrity policy
system security plan
privacy plan

Configuration

system design documentation
system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

Organizational processes for security and privacy function verification
mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the security and privacy function verification capability

Other Records

system and information integrity procedures
procedures addressing security and privacy function verification
alerts/notifications of failed security verification tests
list of system transition states requiring security functionality verification
system audit records
other relevant documents or records