SA-8(18) Trusted Communications Channels
Control enhancement of SA-8 Security and Privacy Engineering Principles
Control
Implement the security design principle of trusted communications channels in [Assignment: systems or system components].
Discussion
The principle of trusted communication channels states that when composing a system where there is a potential threat to communications between components (i.e., the interconnections between components), each communication channel is trustworthy to a level commensurate with the security dependencies it supports (i.e., how much it is trusted by other components to perform its security functions). Trusted communication channels are achieved by a combination of restricting access to the communication channel (to ensure an acceptable match in the trustworthiness of the endpoints involved in the communication) and employing end-to-end protections for the data transmitted over the communication channel (to protect against interception and modification and to further increase the assurance of proper end-to-end communication).
Related controls
Need SA-8(18) implemented and evidenced?
We assess where you stand against this control, document the gap, and build the remediation plan your auditor and your board will both accept.
Control catalog and framework text on this page is reproduced from official NIST publications — a public-domain work of the U.S. Government (17 U.S.C. §105). Maverc commentary, groupings, and readiness guidance are our own and are not part of any NIST publication.