SC-12: Cryptographic Key Establishment And Management
Control Family:
Threats Addressed:
Baselines:
- Low
- SC-12
- Moderate
- SC-12
- High
- SC-12
- (1)
Next Version:
- NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5:
- SC-12: Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management
Control Statement
The organization establishes and manages cryptographic keys for required cryptography employed within the information system in accordance with [Assignment: organization-defined requirements for key generation, distribution, storage, access, and destruction].
Supplemental Guidance
Cryptographic key management and establishment can be performed using manual procedures or automated mechanisms with supporting manual procedures. Organizations define key management requirements in accordance with applicable federal laws, Executive Orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidance, specifying appropriate options, levels, and parameters. Organizations manage trust stores to ensure that only approved trust anchors are in such trust stores. This includes certificates with visibility external to organizational information systems and certificates related to the internal operations of systems.
Control Enhancements
SC-12(1): Availability
Baseline(s):
- High
The organization maintains availability of information in the event of the loss of cryptographic keys by users.
SC-12(2): Symmetric Keys
Baseline(s):
The organization produces, controls, and distributes symmetric cryptographic keys using [Selection: NIST FIPS-compliant; NSA-approved] key management technology and processes.
SC-12(3): Asymmetric Keys
Baseline(s):
The organization produces, controls, and distributes asymmetric cryptographic keys using [Selection: NSA-approved key management technology and processes; approved PKI Class 3 certificates or prepositioned keying material; approved PKI Class 3 or Class 4 certificates and hardware security tokens that protect the user’s private key].