Information Security Controls


A robust information security program is necessary for effective business operations and continuity, regulatory compliance and risk management. A security program includes administrative controls (institutional policy, procedures, protocols, documentation, training), technical controls (software and hardware) and physical controls (secure physical access to systems and data) to help protect institutional information and research data.

This documentation maps relevant information security and privacy controls to the institutional information and research data categories established in the Information Security Policy

The user of every device connected to the campus network or that stores or transmits institutional information and research data is responsible for adherence to security control standards.

Foundational Information Security Controls

Per the Information Security Policy, all information technology resources, regardless of ownership, that contain institutional information or research data must have the following foundational information security controls in place and functioning:

Alternative, but equally effective, controls may be substituted in accordance with the exception process. Additional controls may be required based on the categorization of the information or data, the nature of the information technology resource, the applicable regulatory or contractual requirements, or other risk management calculations.

Information Security Controls for Institutional Information and Research Data Categories

NIST Special Publication 800-53 is the collection of controls referenced in the Information Security Policy. These security and privacy controls apply to an environment based on its overall categorization (Low, Moderate, High) and risk assessment.

The university provides certain services, such as the UMass Amherst Data Center, Active Directory, etc., to assist areas in complying with many of these controls.

The table below is an overview of the twenty control families in NIST 800-53.

Control Families

Identifier

Control Family

IdentifierControl Family

AC

Access Control

MPMedia Protection

AT

Awareness and Training

PAPrivacy Authorization

AU

Audit and Accountability

PEPhysical and Environmental Protection

CA

Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring

PLPlanning

CM

Configuration Management

PMProgram Management

CP

Contingency Planning

PSPersonnel Security

IA

Identification and Authentication

RARisk Assessment

IP

Individual Participation

SASystem and Services Acquisition

IR

Incident Response

SCSystem and Communications Protection

MA

Maintenance

SISystem and Information Integrity