RMF Control SA-10: Developer Configuration Management requires organizations to ensure that software and firmware components distributed to the organization are exactly as specified by the master copies. This is important for protecting information systems from unauthorized changes and ensuring that systems are performing as expected.
Supplemental Guidance
The Risk Management Framework (RMF) is a cybersecurity framework that provides a process for managing cybersecurity risk to systems and organizations. RMF Control SA-10: Developer Configuration Management is one of the controls in the SA family, which addresses system and services acquisition.
Developer configuration management is the process of controlling changes to software and firmware components. It is important for organizations to have a developer configuration management process in place to ensure that changes to software and firmware components are authorized, documented, and tested.
Benefits of Implementing RMF Control SA-10
There are a number of benefits to implementing RMF Control SA-10, including:
- Improved security posture: By implementing a developer configuration management process, organizations can reduce the risk of unauthorized changes to software and firmware components. This can help organizations to improve their overall security posture.
- Reduced risk of system outages and performance issues: Unauthorized changes to software and firmware components can lead to system outages and performance issues. By implementing a developer configuration management process, organizations can reduce the risk of these problems.
- Improved compliance: Many regulations require organizations to have a developer configuration management process in place. By implementing RMF Control SA-10, organizations can improve their compliance with these regulations.
How to Implement RMF Control SA-10
To implement RMF Control SA-10, organizations should:
- Identify all software and firmware components that are distributed to the organization.
- Establish a process for controlling changes to software and firmware components. This process should include steps for authorizing changes, documenting changes, and testing changes.
- Implement a system for tracking and managing changes to software and firmware components. This system should include a record of all changes, the date of each change, and the person who made the change.
- Regularly review the developer configuration management process to ensure that it is effective and up-to-date.
Examples of Developer Configuration Management Activities
Some examples of developer configuration management activities include:
- Version control: Version control systems are used to track and manage changes to software and firmware components.
- Code review: Code review is a process of reviewing software code for security vulnerabilities and other problems.
- Testing: Testing is used to verify that changes to software and firmware components are working as expected.
Conclusion
RMF Control SA-10: Developer Configuration Management is an important control that can help organizations to improve their security posture, reduce the risk of system outages and performance issues, and improve their compliance. By implementing a developer configuration management process, organizations can ensure that changes to software and firmware components are authorized, documented, and tested.
Additional Tips for Implementing RMF Control SA-10
- Involve developers in the developer configuration management process: It is important to involve developers in the developer configuration management process. Developers can help to ensure that the process is aligned with the way that software is developed and maintained.
- Use a risk-based approach to developer configuration management: Organizations should use a risk-based approach to developer configuration management to ensure that the most critical software and firmware components are managed most strictly.
- Automate developer configuration management tasks: There are a number of tools and solutions that can be used to automate developer configuration management tasks. This can make the process more efficient and effective.