NIST 800-53 REV 5 • ASSESSMENT, AUTHORIZATION, AND MONITORING
CA-2(2) — Specialized Assessments
Include as part of control assessments, {{ insert: param, ca-02.02_odp.01 }}, {{ insert: param, ca-02.02_odp.02 }}, {{ insert: param, ca-02.02_odp.03 }}.
Supplemental Guidance
Organizations can conduct specialized assessments, including verification and validation, system monitoring, insider threat assessments, malicious user testing, and other forms of testing. These assessments can improve readiness by exercising organizational capabilities and indicating current levels of performance as a means of focusing actions to improve security and privacy. Organizations conduct specialized assessments in accordance with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Authorizing officials approve the assessment methods in coordination with the organizational risk executive function. Organizations can include vulnerabilities uncovered during assessments into vulnerability remediation processes. Specialized assessments can also be conducted early in the system development life cycle (e.g., during initial design, development, and unit testing).
Practitioner Notes
This enhancement calls for specialized types of assessments beyond standard control reviews — such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, or insider threat analysis.
Example 1: Schedule quarterly Nessus vulnerability scans of your network and include the scan results as part of your overall control assessment package.
Example 2: Commission an annual red team exercise where ethical hackers attempt to breach your defenses, and incorporate findings into your assessment report.