| name | SA-9(1)_risk-assessments-and-organizational-approvals |
| description | Conduct an organizational assessment of risk prior to the acquisition or outsourcing of information security services; |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","sa-9-1","sa","enhancement"] |
| tech_stack | ["any"] |
| cwe_ids | ["CWE-16"] |
| chains_with | ["CA-6","RA-3","RA-8"] |
| prerequisites | ["SA-9"] |
| severity_boost | {"CA-6":"Chain with CA-6 for comprehensive security coverage","RA-3":"Chain with RA-3 for comprehensive security coverage","RA-8":"Chain with RA-8 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
SA-9(1) Risk Assessments and Organizational Approvals
Enhancement of: SA-9
High-Level Description
Family: System and Services Acquisition (SA)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Information security services include the operation of security devices, such as firewalls or key management services as well as incident monitoring, analysis, and response. Risks assessed can include system, mission or business, security, privacy, or supply chain risks.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SA-9(1) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.
Step 2: Validate Implementation
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly
# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness
Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Conduct an organizational assessment of risk prior to the acquisition or outsourcing of information security services; and
Verify that the acquisition or outsourcing of dedicated information security services is approved by [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Information security services include the operation of security devices, such as firewalls or key management services as well as incident monitoring, analysis, and response. Risks assessed can include system, mission or business, security, privacy, or supply chain risks.
