SC-7(28) Connections to Public Networks
Enhancement of: SC-7
High-Level Description
Family: System and Communications Protection (SC)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
A direct connection is a dedicated physical or virtual connection between two or more systems. A public network is a network accessible to the public, including the Internet and organizational extranets with public access.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SC-7(28) 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 |
|---|
| cloud-audit-mcp | Check encryption and network controls | cloud_audit_encryption |
| nmap | Network scanning | nmap -sV --script ssl-enum-ciphers |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Prohibit the direct connection of [organization-defined] to a public network.
Implementation Guidance
A direct connection is a dedicated physical or virtual connection between two or more systems. A public network is a network accessible to the public, including the Internet and organizational extranets with public access.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|
| SC-7(28) Connections to Public Networks not implemented | High | System and Communications Protection |
| SC-7(28) partially implemented | Medium | Incomplete System and Communications Protection |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|
| CWE-311 | Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data |
References
Checklist
