sc-28-3-cryptographic-keys

name	SC-28(3)_cryptographic-keys
description	Provide protected storage for cryptographic keys [organization-defined].
category	configuration
version	5.2.0
author	cyberstrike-official
tags	["nist","sp800-53","rev5","sc-28-3","sc","enhancement"]
tech_stack	["aws","azure","gcp","linux","windows","network"]
cwe_ids	["CWE-311"]
chains_with	["SC-12","SC-13"]
prerequisites	["SC-28"]
severity_boost	{"SC-12":"Chain with SC-12 for comprehensive security coverage","SC-13":"Chain with SC-13 for comprehensive security coverage"}

SC-28(3) Cryptographic Keys

Enhancement of: SC-28

High-Level Description

Family: System and Communications Protection (SC) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is an example of a hardware-protected data store that can be used to protect cryptographic keys.

What to Check

• Verify SC-28(3) Cryptographic Keys is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for SC-28(3)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control SC-28

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for SC-28(3) 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

Provide protected storage for cryptographic keys [organization-defined].

Implementation Guidance

A Trusted Platform Module (TPM) is an example of a hardware-protected data store that can be used to protect cryptographic keys.

Risk Assessment

Finding	Severity	Impact
SC-28(3) Cryptographic Keys not implemented	High	System and Communications Protection