NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 · CP-9

System Backup

US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · cited in 70 of our lessons

Explanation

What it asks for. The organisation must back up user-level information, system-level information and system documentation, including security and privacy documentation, at defined frequencies consistent with recovery objectives, and protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the backups.

In practice. Doing this well means backups that match agreed recovery point objectives, at least one copy that is immutable or offline, encryption of backup data and separate credentials for backup administration. Regular restore tests prove the backups work. Auditors expect backup policies, job success reports, restore test records and evidence of protection against tampering. CIS Control 11 describes the same expectations.

Common gaps. The most damaging gap is backups reachable with the same administrator credentials attackers steal, so ransomware destroys them too. Restore testing is often limited to single files rather than full systems.

The official text
a. Conduct backups of user-level information contained in [Assignment: organization-defined system components] [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; b. Conduct backups of system-level information contained in the system [Assignment: organization-defined frequency]; c. Conduct backups of system documentation, including security- and privacy-related documentation [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] ; and d. Protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of backup information. Discussion: System-level information includes system state information, operating system software, middleware, application software, and licenses. User-level information includes information other than system-level information. Mechanisms employed to protect the integrity of system backups include digital signatures and cryptographic hashes. Protection of system backup information while in transit is addressed by [MP-5](#mp-5) and [SC-8](#sc-8) . System backups reflect the requirements in contingency plans as well as other organizational requirements for backing up information. Organizations may be subject to laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, or policies with requirements regarding specific categories of information (e.g., personal health information). Organizational personnel consult with the senior agency official for privacy and legal counsel regarding such requirements.

From NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, a work of the US government in the public domain.

Lessons that cite it

Real incidents where this item mattered: the latest 12 of 70.