1. NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
Requirement:
The NIST CSF includes asset management as one of its core functions(Identify). It recommends maintaining an inventory of systems, applications, and data assets that contribute to the organization’s security posture.
Purpose:
Identifying and managing assets, including applications, is crucial for establishing a secure environment and protecting against cyber threats.
2. ISO/IEC 27001
Requirement:
The ISO 27001 standard for information security management systems (ISMS) includes asset management controls under Annex A.8, which suggests maintaining an inventory of assets, including applications.
Purpose:
Helps organizations identify assets that require protection and establish accountability, enabling security controls for information assets and applications.
3. SOC 2 (Service Organization Control 2)
Requirement:
SOC 2, particularly under the Trust Services Criteria, emphasizes asset management and the identification of applications that process or store customer data. Maintaining an inventory is part of demonstrating proper controls over information systems.
Purpose:
Ensures that service organizations manage application security and data protection controls effectively.
4. PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
Requirement:
PCI-DSS requires maintaining an up-to-date inventory of systems, applications, and devices that process, store, or transmit cardholder data. This includes tracking applications within the cardholder data environment.
Purpose:
Protects cardholder data by ensuring that all components in the environment are accounted for and secured.
5. HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability andAccountability Act)
Requirement:
HIPAA’s Security Rule includes asset management requirements related to electronic protected health information (ePHI). While it doesn’t explicitly mandate an application inventory, organizations are expected to track applications that access, store, or transmit ePHI.
Purpose:
Ensures that all systems interacting with sensitive health information are monitored and secured.
6. CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification)
Requirement:
CMMC, particularly in Levels 3 and above, requires a detailed asset inventory, including applications, to support proper access control and risk management practices.
Purpose:
Helps defense contractors identify, manage, and secure applications to protect controlled unclassified information (CUI) within the DoD supply chain.
7. GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
Requirement:
GDPR mandates accountability in data processing, and while it doesn’t explicitly require an application inventory, organizations must document all systems that process personal data. This generally necessitates an inventory of applications handling such data.
Purpose:
Ensures organizations are aware of all data processing systems to implement appropriate data protection controls and comply with data subject rights.
8. SOX (Sarbanes-Oxley Act)
Requirement:
While SOX is focused on financial reporting, it includes internal control requirements that often lead to the need for an application inventory. Companies must ensure systems supporting financial reporting are managed, requiring asset and application management for compliance.
Purpose:
Helps ensure financial systems' integrity, accuracy, and security to comply with SOX reporting standards.
Building An Application Inventory
What’s the best way to go about building an application inventory to suit your business? We detail here how to best retrieve applications, and what to include in an application inventory the steps here