SI.L2-3.14.7 Identify Unauthorized Use

CMMC Practice SI.L2-3.14.7 – Identify Unauthorized Use: Identify unauthorized use of organizational systems.

Links to Publicly Available Resources

Cimcor – Identifying Suspicious Network Changes: 8 Red Flags to Watch For
This article describes early warning signs of negative changes that may indicate you are under active attack
CMMC Level 2 Assessment Guide
This document provides assessment guidance for conducting Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) assessments for Level 2.
NIST SP 800-53: SI-4 Information System Monitoring
This publication from NIST provides an overview of the SI-4 Information System Monitoring control.
Preventing and Avoiding Network Security Threats and Vulnerabilities
This article describes the concept of Unified Threat Management and how implementing UTM will aid in identifying unauthorized access and use.
Security Metrics – The Importance Of Log Management
This article describes how log management, identifying log types to collect and how log reviews will identify unauthorized access to organizational systems
Thiel College – Computer and System Logging Policy
This is an example of a logging policy, including system and application logging elements that if logged correctly, will aid in identifying unauthorized access and use.

Discussion [NIST SP 800-171 R2]
System monitoring includes external and internal monitoring. System monitoring can detect unauthorized use of organizational systems. System monitoring is an integral part of continuous monitoring and incident response programs. Monitoring is achieved through a variety of tools and techniques (e.g., intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, malicious code protection software, scanning tools, audit record monitoring software, network monitoring software). Output from system monitoring serves as input to continuous monitoring and incident response programs.
Unusual/unauthorized activities or conditions related to inbound and outbound communications traffic include internal traffic that indicates the presence of malicious code in systems or propagating among system components, the unauthorized exporting of information, or signaling to external systems. Evidence of malicious code is used to identify potentially compromised systems or system components. System monitoring requirements, including the need for specific types of system monitoring, may be referenced in other requirements.
NIST SP 800-94 provides guidance on intrusion detection and prevention systems.

Further Discussion
Define authorized use of your systems. Create an acceptable use policy to establish the baseline for how users access devices, internal network services, and the internet. Define authorized use by specific roles such as: user, administrator, and technician. After authorized use is defined, identify unauthorized use of systems.
Monitor systems by observing audit activities from the system logs. This can be accomplished in real time using automated solutions or by manual means. To identify unauthorized use, leverage existing tools and techniques, such as:

intrusion detection systems;
intrusion prevention systems;
malicious code protection software;
scanning tools;
audit record monitoring software; and
network monitoring software.

This practice, SI.L2-3.14.7, which deals with identifying unauthorized use of organizational systems, is related to practices: AC.L1-3.1.1, AU.L2-3.3.1, IA.L1-3.5.1, and IA.L1-3.5.2. All of these practices help create the building blocks that support SI.L2-3.14.7.