IEEE Guide for Categorizing Security Needs for Protection-, Automation-, and Control-Related Data Files

Abstract

Security categorization is the first step in a security risk management framework because of its impact on all other steps, from the selection of security controls to apply based on the assessment to the level of effort required to assess the effectiveness of the security controls put in place. Information (data) at rest and information systems are covered by security categorization. The approach used in this guide applies only to data at rest. Types of information and information systems are considered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-60 Vol. 1, Rev. 1 [B16]. Security categories--based on the magnitude of harm expected to result from compromises rather than on the results of an assessment that includes an attempt to determine the probability of compromise--are established by Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 199 [B1]. These standards are aligned by the approach in this guide.