Companies working with the Department of Defense and government agencies are using security-first solutions to make their operations more efficient and comply with rules. For organizations dealing with Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), the establishment of secure environments known as CUI Enclaves is a critical component in fortifying data security. This guide delves into the significance of CUI enclaves, their role in data protection, and why they have become popular with companies in the defense industrial base looking to comply with NIST 800-171 and pending CMMC regulations.
CUI Enclaves are stand-alone, secure spaces designed to house and manage Controlled Unclassified Information. From the CMMC Assessment Process (CAP), “[An Enclave is] a set of system resources that operate within the same security domain and that share the protection of a single, common, and continuous security perimeter. A segmentation of an organization’s network or data that is intended to “wall off” that network or database from all other networks or systems (1).” These CUI Enclaves may also help to limit the footprint of CUI data on the organization and help reduce the exposure of CUI data to the rest of the enterprise systems, helping keep the unnecessary organizational systems out of scope.
From the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA), they state, “Safeguarding classified and sensitive information is one of the most critical ways to maintain our national security. CUI is an overarching term representing many different categories, each authorized by one or more laws, regulations, or government-wide policies. Because there are fewer controls over CUI as compared to classified information, CUI is an attractive target for adversaries (2).” CUI Enclaves play a pivotal role in aligning with DoD standards, providing a secure foundation for organizations to operate within the guidelines set forth by one of the most stringent regulatory bodies and can help an Organization Seeking Certification (OSC) achieve this standard.
At the core of the enclave concept is the effort to fortify a particular class of data security, in this case CUI, while allowing other organizational security practices and principles to remain in place within the organization but outside the enclave. The principles outlined in the enclave architecture prioritize security and compliance, drawing from key characteristics such as isolation from host networks, stringent user authentication, and restricted access to authorized information.
The CUI Enclave's architecture ensures a strict segregation from host networks. This isolation is a pivotal security measure, preventing unauthorized entities from infiltrating the enclave and safeguarding the integrity of sensitive information. The physical and/or logical separation minimizes the risk of external threats compromising the enclave's security.
Most commercial enclave solutions are built on the principle of least privilege, allowing access only to those individuals who require specific information for their designated roles. This restricted access minimizes the surface area for potential security breaches and ensures that sensitive data is accessible solely to those with a legitimate need. It aligns with the overarching goal of maintaining confidentiality and preventing unauthorized disclosure.
Encrypting the information in the enclave, both at rest and in transit, adds a layer of security to protect the information if the enclave were to be breached by unauthorized access. This is also a common feature of most commercially available enclave solutions.
All access and activity to the enclave should be logged and monitored. This adds a layer of oversight and the ability to provide forensics in the case of malicious or any other security incidents.
While CUI Enclaves will not be a perfect solution for everyone, as a quick way to isolate data in smaller or less complex environments where DoD work is well defined and separate from other client work, they may provide some benefits, including the following:
To ensure compliance with the CMMC framework, defense contractors must implement a dynamic range of cybersecurity measures. CUI Enclaves have emerged as one data management solution to support CMMC compliance efforts. They have helped some organizations with reducing the burden of attempting to make their entire corporate network become compliant but again, enclaves are not one size fits all nor are the appropriate for every organization with compliance requirements.
If you would like to discuss enclaves in greater detail with one of our compliance experts, reach out to us today.
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