Control: The organisation provides role-based security training to personnel with assigned security roles and responsibilities:
C. `{`Assignment: organisation-defined frequency`}` thereafter.
Supplemental Guidance: Organisations determine the appropriate content of security training based on the assigned roles and responsibilities of individuals and the specific security requirements of organizations and the information systems to which personnel have authorized access. In addition, organizations provide enterprise architects, information system developers, software developers, acquisition/procurement officials, information system managers, system/network administrators, personnel conducting configuration management and auditing activities, personnel performing independent verification and validation activities, security control assessors, and other personnel having access to system-level software, adequate security-related technical training specifically tailored for their assigned duties. Comprehensive role-based training addresses management, operational, and technical roles and responsibilities covering physical, personnel, and technical safeguards and countermeasures. Such training can include for example, policies, procedures, tools, and artifacts for the organisational security roles defined. Organisations also provide the training necessary for individuals to carry out their responsibilities related to operations and supply chain security within the context of organisational information security programs. Role-based security training also applies to contractors providing services to federal agencies.
Related controls: AT-2, AT-4, PL-4, PS-7, SA-3, SA-12, SA-16.
Role-Based Security Training Control Enhancements:
AT-3 (1) Role-Based Security Training - Environmental Controls
The organisation provides [Assignment: organisation-defined personnel or roles] with initial and [Assignment: organisation-defined frequency] training in the employment and operation of environmental controls.
Supplemental Guidance: Environmental controls include, for example, fire suppression and detection devices/systems, sprinkler systems, handheld fire extinguishers, fixed fire hoses, smoke detectors, temperature/humidity, HVAC, and power within the facility. Organisations identify personnel with specific roles and responsibilities associated with environmental controls requiring specialised training.
AT-3 (2) Role-Based Security Training - Physical Security Controls
The organisation provides [Assignment: organisation-defined personnel or roles] with initial and [Assignment: organisation-defined frequency] training in the employment and operation of physical security controls.
Supplemental Guidance: Physical security controls include, for example, physical access control devices, physical intrusion alarms, monitoring/surveillance equipment, and security guards (deployment and operating procedures). Organisations identify personnel with specific roles and responsibilities associated with physical security controls requiring specialised training.
AT-3 (3) Role-Based Security Training - Practical Exercises
The organisation includes practical exercises in security training that reinforce training objectives.
Supplemental Guidance: Practical exercises may include, for example, security training for software developers that includes simulated cyber attacks exploiting common software vulnerabilities (e.g., buffer overflows), or spear/whale phishing attacks targeted at senior leaders/executives. These types of practical exercises help developers better understand the effects of such vulnerabilities and appreciate the need for security coding standards and processes.
AT-3 (4) Role-Based Security Training - Suspicious communications and anomalous system behaviour
The organisation provides training to its personnel on [Assignment: organisation-defined indicators of malicious code] to recognise suspicious communications and anomalous behaviour in organisational information systems.
Supplemental Guidance: A well-trained workforce provides another organisational safeguard that can be employed as part of a defense-in-depth strategy to protect organisations against malicious code coming in to organisations via email or the web applications. Personnel are trained to look for indications of potentially suspicious email (e.g., receiving an unexpected email, receiving an email containing strange or poor grammar, or receiving an email from an unfamiliar sender but who appears to be from a known sponsor or contractor). Personnel are also trained on how to respond to such suspicious email or web communications (e.g., not opening attachments, not clicking on embedded web links, and checking the source of email addresses). For this process to work effectively, all organisational personnel are trained and made aware of what constitutes suspicious communications. Training personnel on how to recognise anomalous behaviours in organisational information systems can potentially provide early warning for the presence of malicious code. Recognition of such anomalous behaviour by organisational personnel can supplement automated malicious code detection and protection tools and systems employed by organisations.