LLMResponse CM.L2-3.4.4.a

Evidence Types and Assessment Approaches for CM.L2-3.4.4 Security Impact Analysis

Based on the CMMC Level 2 assessment guidance you've provided, I'll help you prioritize the evidence types and assessment approaches for evaluating the objective: "[a] the security impact of changes to the system is analyzed prior to implementation."

Ranking the Evidence Types

1. **Documents** - Highest priority evidence type

  * Change request forms with security impact analysis sections
  * Security impact analysis reports
  * Test plans showing security considerations
  * Change control board meeting minutes showing security discussions
  * Configuration management procedures that require security impact analysis

2. **Artifacts** - Second priority

  * Completed security impact analysis worksheets
  * Change tickets with security impact sections completed
  * Outputs from security testing tools
  * Records of approved changes with security considerations addressed

3. **Screen Share** - Third priority

  * Demonstration of how security impact analysis is conducted in practice
  * Walkthrough of the change management system showing security review elements
  * Observation of testing security impacts in a test environment

4. **Physical Review** - Lowest priority for this objective

  * While physical inspection might be relevant for some security practices, it offers limited value for proving that security impacts are analyzed before implementation

Prioritizing Assessment Approaches

1. **Examine** - Highest priority approach

  * Review documentation of security impact analyses
  * Inspect configuration management procedures
  * Review change control records showing security impact analyses were performed
  * Examine security impact analysis outputs
  * Review change management processes that include security impact analysis requirements

2. **Interview** - Second priority

  * Speak with personnel responsible for security impact analysis
  * Interview system administrators about how they analyze security impacts
  * Question information security personnel about their role in change management

3. **Test** - Third priority

  * Observe a demonstration of the security impact analysis process
  * Request a walkthrough of how a recent change was analyzed for security impacts
  * If possible, have the organization conduct a security impact analysis of a hypothetical change

Rationale for Prioritization

The "Examine" approach should be prioritized because documented evidence of security impact analyses provides the most direct proof that the organization consistently performs this practice. Documentation also demonstrates that the process is formalized rather than ad hoc.

"Interview" is second because speaking with personnel helps verify understanding of the process and can highlight details not captured in documentation, while "Test" is third as it can demonstrate capability but may not prove consistent implementation across all changes.

For evidence types, Documents and Artifacts provide tangible proof that can be reviewed thoroughly, while Screen Share offers real-time verification but is limited to what can be observed during the assessment session. Physical Review has limited relevance for this particular objective.

Following this approach will help establish whether the organization consistently analyzes security impacts before implementing changes, which is the core requirement of CM.L2-3.4.4.