Certified: The CISSP Prepcast

Welcome to The Bare Metal Cyber CISSP Prepcast. This series helps you prepare for the ISC squared CISSP exam with focused explanations and practical context.
In this episode, we’ll explore key Security Evaluation frameworks—specifically, the Common Criteria, the Risk Management Framework, and the ISO and I E C security standards. These frameworks are essential tools that organizations use to assess and verify the security of their systems, ensure compliance with standards, and manage risk effectively. Whether you are securing an information system, validating a product for procurement, or ensuring compliance with industry benchmarks, these frameworks help define how security should be measured, maintained, and improved.
Security evaluations are structured assessments that measure how well a system protects information, maintains confidentiality, and operates reliably under defined conditions. These evaluations help organizations identify vulnerabilities, validate controls, and demonstrate due diligence. They are often required by regulators, procurement officers, or internal auditors as part of certification or operational risk assessments.
Let’s begin with an overview of what a security evaluation actually entails. A security evaluation examines both technical and non-technical controls implemented within an information system. This includes administrative safeguards such as policies and procedures, physical protections like facility access controls, and technical defenses such as encryption and firewalls. The evaluation framework outlines how these controls should be tested, what metrics are used to judge effectiveness, and how results should be documented.
The purpose of any evaluation is to provide assurance. That means offering a well-founded level of confidence that a system will perform securely and as expected. Security evaluations allow stakeholders—whether internal or external—to understand what risks are being managed, how well those risks are controlled, and whether the system is prepared for future threats.
Let’s now turn to our first major framework: the Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation, often referred to simply as Common Criteria. This is an internationally recognized standard used to evaluate the security features and assurances of information technology products and systems. It originated from the unification of three prior evaluation systems used by the United States, Canada, and various European countries.
Common Criteria relies on three key elements. The first is the Protection Profile. This defines a set of security requirements for a class of products or systems. For example, there might be a Protection Profile for a firewall, an operating system, or a smart card.
The second is the Security Target. This is specific to the product or system being evaluated. It outlines what the vendor claims the product will do, including the security functions and the environment in which it will operate. The Security Target is measured against the Protection Profile to ensure alignment.
The third component is the Evaluation Assurance Level, or E A L. This is a numerical scale, typically ranging from one to seven, that describes how thoroughly the product has been tested and verified. A product with E A L one has been tested in a basic way. A product with E A L four or higher has undergone rigorous analysis, independent review, and formal testing.
Common Criteria evaluations include several phases, such as documentation review, functional testing, vulnerability analysis, and penetration testing. These evaluations are performed by accredited third-party labs and recognized by member nations through a mutual recognition agreement.
Organizations use Common Criteria to validate the security of commercial off-the-shelf products before deployment in sensitive environments. Governments, financial institutions, and defense contractors often require these certifications as a prerequisite for procurement.
Now let’s move to the Risk Management Framework, more commonly known as R M F. This framework, developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is used extensively by the United States federal government and its contractors. R M F provides structured guidance for integrating security and risk management activities into the system development life cycle.
R M F consists of six steps. The first step is to categorize the information system based on the types of information it processes and the potential impact of a breach. The second step is to select appropriate security controls based on the risk categorization. The third step is to implement those controls and document how they are configured.
The fourth step is to assess the effectiveness of the controls. This involves testing, analysis, and validation. The fifth step is to authorize the system for operation. This decision is made by a senior official who reviews the risk posture and formally accepts any residual risk. The sixth and final step is to monitor the system on an ongoing basis. This includes continuous assessment, vulnerability scanning, and documentation updates.
The Risk Management Framework emphasizes accountability, traceability, and transparency. It requires organizations to not only implement controls but to understand their effectiveness, document their decisions, and prepare for change. R M F is widely adopted not only in the public sector but also in industries that follow federal security standards, such as defense, healthcare, and critical infrastructure.
Now let’s turn to the ISO and I E C security standards. These are developed by the International Organization for Standardization and the International Electrotechnical Commission. Together, they provide globally recognized guidelines for managing and evaluating information security.
The most prominent of these is ISO I E C Twenty-Seven Thousand One. This standard defines how to establish, implement, maintain, and improve an information security management system. It provides a risk-based approach for protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
ISO I E C Twenty-Seven Thousand Two complements the previous standard by offering best practices for implementing specific security controls. It outlines practical steps for access control, incident management, physical security, cryptography, and compliance, among many others.
Another important standard is ISO I E C Fifteen Thousand Four Hundred Eight, which aligns with the Common Criteria discussed earlier. It provides the detailed criteria for evaluating the security properties of information technology products.
Compliance with these standards often begins with a formal gap analysis to determine how an organization’s existing controls align with the requirements. After any deficiencies are corrected, the organization may pursue formal certification through an accredited auditing body. Certification helps demonstrate security maturity, fulfill customer requirements, and improve the organization's competitive standing in the global marketplace.
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Let’s now look at how to implement and maintain effective security evaluations. The first step is to develop formal policies and procedures that align with your chosen framework. These documents should define the roles and responsibilities of those involved in evaluations, the tools and processes used, and the criteria for success.
Security evaluations must be integrated into the full life cycle of the system. This means including evaluation criteria in the design, development, deployment, and decommissioning phases. Teams should regularly assess whether implemented controls meet the required standards, and whether risks have changed.
Cross-functional collaboration is essential. Security teams, system owners, compliance officers, and business stakeholders must work together to ensure that evaluation processes are complete, consistent, and actionable. Communication must flow both ways so that evaluation findings lead to real improvements.
Documentation must be complete, accurate, and audit-ready. This includes evaluation reports, risk assessments, control implementation summaries, and corrective action plans. Review boards and external auditors may request these documents at any time.
Let’s close with the importance of continuous improvement. Security evaluations are not a one-time event. Threats evolve, business operations shift, and technology changes rapidly. Organizations must treat evaluations as part of an ongoing strategy to stay ahead of risk.
That begins with regularly reviewing and updating your evaluation practices. Use threat intelligence, incident reports, and industry developments to inform changes. If a framework is updated, review your compliance and make adjustments.
Audits and incident investigations are a great source of feedback. If a control failed during a real-world incident, ask why. Did the evaluation miss something? Was the risk underestimated? Use those insights to improve future evaluations.
Training is vital. Everyone involved in the evaluation process—from assessors to system owners—must be kept up to date. Provide scenario-based training, tabletop exercises, and regular refreshers to keep teams sharp and aligned with standards.
Stay proactive. Monitor for changes in evaluation requirements, such as new ISO standards or updated federal guidelines. Consider how artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and emerging regulations affect your current frameworks. Plan for certification renewals and schedule assessments in advance.
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