How to bootstrap the NIST risk management framework with verification activities

OWASP Application Security Verification Standard (ASVS) can be used in support of the NIST risk management framework. This article describes one possible way to bootstrap the NIST risk management framework security life cycle with verification activities.

NIST risk management framework security life cycle

The NIST risk management framework security life cycle activities can be summarized as follows:

• Categorize the information system
• Select an initial set of security controls
• Supplement the initial set of tailored security controls
• Document the agreed-upon set of security controls
• Implement the security controls
• Assess the security controls
• Authorize information system operation
• Monitor and assess selected security controls

The NIST risk management framework security life cycle activities can be strengthened with verification activities using OWASP ASVS as follows:

NIST framework activity	Can ASVS be used?	Notes
Categorize the information system	No
Select an initial set of security controls	No
Supplement the initial set of tailored security controls	Yes	OWASP ASVS is an easy way to add web application and web service-specific security requirements, to guard against threats that are specific to web applications and web services.
Document the agreed-upon set of security controls	Yes	OWASP ASVS security architecture analyses can be used as input to system security plans.
Implement the security controls	Yes	OWASP ASVS verification requirements can be used to ensure security controls called by web applications and web services are designed, implemented, and called securely.
Assess the security controls	Yes	OWASP ASVS verifications can be performed to assess supplemented web application and web service technical security control requirements.
Authorize information system operation	No
Monitor and assess selected security controls	Yes	OWASP ASVS verifications can be performed during the life cycle at regular intervals, as a new on-going activity introduced into the existing life cycle.