Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP)

General Information

Technologies must be operated and maintained in accordance with Federal and Department security and privacy policies and guidelines. More information on the proper use of the TRM can be found on the TRM Proper Use Tab/Section.

Website:	Go to site
Description:	The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a suite of specifications that standardize the format and nomenclature by which software flaw and security configuration information is communicated, both to machines and humans. The Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) is a multi-purpose framework of component specifications that support automated configuration, vulnerability, and patch checking, security measurement, and technical control compliance activities. The SCAP version 1.3 specification is defined by the combination of NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-126 Revision 3, a set of schemas, and allows the use of particular minor version updates to SCAP 1.3 component specifications and the use of particular Open Vulnerability and Assessment Language (OVAL) core schema and platform schema versions. Allowing use of these updates and schemas provides additional functionality for SCAP 1.3 without causing any loss of existing functionality.
Technology/Standard Usage Requirements:	Users must ensure their use of this technology/standard is consistent with VA policies and standards, including, but not limited to, VA Handbooks 6102 and 6500; VA Directives 6004, 6513, and 6517; and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, including Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). Users must ensure sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. Prior to use of this technology, users should check with their supervisor, Information Security Officer (ISO), Facility Chief Information Officer (CIO), or local Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) representative to ensure that all actions are consistent with current VA policies and procedures prior to implementation.
Section 508 Information:
Decision:	View Decisions

Decision Source:	TRM Mgmt Group
Decision Process:	One-VA TRM v23.10
Decision Date:	10/24/2023 at 01:34:32 UTC
Introduced By:	TRM Request
Standards Body:	HealthData

Vendor Release Information

The Vendor Release table provides the known releases for the TRM Industry Standard, obtained from the vendor (or from the release source).

Version	Release Date	Vendor End of Life Date	Vendor Desupport Date
1.2	07/12/2011
1.3	04/01/2017
1.3.x	04/01/2017

Current Decision Matrix (10/17/2023)

Users must ensure their use of this technology/standard is consistent with VA policies and standards, including, but not limited to, VA Handbooks 6102 and 6500; VA Directives 6004, 6513, and 6517; and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standards, including Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS). Users must ensure sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. Prior to use of this technology, users should check with their supervisor, Information Security Officer (ISO), Facility Chief Information Officer (CIO), or local Office of Information and Technology (OI&T) representative to ensure that all actions are consistent with current VA policies and procedures prior to implementation.

The VA Decision Matrix displays the current and future VA IT position regarding different releases of a TRM entry. These decisions are based upon the best information available as of the most current date. The consumer of this information has the responsibility to consult the organizations responsible for the desktop, testing, and/or production environments to ensure that the target version of the technology will be supported. Any major.minor version that is not listed in the VA Decision Matrix is considered unapproved for use.

Legend:

White	Approved: The technology/standard has been approved for use.
Yellow	Approved w/Constraints: The technology/standard can be used within the specified constraints located below the decision matrix in the footnote[1] and on the General tab.
Gray	Unapproved: This technology or standard can be used only if a POA&M review is conducted and signed by the Authorizing Official Designated Representative (AODR) as designated by the Authorizing Official (AO) or designee and based upon a recommendation from the POA&M Compliance Enforcement, has been granted to the project team or organization that wishes to use the technology.
Orange	Divest: VA has decided to divest itself on the use of the technology/standard. As a result, all projects currently utilizing the technology/standard must plan to eliminate their use of the technology/standard. Additional information on when the entry is projected to become unapproved may be found on the Decision tab for the specific entry.
Black	Prohibited: The technology/standard is not (currently) permitted to be used under any circumstances.
Blue	Planning/Evaluation Constraint:The period of time this technology is currently being evaluated, reviewed, and tested in controlled environments. Use of this technology is strictly controlled and not available for use within the general population. If a customer would like to use this technology, please work with your local or Regional OI&T office and contact the appropriate evaluation office displayed in the notes below the decision matrix. The Local or Regional OI&T office should submit an inquiry to the TRM if they require further assistance or if the evaluating office is not listed in the notes below.

Release/Version Information:

VA decisions for specific versions may include a ‘.x’ wildcard, which denotes a decision that pertains to a range of multiple versions.

For example, a technology approved with a decision for 7.x would cover any version of 7.(Anything) - 7.(Anything). However, a 7.4.x decision would cover any version of 7.4.(Anything), but would not cover any version of 7.5.x or 7.6.x on the TRM.

VA decisions for specific versions may include ‘+’ symbols; which denotes that the decision for the version specified also includes versions greater than what is specified but is not to exceed or affect previous decimal places.

For example, a technology approved with a decision for 12.6.4+ would cover any version that is greater than 12.6.4, but would not exceed the .6 decimal ie: 12.6.401 is ok, 12.6.5 is ok, 12.6.9 is ok, however 12.7.0 or 13.0 is not.

Release	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4
<Past	CY2023				CY2024				CY2025				Future>
1.2	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved
1.3	Divest	Divest	Divest	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved	Unapproved
1.3.x	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved	Approved
Note:	At the time of writing, version 1.3.6 is the most current version, released 01/06/2022.

References

The following reference(s) are associated with this entry:
Type	Name	Source	Description
Vendor Provided*	Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) 1.3 Specifications	NIST	This link provides the specifications for Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) 1.3.
Vendor Provided*	Transitioning to the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) Version 2 White Paper		This website links to the Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) version 2 (v2) automates endpoint posture information collection and the incorporation of that information into network defense capabilities using standardized protocols.
Vendor Provided*	Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) Releases		This website links the user to the release notes to this technology.
*NOTE: Vendor provided information is subject to the accuracy of the manufacturer.

Standard Components

Note: This list may not be complete. No component, listed or unlisted, may be used outside of the technology in which it is released. The usage decision for a component is found in the Decision and Decision Constraints.
Source	Name	Description
No components have been identified for this entry.

VA Categories View the VA Categorization Framework

Domain Area	Category	Customer Guidance	Category Locked By ELT Date
Security Network Security	Vulnerability Management
Security Platform Security	Application Security

Technologies/Standards Relationships

Implemented By/Verified With:

No technologies have been identified with this standard.

Comparable Standards:

No comparable entries have been identified.

Associated Standards:

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations

General Analysis

Adoption Benefits

This standard is well-documented.
When used in accordance with the Veterans Affairs Handbook 6500 and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-53, Security Content Automation Protocol supports the Department`s security posture and its incident response process.
At the time of writing, no National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) vulnerabilities had been reported and no VA Cyber Security Operations Center (CSOC) bulletins had been issued for the latest versions of this standard.
Security Content Automation Protocol (SCAP) checklists standardize and enable automation of the linkage between computer security configurations and the NIST Special Publication 800-53 (SP 800-53) controls framework.
The use of this standard may help support the security posture of the organization.
There are minimal other TRM-approved standards that provide the same functionality.

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VA Technical Reference Model v 24.3

General Information

Vendor Release Information

Current Decision Matrix (10/17/2023)

References

Standard Components

VA Categories View the VA Categorization Framework

Technologies/Standards Relationships

Implemented By/Verified With:

Comparable Standards:

Associated Standards:

General Analysis

Adoption Benefits

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VA Technical Reference Model v 24.3

General Information

Vendor Release Information

Current Decision Matrix (10/17/2023)

References

Standard Components

VA Categories View the VA Categorization Framework

Technologies/Standards Relationships

Implemented By/Verified With:

Comparable Standards:

Associated Standards:

General Analysis

Adoption Benefits

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