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 VAIT
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.
|
|
Legend: |
White |
Authorized: The technology/standard has been authorized for use.
|
Yellow |
Authorized 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 |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M): 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 |
Authorized w/ Constraints (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 unauthorized may be
found on the Decision tab for the specific entry.
|
Black |
Unauthorized: The technology/standard is not (currently) permitted to be used under any circumstances.
|
Blue |
Authorized w/ Constraints (PLANNING/EVALUATION): 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 authorized 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 authorized 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.
|
Any major.minor version that is not listed in the VA Decision Matrix is considered Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M). |
<Past |
Future> |
3.4.x |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
3.5.x |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
3.6.x |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
3.7.x |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
3.8.x |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
3.9.x |
Approved w/Constraints [7, 9, 11] |
DIVEST [9, 11, 12, 13] |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Unapproved |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
4.1.x |
Unapproved |
DIVEST [9, 11, 12, 13] |
DIVEST [9, 11, 12, 13] |
DIVEST [9, 12, 13, 14] |
DIVEST [9, 12, 13, 14] |
DIVEST [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Unapproved |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
Authorized w/ Constraints (POA&M) |
4.4.x |
Unapproved |
Approved w/Constraints [9, 11, 12, 13] |
Approved w/Constraints [9, 11, 12, 13] |
Approved w/Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Approved w/Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Approved w/Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Approved w/Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Authorized w/ Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Authorized w/ Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Authorized w/ Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Authorized w/ Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
Authorized w/ Constraints [9, 12, 13, 14] |
| | [1] | Per VA Handbook 6500, Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 certified encryption must be used to encrypt data in transit and at rest if Personally Identifiable Information (PII), Protected Health Information (PHI) or VA sensitive information is involved or additional mitigating controls must be documented in an authorized System Security Plan (SSP). Additionally, the technology must be implemented within the VA production network (not in a Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), unless those specific uses and instances of this technology are authorized by the Enterprise Security Change Control Board (ESCCB) along with a Memorandum of Understanding and Interconnection Security Agreements (MOU/ISA), which detail the security requirements for those users and systems that share information and resources outside of the VA production network.
Per VA Handbook 6500 (Appendix F) all systems with a Moderate or High risk assessment are required to use a FIPS 140-2 compliant DBMS solution to protect information at rest or have mitigating controls documented in an authorized System Security Plan (SSP) for the system. It is the responsibility of the system owner to ensure that an appropriate DBMS technology is selected or that mitigating controls are in place and documented in the SSP.
Finally, new installations or major expansions of this technology must complete a Systems Engineering Design Review (SEDR) prior to implementation. | | [2] | As of April 23, 2015, per the Deputy CIO of Architecture, Strategy and Design (ASD), all technologies in use by the VA require an assessment by the VA Section 508 office. Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1998 is a federal law that sets the guidelines for technology accessibility. A VA Section 508 assessment of this technology has not been completed at the time of publication. Therefore, as of April 23, 2015 only users of this technology who have deployed the technology to the production environment, or have project design and implementation plans authorized, may continue to operate this technology. In the case of a project that has implemented, or been authorized for a specific site or number of users, and that project needs to expand operations to other sites or to an increased user base, it may do so as long as the project stays on the existing version of the technology that was authorized or implemented as of April 22, 2015. Use of this technology in all other cases is prohibited.
| | [3] | Veterans Affairs (VA) users must ensure VA sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. All instances of deployment using this technology should be reviewed by the local ISO (Information Security Officer) to ensure compliance with VA Handbook 6500. | | [4] | In cases where the technology is used for external connections, a full Enterprise Security Change Control Board (ESCCB) review is required in accordance VA Directive 6004 , VA Directive 6517, and VA Directive 6513. The local ISO can advise on the ESCCB review process. | | [5] | Veterans Affairs (VA) users must ensure VA sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. All instances of deployment using this technology should be reviewed by the local ISO (Information Security Officer) to ensure compliance with VA Handbook 6500. | | [6] | In cases where the technology is used for external connections, a full Enterprise Security Change Control Board (ESCCB) review is required in accordance VA Directive 6004 , VA Directive 6517, and VA Directive 6513. The local ISO can advise on the ESCCB review process. | | [7] | Users must not leverage functionality using File Transfer Protocol or Fast, Adaptive and Secure Protocol (FASP). | | [8] | New installations or major expansions of this technology that transmit data over the VA Wide Area Network (WAN) must complete a WAN impact review (contact VA e-mail: [OIT ITOPS SD Engagement Requests]) prior to implementation to ensure proper compliance to VA network design and usage requirements. | | [9] | New installations or major expansions of this technology that transmit data over the VA Wide Area Network (WAN) must complete a WAN impact review (yourIT Service Portal:[SNOW Service Requests]) prior to implementation to ensure proper compliance to VA network design and usage requirements. | | [10] | Veterans Affairs (VA) users must ensure VA sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. All instances of deployment using this technology should be reviewed by the local ISO (Information Security Officer) to ensure compliance with VA Handbook 6500. | | [11] | Veterans Affairs (VA) users must ensure VA sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. All instances of deployment using this technology should be reviewed by the local ISSO (Information System Security Officer) to ensure compliance with VA Handbook 6500. | | [12] | The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) features of this software must not be used as the FTP protocol is prohibited for use on the VA network. (For further information see: VA Policy Memo VAIQ 7615193 on Prohibited Use of File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and Telnet Services) | | [13] | Due to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) identified security vulnerabilities, extra vigilance should be applied to ensure the versions remain properly patched to mitigate known and future vulnerabilities. The local ISSO (Information System Security Officer) can provide assistance in reviewing the NIST vulnerabilities. | | [14] | Veterans Affairs (VA) users must ensure VA sensitive data is properly protected in compliance with all VA regulations. All instances of deployment using this technology should be reviewed by the local ISSO (Information System Security Officer) to ensure compliance with both VA Handbook 6500 and VA Directive 6500. |
|
Note: |
At the time of writing, the most recently released version is 4.4.1.1, released 11/17/2022 |