What are "baseline controls"?

The concept of "baseline controls" refers to a minimum set of security controls that are determined based on the categorization of a system. These controls serve as a foundational level of security measures that all systems within a particular classification, such as low, moderate, or high impact, must implement. The purpose of these baseline controls is to ensure a standardized level of protection across different systems, which facilitates compliance, helps manage risks effectively, and enhances the overall security posture of an organization.

By establishing baseline controls tailored to system categorization, organizations can focus their resources and efforts on the most relevant and critical security measures for different types of data and functionalities, thereby balancing security needs with operational realities. This ensures that even the most basic systems have adequate protection, while also allowing for additional controls to be implemented when required, based on specific risks or organizational policies.

This understanding of baseline controls highlights their necessity in risk management and compliance, contrasting with overly restrictive controls that may not be practical or necessary for every environment or level of risk.