CP-8(3)

Requirement

Obtain alternate telecommunications services from providers that are separated from primary service providers to reduce susceptibility to the same threats.

Discussion

Threats that affect telecommunications services are defined in organizational assessments of risk and include natural disasters, structural failures, cyber or physical attacks, and errors of omission or commission. Organizations can reduce common susceptibilities by minimizing shared infrastructure among telecommunications service providers and achieving sufficient geographic separation between services. Organizations may consider using a single service provider in situations where the service provider can provide alternate telecommunications services that meet the separation needs addressed in the risk assessment.

NIST 800-53A Assessment Guidance

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Contingency planning policy; procedures addressing primary and alternate telecommunications services; contingency plan; primary and alternate telecommunications service agreements; alternate telecommunications service provider site; primary telecommunications service provider site; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with contingency plan telecommunications responsibilities; organizational personnel with system recovery responsibilities; primary and alternate telecommunications service providers; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

ID	Assessment Objectives
CP-08(03)	alternate telecommunications services from providers that are separated from primary service providers are obtained to reduce susceptibility to the same threats.

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