Common Criteria

Definition

Common Criteria is a framework used for evaluating the security properties of information technology products and systems. It provides a standardized approach for assessing the security features and capabilities of these technologies, ensuring they meet specific requirements for security and functionality. This framework helps in building trust among users, manufacturers, and certifying bodies by establishing clear criteria for evaluation.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Common Criteria was developed to standardize the evaluation of IT security products across different countries and jurisdictions.
2. The framework provides a comprehensive set of guidelines and methodologies to assess various aspects of security, including confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
3. Evaluations can lead to multiple levels of assurance, depending on the complexity and criticality of the product being assessed.
4. Common Criteria evaluations are often required for government and military applications, ensuring that products meet stringent security requirements.
5. The framework is widely recognized internationally, facilitating mutual recognition agreements among participating nations for certified products.

Review Questions

• How does Common Criteria enhance trust among users and manufacturers in the evaluation of IT security products?
  • Common Criteria enhances trust by providing a transparent and standardized evaluation process for IT security products. By establishing clear criteria that products must meet, it reassures users about the security capabilities of these technologies. Manufacturers also benefit, as certifications under Common Criteria can serve as a competitive advantage, demonstrating their commitment to quality and security in their offerings.
• Discuss the role of Evaluation Assurance Levels (EAL) in the Common Criteria framework and their significance for security evaluations.
  • Evaluation Assurance Levels (EAL) play a crucial role in the Common Criteria framework by categorizing the depth and rigor of the evaluation process. Each EAL level corresponds to specific requirements that must be met to achieve that level of assurance. This helps organizations assess how thoroughly a product has been evaluated, which is significant when considering it for deployment in sensitive or critical environments where security is paramount.
• Evaluate the implications of mutual recognition agreements in relation to Common Criteria certifications on global IT security standards.
  • Mutual recognition agreements have significant implications for global IT security standards as they facilitate international cooperation and consistency in evaluating and certifying products under Common Criteria. These agreements enable certified products from one country to be accepted in another without needing additional evaluations, thus streamlining processes for manufacturers and increasing market access. This fosters a more secure global technology environment by ensuring that products meeting recognized standards can be trusted across borders.

Related terms

Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL): A numeric scale from EAL1 to EAL7 that indicates the level of rigor in the evaluation process of an IT product's security.

Protection Profile (PP): A document that specifies a set of security requirements for a class of products or systems, which must be met during the evaluation process.

Certification: The formal recognition that a product meets the security standards set forth by Common Criteria after undergoing a rigorous evaluation process.