Common Criteria

Definition

Common Criteria is a framework used to evaluate the security properties of IT products and systems, ensuring they meet specific security requirements. It provides a standardized methodology for assessing and certifying the security of software and hardware, promoting trust and interoperability in secure operating system design principles and beyond.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Common Criteria is an international standard (ISO/IEC 15408) that originated from collaborative efforts among various countries to establish a consistent method for evaluating IT security.
2. The framework supports various levels of assurance, allowing organizations to select products based on their specific security needs and risk assessments.
3. It facilitates better communication among developers, evaluators, and consumers regarding security claims by providing clear guidelines and terminologies.
4. Common Criteria evaluations can be conducted by both national laboratories and commercial organizations, ensuring credibility and broad acceptance in global markets.
5. Achieving Common Criteria certification can be crucial for vendors aiming to market their products in regulated industries, such as government and finance, where strict security standards are mandatory.

Review Questions

• How does the Common Criteria framework enhance trust in secure operating systems?
  • The Common Criteria framework enhances trust in secure operating systems by providing a standardized method for evaluating and certifying their security features. This structured approach allows organizations to assess whether an operating system meets specific security requirements before deployment. By offering clear documentation of evaluation results, users can make informed decisions about adopting these systems based on their certified security levels.
• Discuss the role of Evaluation Assurance Levels (EAL) within the Common Criteria framework and their significance in product evaluation.
  • Evaluation Assurance Levels (EAL) play a critical role in the Common Criteria framework by categorizing the assurance provided by evaluated products. Each EAL represents a different level of scrutiny applied during the evaluation process, ranging from basic assurance to high assurance. The significance lies in helping consumers understand the degree of confidence they can have in a product's security features, guiding them in choosing appropriate solutions based on their risk tolerance.
• Evaluate how Common Criteria impacts the development process of secure operating systems and the broader IT industry.
  • Common Criteria significantly influences the development process of secure operating systems by encouraging developers to adopt best practices in security design from the outset. By aligning development with standardized evaluation criteria, developers can create more robust systems that meet compliance requirements. Furthermore, as industries increasingly demand certified products, Common Criteria shapes market trends by pushing manufacturers to prioritize security features, ultimately elevating overall cybersecurity standards across the IT industry.

Related terms

Evaluation Assurance Level (EAL): A range of grades used in the Common Criteria to indicate the level of confidence in the security functions of a product or system, with higher levels representing more rigorous evaluation.

Protection Profile (PP): A document that specifies the security requirements and objectives for a specific category of products, used as a basis for evaluating those products under the Common Criteria.

Security Target (ST): A detailed specification that outlines the security features of a product or system being evaluated, including the intended environment and security requirements, forming the basis for Common Criteria evaluations.