# SC-31 — Covert Channel Analysis

- **Control ID:** SC-31
- **Family:** [SC](/md/families/SC.md)
- **Baselines:** No content available.
- **Enhancement of:** No content available.

## Description

Perform a covert channel analysis to identify those aspects of communications within the system that are potential avenues for covert \[assignment\] channels; and Estimate the maximum bandwidth of those channels.

## Discussion

Developers are in the best position to identify potential areas within systems that might lead to covert channels. Covert channel analysis is a meaningful activity when there is the potential for unauthorized information flows across security domains, such as in the case of systems that contain export-controlled information and have connections to external networks (i.e., networks that are not controlled by organizations). Covert channel analysis is also useful for multilevel secure systems, multiple security level systems, and cross-domain systems.

## Implementation guidance

No content available.

## CSF 2.0 subcategories

No content available.

## Related controls

- [AC-3](/md/controls/AC-3.md)
- [AC-4](/md/controls/AC-4.md)
- [SA-8](/md/controls/SA-8.md)
- [SI-11](/md/controls/SI-11.md)

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Derived from official NIST publications (NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 and NIST CSF 2.0). nistcontrols.com is not affiliated with NIST.