Is the Orange Book still relevant for assessing security controls?

Is the Orange Book still relevant for assessing security controls?

Is the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) still a relevant set of criteria for assessing security controls in the enterprise? For instance, is it useful in securing a system using VMware? And to what extent should most infosec pros today be familiar with the "Orange book?"

    Requires Free Membership to View

    SearchSecurity.com members gain immediate and unlimited access to breaking industry news, virus alerts, new hacker threats, highly focused security newsletters, and more -- all at no cost. Join me on SearchSecurity.com today!

    Michael S. Mimoso, Editorial Director

    By submitting your registration information to SearchSecurity.com you agree to receive email communications from TechTarget and TechTarget partners. We encourage you to read our Privacy Policy which contains important disclosures about how we collect and use your registration and other information. If you reside outside of the United States, by submitting this registration information you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States. Your use of SearchSecurity.com is governed by our Terms of Use. You may contact us at webmaster@TechTarget.com.

The Orange Book, which is the nickname for the Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC), was superseded by the Common Criteria for Information Technology Security Evaluation as of 2005, so there isn't much point in continuing to focus on the Orange Book, though the general topics laid out in it (policy, accountability, audit and documentation) are still key pieces of any security program and/or framework.

New security professionals are best suited to focus on a timely framework like Common Criteria, ISO 27001/2 or COBIT, depending on which systems they will be evaluated against in practice. In terms of new platforms like VMware, there's more leverage in working with a currently accepted framework of controls that can be used for assessments in the here and now.

More information:

  • Learn how to use VMware for malware analysis.
  • COSO and COBIT are valuable compliance frameworks for SOX. Read more.

This was first published in July 2008