Mission-Critical
Endpoint Security
Map CtrlLayer controls to NIST 800-53, align with zero trust architecture, and support CJIS compliance — including offline operation for air-gapped networks.
NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 Control Mapping
NIST Special Publication 800-53 Revision 5 defines security and privacy controls for federal information systems. CtrlLayer maps directly to controls across multiple control families.
Least Privilege & Account Management
- AC-6 Least Privilege: CtrlLayer enforces least privilege by removing persistent administrative rights from all endpoints. Elevation is granted per-application, per-user, and per-session — the definition of least privilege at the endpoint.
- AC-6(1) Authorize Access to Security Functions: Security-relevant software and system functions require explicit policy authorization for elevation. Default deny for all administrative operations.
- AC-6(2) Non-Privileged Access for Nonsecurity Functions: Users perform all non-administrative tasks with standard privileges. Elevation only occurs for authorized administrative functions.
- AC-6(5) Privileged Accounts: No persistent privileged accounts on managed endpoints. All administrative access is just-in-time, time-limited, and fully audited.
Audit Logging & Non-Repudiation
- AU-2 Event Logging: CtrlLayer captures all privilege escalation events, application executions, USB device connections, network anomalies, and policy changes on every managed endpoint.
- AU-3 Content of Audit Records: Each audit record includes: what happened, when, where, who, the outcome, and a cryptographic chain reference — exceeding the minimum content requirements.
- AU-9 Protection of Audit Information: Hash-chain audit logs cannot be modified or deleted by local users or administrators. Integrity is verifiable through cryptographic chain validation.
- AU-10 Non-Repudiation: Cryptographic chaining provides non-repudiation. Users cannot deny that elevation events occurred — the mathematical proof is in the hash chain.
Baseline & Change Control
- CM-5 Access Restrictions for Change: Only authorized users can make configuration changes to managed endpoints. All changes require elevation, which is policy-controlled and logged.
- CM-7 Least Functionality: Application control restricts endpoint software to approved applications only. Unapproved software cannot execute with elevated privileges.
- CM-7(2) Prohibit or Restrict Use of Specified Functions, Ports, Protocols, and/or Services: USB device controls, network monitoring, and application policies restrict endpoint functionality to mission-required capabilities.
- CM-11 User-Installed Software: Users cannot install software without elevation. Elevation for software installation requires explicit policy authorization with full audit trail.
Monitoring & Anomaly Detection
- SI-3 Malicious Code Protection: Application whitelisting prevents unauthorized executables from running with elevated privileges. Hash verification ensures only known-good binaries are elevated.
- SI-4 System Monitoring: Continuous endpoint monitoring detects anomalous behavior — unusual elevation patterns, network anomalies, USB device usage, and policy violations.
- SI-4(5) System-Generated Alerts: CtrlLayer generates real-time alerts when monitoring thresholds are exceeded, enabling rapid incident response for suspicious endpoint behavior.
- SI-7 Software, Firmware, and Information Integrity: Cryptographic hash verification for elevated applications ensures integrity of software executing with administrative privileges.
FedRAMP Readiness Path
CtrlLayer is on the path to FedRAMP authorization. Our architecture and controls are designed to meet FedRAMP Moderate baseline requirements from the ground up — not retrofitted onto an existing commercial product.
- NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 Moderate baseline control implementation documented and tested
- Continuous monitoring capabilities align with FedRAMP ConMon requirements
- FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules for all encryption operations
- FedRAMP-authorized infrastructure for hosted components (details available under NDA)
- 3PAO assessment timeline available upon request
FedRAMP Status
CJIS Compliance for Law Enforcement
The FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy establishes minimum security requirements for access to FBI CJIS systems and data. CtrlLayer addresses multiple CJIS policy areas at the endpoint.
Access Control
CJIS Policy Area 5 requires that access to CJI be restricted to authorized individuals performing authorized functions. CtrlLayer ensures that only authorized personnel can access CJIS-connected applications on managed workstations. Elevation is role-based, time-limited, and tied to individual identity — not shared credentials.
Identification & Authentication
All elevation requests require individual authentication. Advanced authentication (multi-factor) can be required for access to CJIS applications. No anonymous or shared administrative access on CJIS-connected workstations.
Auditing & Accountability
CJIS requires audit events for access to CJI. CtrlLayer's hash-chain audit log captures every access attempt, elevation event, and policy change with tamper-evident integrity. Audit records include user identity, timestamp, workstation, application, and action outcome.
System & Communications Protection
CtrlLayer's network monitoring detects unauthorized communications from CJIS-connected endpoints. USB controls prevent unauthorized media connections. AES-256 encryption protects agent-server communications, meeting CJIS encryption requirements for CJI in transit.
Zero Trust Architecture Alignment
Executive Order 14028 and OMB Memorandum M-22-09 mandate federal agencies move toward zero trust architectures. CtrlLayer's design philosophy aligns with NIST SP 800-207 zero trust principles from the endpoint outward.
- Never Trust, Always Verify: No persistent elevated privileges. Every elevation request is independently verified against policy before granting — regardless of the user's previous access history.
- Least Privilege Access: Per-application, per-session elevation. Users receive the minimum privilege required for the specific task, for the minimum time required.
- Assume Breach: The agent operates as if the endpoint is already compromised. Continuous monitoring detects anomalous behavior. Hash-chain audit logs are tamper-resistant by design.
- Continuous Verification: Access decisions are made continuously, not at login time only. Endpoint posture is evaluated on every elevation request.
- Micro-Segmentation Support: Network monitoring at the endpoint level detects lateral movement attempts, supporting micro-segmentation enforcement.
Zero Trust at the Endpoint
User verified on every elevation request
Endpoint posture assessed continuously
Hash-verified before elevation grant
Communication monitored post-access
Exfiltration detected via USB + network
Air-Gapped Network Support
Many government networks operate in air-gapped or SIPR environments without internet connectivity. CtrlLayer's agent supports offline operation with local policy enforcement and batched audit log synchronization.
Offline Agent Mode
The CtrlLayer agent caches its policy configuration locally and enforces all rules — elevation controls, USB policies, application restrictions — without requiring continuous server communication. Policies persist through reboots and network disruptions.
Batched Audit Sync
Audit logs are stored locally with hash-chain integrity when the server is unreachable. When connectivity is restored — or via approved data transfer procedures for fully air-gapped networks — logs synchronize with the server without any loss of integrity or ordering.
Local Policy Updates
Policy updates can be distributed via approved removable media for air-gapped environments. Signed policy packages are verified by the agent before application, preventing unauthorized policy modifications even in disconnected environments.
Audit Trail for FOIA Compliance
Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. §552) requests increasingly target agency cybersecurity practices and incident records. CtrlLayer's audit trails provide clear, defensible documentation of security controls and access activities.
Searchable Records
Audit logs are indexed and searchable by date, user, workstation, application, and action type. FOIA officers can pull responsive records without IT intervention.
Redaction Support
Export audit records with configurable field-level redaction for FOIA exemptions (b)(7)(E) law enforcement techniques and (b)(4) commercial confidential information.
Retention Compliance
Configurable retention policies align with NARA records schedules. General Records Schedule (GRS) 3.2 for information systems security records supported.
Secure the Mission
Schedule a classified or unclassified briefing on CtrlLayer's government capabilities.