Mapped to NIST 800-171 Requirement: 3.13.13
CMMC Assessment Objective: SC.L2-3.13.13[b]
What This Control Means
After identifying your control and monitoring mechanisms (SC.L2-3.13.13[a]), you must:
• Describe how communications are controlled at boundary points
• Document what monitoring occurs (e.g., IDS/IPS, SIEM, NetFlow)
• Connect protections to CUI transmission paths
• Assign responsibility for managing and reviewing boundary protections
This written record should be included in your:
• System Security Plan (SSP)
• Network diagrams
• Security operations procedures
Why It Matters
Without documentation:
• Internal teams may overlook critical monitoring points
• Auditors cannot verify that communications are secured appropriately
• New connections could be made without applying proper protections
• Security analysts may not know where to focus monitoring efforts
Documented controls and monitoring ensure your perimeter defenses are intentional and visible.
How to Implement It
1. Update Your SSP and Supporting Documents For each boundary or interconnection:
• List:
◦ Firewalls, VPNs, proxies
◦ IDS/IPS or SIEM tools
◦ Logging mechanisms tied to communications flows
• State:
◦ What types of traffic are monitored or blocked
◦ How alerts are handled
◦ What protocols or encryption methods are enforced
2. Use Diagrams for Clarity
• Visually represent:
◦ Ingress/egress points
◦ Control and monitoring systems placement
◦ Separation between trusted and untrusted networks
3. Identify Control Owners
• Define who:
◦ Configures and updates firewalls and boundary devices
◦ Reviews monitoring logs and responds to incidents
4. Link to Other Documentation
• Reference relevant policies, incident response procedures, and risk management plans
Evidence the Assessor Will Look For
• SSP entries describing boundary controls and monitoring tools
• Detailed network diagrams highlighting boundary protection points
• Firewall and IDS/IPS configuration files or summaries
• Policies or playbooks for monitoring and responding to boundary alerts
• Historical logs showing control and monitoring in action
Common Gaps
• Controls deployed but not described in documentation
• No visibility into cloud boundary protections
• Monitoring discussed informally but not linked to official plans or SSP
• Missing records of boundary log reviews or alert handling
How Cuick Trac Helps
Cuick Trac supports this requirement by:
• Documenting control and monitoring mechanisms for every system boundary
• Mapping tools and configurations to CUI protection points
• Linking monitoring activities to compliance and incident response plans
• Maintaining audit-ready records showing active boundary defense strategies
• Tracking boundary protection updates and validation activities
With Cuick Trac, your perimeter defenses aren’t just active—they’re mapped, monitored, and fully documented.
Final CTA
Defense you can’t document is defense you can’t prove.
Schedule a Cuick Trac demo to document your system boundary protections and make your CMMC compliance airtight.