Benefits:

Reduced risk of unauthorized access: By physically controlling and securely storing CUI (Controlled Unclassified Information) on both digital and paper media, organizations minimize the chances of unauthorized individuals gaining access to sensitive information. This helps prevent data breaches and protects national security interests.

Enhanced accountability and tracking: Implementing procedures like check-out/check-in for media and maintaining inventories enable organizations to track the location and movement of CUI, ensuring accountability and facilitating incident response if needed.

Improved compliance: Implementing control 3.8.1 demonstrates an organization's commitment to protecting CUI and complying with relevant regulations, such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).

Accountability:

Senior Management: Establishes and enforces policies and procedures: They define clear guidelines for CUI handling, storage, and access, ensuring everyone understands their roles and responsibilities. Allocates resources: They provide the necessary budget, personnel, and infrastructure to implement and maintain effective CUI protection measures. Oversees implementation: They ensure all departments and individuals comply with established policies and procedures, and that CUI protection measures are continuously monitored and improved.

IT Security Team: Develops and implements security controls: They design and put into practice safeguards like access controls, encryption, and auditing to protect CUI on system media. Monitors and audits: They regularly assess system media for vulnerabilities and ensure adherence to security protocols. Responds to incidents: They have a plan to identify, contain, and recover from security incidents involving CUI data.

System Owners: Implements security controls: They enforce the security measures defined by the IT security team on the systems they manage, ensuring CUI is protected within their area of responsibility. Labels CUI media: They properly label and classify CUI media according to its sensitivity level to prevent unauthorized access or misuse. Disposes of media securely: They follow established procedures for securely disposing of or reusing CUI media when it's no longer needed.

Individual Users: Handles CUI according to policy: They are responsible for following established guidelines for accessing, storing, and transmitting CUI, ensuring its confidentiality and integrity. Reports security incidents: They report any suspected security breaches or unauthorized access attempts involving CUI to the appropriate authorities. Uses strong passwords and access controls: They choose strong passwords and adhere to access control protocols to prevent unauthorized access to CUI.

Implementation:

Physical security: Store CUI in locked cabinets, safes, or controlled access areas to prevent unauthorized physical access.

Inventory and tracking: Maintain an accurate inventory of all CUI media and implement procedures for checking out, using, and returning media.

Secure disposal: Ensure proper sanitization or destruction of CUI media before disposal or reuse to prevent residual data exposure.

Encryption: Consider encrypting sensitive information on digital media for added protection, especially during transport or cloud storage.