The SCF is the Common Controls Framework® (CCF), the world's most comprehensive, free cybersecurity and data privacy metaframework. The SCF is more than just a unified control catalog, since its included content creates a playbook for Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) capabilities. Used globally by organizations of every size, the SCF is a robust and scalable solution for security, compliance and resilience controls.
Like it or not, cybersecurity is a protracted war on an asymmetric battlefield, where the threats are everywhere and as defenders we have to make the effort to work together to help improve cybersecurity and data privacy practices, since we all suffer when massive data breaches occur or when cyber attacks have physical impacts. Hackers share information on attack methods with other hackers, so why shouldn’t the good guys share information on how to best protect an organization? We decided to take action and make a difference, since we feel it is too important to wait for someone else to fix the problems that exist.
The SCF is made up of volunteers, mainly specialists within the cybersecurity profession, who focus on GRC and the cybersecurity side of data privacy. These are auditors, engineers, architects, incident responders, consultants and other specialists who live and breathe these topics on a daily basis. The end product is "expert-derived content" that makes up the SCF.
The Secure Controls Framework® (SCF) eliminates the need for separate compliance programs (e.g., siloed capabilities). Implement one tailored SCF control set that has the ability to simultaneously satisfy multiple laws, regulations and/or frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST CSF, NIST 800-171, SOC 2, PCI DSS, EU GDPR, etc.). The SCF is a FREE, comprehensive cybersecurity and data privacy metaframework designed to help organizations build secure, compliant and resilient capabilities. Instead of managing multiple, overlapping laws, regulations and frameworks independently, the SCF normalizes requirements into a Common Controls Framework (CCF) that supports multiple statutory, regulatory and contractual compliance requirements.
The SCF maps to 200+ unique laws, regulations, and frameworks across General, USA, EMEA, APAC, and Americas geographies. CMMC, HIPAA, GDPR, NIST CSF 2.0, NIST 800-171, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, SOC 2 and hundreds more! All mapped through rigorous STRM methodology.
The SCF is importable into any modern GRC platform in two formats: standard CSV (Excel) for universal compatibility, and NIST OSCAL JSON for machine-readable, standards-based integration. No proprietary lock-in. No fees for the standard license.
Starting in 2024, all crosswalk mappings use NIST IR 8477 Set Theory Relationship Mapping (STRM). This is the US Government’s gold standard for crosswalk mapping. Every mapping documents a precise relationship type and strength score, making coverage defensible and auditable.
The SCF is the Common Controls Framework® (CCF). No other framework holds this designation. The domains commoncontrolsframework.com and common-controls-framework.com both redirect to the SCF, reflecting its singular status as the definitive CCF.
Learn More →The SCF is dynamic. As laws change, new frameworks emerge, and threat landscapes evolve, the SCF is updated by its expert volunteer community. The cadence for releases is quarterly (4 releases per year). Your compliance program can stay current without heroic manual effort or expensive vendor updates.
The SCF is built and maintained entirely by volunteer cybersecurity and GRC professionals (CISOs, architects, engineers, auditors, privacy experts, and consultants) who donate their expertise because stronger security practices benefit everyone.
The SCF is the only major metaframework that uses NIST IR 8477 Set Theory Relationship Mapping (STRM), a mathematically rigorous, transparent methodology for every crosswalk mapping.
The SCF utilizes Set Theory Relationship Mapping (STRM) from NIST IR 8477 to create defensible mappings, so there is transparency with the SCF that other frameworks lack. You can see for yourself why one or more SCF controls map to a requirement from a specific law, regulation or framework.
Every mapping between an SCF control and a Law, Regulation or Framework (LRF) requirement documents a precise relationship type and a numeric strength score. Auditors, assessors, and regulators can verify exactly how and why an SCF control satisfies a given requirement.
The SCF's participation in the NIST National Online Information References (OLIR) Program includes accepted mappings for NIST CSF and SP 800-171. This participation provides independent government-recognized validation of the SCF's mapping quality.
The SCF is designed for real-world implementation, not just documentation "shelfware" for compliance theater. You can import the complete control catalog directly into the GRC tools your organization already uses.
Available as a standard Excel download (e.g., CSV) for universal compatibility, or as NIST OSCAL JSON for standards-based, machine-readable integration. The SCF’s stable control ID taxonomy (e.g., GOV-03, IAC-06) means version management across GRC systems is predictable and reliable.
Universal compatibility. Import directly into any GRC platform, spreadsheet tool, or custom database. No special tooling required.
Machine-readable format adhering to the NIST Open Security Controls Assessment Language (OSCAL) standard, ideal for automated GRC pipelines and DevSecOps integration.
The SCF is natively supported by dozens of enterprise GRC platforms. No proprietary lock-in. No licensing fees for the core framework.
Every control in the SCF is organized into one of 33 logically structured domains, providing a universal taxonomy that means the same thing to every organization using the SCF, worldwide.
The SCF is developed and maintained by volunteer cybersecurity and GRC professionals from around the world with no financial incentive to push a particular agenda, since our mission is to provide a powerful catalyst that will advance how cybersecurity and data privacy controls are utilized at the strategic, operational and tactical layers of an organization, regardless of its size or industry
The security community wins when every organization has access to world-class controls guidance. Attackers share methods freely. Defenders should too. That conviction is the foundation of the SCF.
The SCF Council's volunteer contributors include CISOs, security architects, engineers, auditors, GRC specialists, privacy experts, and compliance consultants who donate their expertise because improving security practices everywhere benefits society as a whole.
Senior practitioners defining enterprise security strategy and governance structures.
Governance, risk, and compliance professionals with deep regulatory expertise.
Technical architects who translate governance requirements into implementable designs.
Data privacy attorneys and privacy engineers contributing to PRI domain controls.
Operational security professionals ensuring controls reflect real-world implementation realities.
Third-party assessors ensuring controls are audit-ready and defensible under scrutiny.
Get the full SCF spreadsheet in .CSV or NIST OSCAL JSON format. No registration. No cost. No strings attached.
Work through the “Start Here” section to understand what the SCF is, how the SCRMS works, and how STRM mapping proves compliance coverage.
Use the Security, Compliance and Resilience Management System (SCRMS) as your operational guide for building a mature, auditable cybersecurity program.
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