Overview#
Detection of unauthorized changes to critical files and configurations. Supports PCI-DSS and incident response by highlighting unexpected modifications.
Core objectives#
- Establish shared definitions of File Integrity Monitoring for security, engineering, and leadership teams.
- Connect File Integrity Monitoring activities to measurable risk reduction and resilience goals.
- Provide onboarding notes so new team members can quickly understand how File Integrity Monitoring works here.
Implementation notes#
- Identify the primary owner for File Integrity Monitoring, the data sources involved, and the systems affected.
- Document the minimum viable process, tooling, and runbooks that keep File Integrity Monitoring healthy.
- Map File Integrity Monitoring practices to standards such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST CSF, or CIS Controls.
Operational signals#
- Leading indicators: early warnings that File Integrity Monitoring might degrade (e.g., backlog growth, noisy alerts, or missed SLAs).
- Lagging indicators: realized impact that shows File Integrity Monitoring failed or needs investment (e.g., incidents, audit findings).
- Feedback loops: retrospectives and metrics reviews that tune File Integrity Monitoring continuously.
Related practices#
- Align File Integrity Monitoring with defense-in-depth planning, threat modeling, and disaster recovery tests.
- Communicate updates to stakeholders through concise briefs, dashboards, and internal FAQs.
- Pair File Integrity Monitoring improvements with tabletop exercises to validate expectations.