The Secure Controls Framework® (SCF)

The SCF is the Common Controls Framework™, the world's most comprehensive, free cybersecurity and data privacy metaframework. The entire concept is building secure, compliant and resilient capabilities in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible.

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 daily. The end product is "expert-derived content" that makes up the SCF.

By The Numbers

  • 1,400+ Controls
  • 33 Domains
  • 200+ Laws & Frameworks
  • FREE Creative Commons

Why Choose the SCF?

One Framework to Address Multiple Security, Compliance & Resilience Obligations

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.

200+ Laws & Frameworks Mapped

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.

Native GRC Platform Integration

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.

Transparent STRM Mapping

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.

A Living Control Set (LCS)

The SCF is dynamic and is a "living control set" that evolves with your business to adapt 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.

Volunteer-Driven by Industry Experts

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 Most Comprehensive Cybersecurity Metaframework Available

  • 1,400+ Controls across 33 domains
  • 200+ Laws, regulations & frameworks mapped
  • 5 Geographic regions covered
  • 2026.1 Current SCF version

Transparency You Can Trust and Verify

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 5 STRM Relationship Types

  • ⊂ Subset Of: SCF control is broader in scope than the requirement
  • ∩ Intersects: Partial semantic overlap between the two elements
  • = Equal To: Semantically equivalent, providing complete coverage
  • ⊃ Superset Of: LRF requirement is broader than the SCF control
  • ∅ No Relation: No meaningful semantic overlap exists

GRC Platform Integration

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.

Complete Coverage Across Every Dimension of Cybersecurity

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.

  • GOV: Governance
  • AST: Asset Management
  • IAC: Identity & Access Control
  • NET: Network Security
  • CRY: Cryptography
  • DCH: Data Classification & Handling
  • PRI: Privacy
  • RSK: Risk Management
  • CPL: Compliance
  • IRO: Incident Response
  • BCD: Business Continuity & DR
  • VPM: Vulnerability & Patch Management
  • MON: Continuous Monitoring
  • END: Endpoint Security
  • CLD: Cloud Security
  • TPM: Third-Party Management
  • PES: Physical & Environmental Security
  • SAT: Security Awareness & Training
  • HRS: Human Resources Security
  • SEA: Secure Engineering & Architecture
  • CHG: Change Management
  • CFG: Configuration Management
  • THR: Threat Management
  • TDA: Technology Development & Acquisition
  • WEB: Web Security
  • EMB: Embedded Technology
  • MDM: Mobile Device Management
  • OPS: Security Operations
  • IAO: Infrastructure & Operations
  • MNT: Maintenance
  • PRM: Project & Resource Management
  • CAP: Cybersecurity Assessment
  • AAT: Awareness & Training

Built by the Community, for the Community

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 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.