IEC GUIDE 120:2018

IEC GUIDE 120 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-06
GUIDE
colour
inside
Security aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in publications
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IEC GUIDE 120 ®
Edition 1.0 2018-06
GUIDE
colour
inside
Security aspects – Guidelines for their inclusion in publications

INTERNATIONAL
ELECTROTECHNICAL
COMMISSION
ICS 35.030 ISBN 978-2-8322-5827-9

– 2 – IEC Guide 120:2018 © IEC:2018
CONTENTS
FOREWORD . 4
INTRODUCTION . 6
1 Scope . 7
2 Normative references . 7
3 Terms and definitions . 7
4 Guide to terminology . 9
4.1 General . 9
4.2 Primary recommended sources . 10
4.3 Other relevant sources . 10
4.3.1 General . 10
4.3.2 Other application-domain independent sources. 10
4.3.3 Other application-domain specific sources . 10
5 Categorisation of publications . 11
5.1 Overview. 11
5.2 Publication type . 11
5.2.1 General . 11
5.2.2 Base security publications . 12
5.2.3 Group security publications . 12
5.2.4 Product security publications . 13
5.2.5 Guidance security publications . 13
5.2.6 Test security publications . 13
5.2.7 Relationship between types of security publications . 13
5.3 Application domain. 13
5.4 Content . 14
5.5 User/target group . 14
5.6 Developing security publications . 14
5.6.1 Base security publications . 14
5.6.2 Group security publications . 15
5.6.3 Product security publications . 15
5.6.4 Guidance security publications and test security publications . 15
6 Mapping/overview of publications . 16
6.1 General . 16
6.2 List of relevant publications. 16
6.3 Domain table chart . 16
7 Considerations for publications development . 17
7.1 Practical considerations for publication writers . 17
7.2 Development process of security in publications . 17
7.3 Interrelation between functional safety and security . 20
7.4 Specific requirements . 21
7.4.1 Relationship with base security publications . 21
7.4.2 Consider conformity assessment when writing standards . 21
7.4.3 Lifecycle approach . 22
7.4.4 Holistic system view . 22
7.4.5 Vulnerability handling . 23
7.4.6 Defence-in-depth . 23
7.4.7 Security management . 23

7.4.8 Supply chain . 23
7.4.9 Consider greenfield and brownfield . 24
7.4.10 Use of term integrity . 24
7.5 Security risk assessment . 24
7.5.1 General . 24
7.5.2 Iterative process of security risk assessment and risk mitigation . 25
7.5.3 Maintaining safe operation . 25
7.5.4 Scenario analysis . 26
7.5.5 Security risk mitigation strategy . 26
7.5.6 Validation . 26
Bibliography . 27

Figure 1 – Possible categorization of publications . 11
Figure 2 – Types of publications . 12
Figure 3 – Publications and application domains . 16
Figure 4 – Example of security requirements, threats, and possible attacks . 17
Figure 5 – Decision flow chart . 19
Figure 6 – Interrelation between functional safety and security . 20
Figure 7 – Example of security management cycle for an organization . 22
Figure 8 – Selected measures for defence-in-depth strategy . 23
Figure 9 – Possible impact of security risk(s) on the safety-related control system . 25

– 4 – IEC Guide 120:2018 © IEC:2018
INTERNATIONAL ELECTROTECHNICAL COMMISSION
____________
SECURITY ASPECTS – GUIDELINES FOR
THEIR INCLUSION IN PUBLICATIONS

FOREWORD
1) The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) is a worldwide organization for standardization comprising
all national electrotechnical committees (IEC National Committees). The object of IEC is to promote
international co-operation on all questions concerning standardization in the electrical and electronic fields. To
this end and in addition to other activities, IEC publishes International Standards, Technical Specifications,
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2) The formal decisions or agreements of IEC on technical matters express, as nearly as possible, an international
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3) IEC Publications have the form of recommendations for international use and are accepted by IEC National
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between any IEC Publication and the corresponding national or regional publication shall be clearly indicated in
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This first edition of IEC Guide 120 has been
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