C5 Field Guideunofficial

AM · Asset Management

AM-12 Removable Media and Endpoint Devices

2 sub-criteria: 1 basic, 1 additional

New in C5:2026

Supplementary information on all sub-criteria

A removable medium is a portable data storage medium that can be added to or removed from a computing device or network. Examples include, but are not limited to, optical discs (e.g., CD, DVD, Blu-ray), external or removable hard drives or solid state disk drives, magnetic or optical tapes and flash memory devices (e.g., USB, eSATA, flash drive, thumb drive).

Basic criterion

AM-12.01B

Based on a risk assessment (cf. OIS-07), the cloud service provider designs, implements and maintains controls for endpoint devices and removable storage media regarding the following aspects:

  1. Except for system administrative tasks for which no other method is available, the use of removable media is forbidden;
  2. Removable media is used for dedicated, specific purposes only;
  3. Storage encryption is enabled on managed endpoints and removable storage media (except those used for unavoidable system administration actions) to protect information from unauthorised disclosure;
  4. Managed endpoints are configured with anti-malware detection and prevention technology and services;
  5. Self-execution from removable storage is disabled and storage media is scanned before use on the cloud service provider's systems;
  6. Measures are to be taken by users to protect mobile endpoints and removable storage in transit and in storage;
  7. Protection in terms of confidentiality and integrity of any equipment containing cloud service customer data during the transfer off-site for disposal is equivalent to that on the site;
  8. Cloud service customer data and cloud service derived data stored on shareable equipment is encrypted in accordance with CRY-05 or destroyed using a secure deletion mechanism before the equipment is shared with a third party;
  9. Users are to use mobile endpoints and removable storage in a secure manner, this includes for example not leaving media openly accessible in public spaces, using screen locks and screen privacy films; and
  10. Measures for maintaining proper security of third party endpoints with access to organisational assets are to be defined.

Additional criterion

AM-12.01AC

Additional, complementing

Policies and procedures for endpoint devices and removable storage media furthermore contain the following aspects:

  1. Managed endpoints are configured with appropriate software firewalls;
  2. Managed endpoints are configured with Data Loss Prevention (DLP) technologies and rules in accordance with a risk assessment (cf. OIS-07);
  3. Remote geo-location capabilities are enabled for all managed mobile endpoints; and
  4. Define, implement and evaluate processes, procedures and technical safeguards to enable the deletion of company data remotely on managed endpoint devices.

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