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Baseline

What is Baseline?

A minimum set of security controls or configurations established as a starting point. Baselines can be tailored based on an organisation's risk profile and operating environment.

Information Security

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as baseline. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on baseline

Requirements naming baseline across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

NIST SP 800-12819 controls

Develop, document, and maintain an approved baseline configuration of the information system as a basis for future builds and changes.

SP800-128-BASELINE · Baseline Configuration

Requires selection and justification of the most reasonable baseline scenario representing what would occur without the GHG project.

ISO-14064-2-5.4 · Baseline scenario selection
FedRAMP High6 controls

Baseline Tailoring. Tailor the selected control baseline by applying specified tailoring actions

PL-11 · Baseline Tailoring. Tailor the selected control baseline by applying specified tailoring actions
FedRAMP Rev 56 controls

FedRAMP defines four baselines based on FIPS 199 system impact level: (a) LI-SAAS (Low Impact SaaS) - low-impact SaaS with no sensitive data + 156 controls + accelerated authorization path; (b) LOW (Low Impact) - 156 controls;

FedRAMP-Baselines · FedRAMP Baseline Selection (Low, Moderate, High, LI-SaaS) and Control Overlay Parameters

Baseline Tailoring. Tailor the selected control baseline by applying specified tailoring actions

PL-11 · Baseline Tailoring. Tailor the selected control baseline by applying specified tailoring actions

Record a configuration baseline for every authorised change, so the approved state of each asset is known.

CCM-CCC-06 · Change Management Baseline

Questions people ask about baseline

What is Baseline?
A minimum set of security controls or configurations established as a starting point. Baselines can be tailored based on an organisation's risk profile and operating environment.
Why is Baseline important for compliance?
Baseline is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding baseline helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Baseline?
Baseline appears in the requirement text of NIST SP 800-128, ISO 14064 - Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Verification (Parts 1-3), FedRAMP High, FedRAMP Rev 5, NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5.1 HIGH. Across these standards we have identified 50 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Baseline?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how baseline applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Baseline applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.