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Flow Analysis

What is Flow Analysis?

The examination of network flow data including source, destination, volume, and timing to identify anomalous patterns and potential security threats.

Information Security

Frameworks that govern flow analysis

ISO 27001:2022View framework →NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0View framework →CIS Controls v8View framework →

What the standards actually require on flow analysis

Requirements naming flow analysis across 2 standards, quoted from the control text.

IACS Unified Requirements E26/E27 - Cyber Resilience of Ships and On-Board Systems1 control

UR E26 Goal 3 (Detect) requires monitoring + detection capabilities to identify cyber incidents. Logging: all CBS log security-relevant events (authentication + authorization + configuration change + privileged action + network connection + failure);

IACS-UR-E26-Detect-Logging-Monitoring-Audit-Alerting · IACS UR E26 Detect Goal - Logging + Network Monitoring + Audit Trail + Alerting + SIEM →
ITU-T X.805 - Security Architecture for End-to-End Communications1 control

Security Dimensions 4 and 5 per X.805 Clauses 6.4 and 6.5 are closely related: (1) Data Confidentiality (Dim 4) protects data from unauthorized disclosure - ensures that the data content cannot be understood by unauthorized entities.

X805-Dim4-5-Data-Confidentiality-Communication-Security-Encryption-Information-Flow-Protection · ITU-T X.805 Security Dimensions 4-5 - Data Confidentiality + Communication Security + Encryption At-Rest + In-Transit + In-Use + Information Flow Protection + Steered Communication + Anti-Tap + Anti-Eavesdrop + Post-Quantum Cryptography →

Questions people ask about flow analysis

What is Flow Analysis?
The examination of network flow data including source, destination, volume, and timing to identify anomalous patterns and potential security threats.
Why is Flow Analysis important for compliance?
Flow Analysis is a key concept in Information Security. Understanding flow analysis 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 Flow Analysis?
Flow Analysis appears in the requirement text of IACS Unified Requirements E26/E27 - Cyber Resilience of Ships and On-Board Systems, ITU-T X.805 - Security Architecture for End-to-End Communications. Across these standards we have identified 2 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Flow Analysis?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how flow analysis 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 Flow Analysis applies across compliance frameworks

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

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