| Information systems are capable of providing a wide variety of functions and services. Some of the functions and services, provided by default, may not be necessary to support essential organizational operations (e.g., key missions, functions).
Additionally, it is sometimes convenient to provide multiple services from a single component of an information system (e.g., email and web services) but doing so increases risk over limiting the services provided by any one component.
To support the requirements and principles of least functionality, the application must support the organizational requirements providing only essential capabilities and limiting the use of ports, protocols, and/or services to only those required, authorized, and approved to conduct official business or to address authorized quality of life issues.
Database Management Systems using ports, protocols, and services deemed unsafe are open to attack through those ports, protocols, and services. This can allow unauthorized access to the database and, through the database, to other components of the information system.
For information on approved and prohibited ports, protocols, and services, see the Ports, Protocols, and Services Management (PPSM) section of the Information Assurance Support Environment (IASE) web site: http://iase.disa.mil/ppsm/Pages/index.aspx.
"Functions" in this requirement refers to system and infrastructure functionality, not to functions in mathematics and programming languages. |
