CPCSC Level 2 Control

Last updated June 25, 2026

03.04.01Configuration management

CPCSC Level 2 03.04.01: Baseline Configuration

Apply baseline configuration to keep systems configured, changed, inventoried, and hardened in a controlled way for CPCSC Level 2 readiness. This guide separates the official ITSP.10.171 control language from practical implementation, evidence, auditor questions, and related controls.

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Formal Control Language

Official ITSP.10.171 wording for 03.04.01. Use the Cyber Centre publication and contract requirements as the source of truth for certification, assessment, or procurement submissions.

  • Develop and maintain under configuration control, a current baseline configuration of the system
  • Review and update the baseline configuration of the system [Assignment: organization-defined frequency] and when system components are installed or modified

Contains information sourced from Government of Canada material used under the Open Government Licence - Canada.

What This Means In Plain English

Baseline Configuration is part of the CPCSC Level 2 Configuration management family. This is about knowing what a secure configuration looks like and controlling how systems move away from that baseline.

For a founder, CISO, engineer, or compliance owner, the practical question is whether baseline configuration is visible in real operating evidence: a setting, workflow, ticket, log, approval, review, or exception record that can survive an external assessment.

Level 2 is different from Level 1 because the evidence has to survive an external assessment. A policy statement helps, but the stronger answer is a record that shows who did the work, when it ran, what system setting or workflow enforced it, and how exceptions were handled.

How To Implement It

1

Define the in-scope systems, owners, users, vendors, and data flows affected by baseline configuration.

2

Create baselines for in-scope systems, track inventory, review changes, restrict configuration access, and remove unnecessary software and services.

3

Translate the formal requirement into one or two operating procedures: who performs it, how often, where it is recorded, and who approves exceptions.

4

Configure the relevant systems so the control is enforced by identity, endpoint, cloud, network, ticketing, monitoring, vendor, or documentation workflows rather than memory.

5

Keep evidence in a consistent folder, GRC system, ticket queue, or audit workspace so an assessor can trace the control from requirement to implementation to review.

Evidence Normally Gathered

Baseline Configuration: baseline configuration documents.

Baseline Configuration: change tickets.

Baseline Configuration: asset inventory.

Baseline Configuration: configuration screenshots.

Baseline Configuration: software allowlist or inventory.

Baseline Configuration: exception records.

Baseline Configuration: owner assignment and review cadence.

Baseline Configuration: exception, remediation, or POA&M records when the control is not fully implemented.

Common Auditor Questions

Where is baseline configuration implemented in the in-scope environment?

Who owns baseline configuration, and how do they know it is operating?

Show the evidence that proves baseline configuration ran during the assessment period.

What happens when baseline configuration fails, is bypassed, or has an exception?

How does this control connect to the system security plan, risk register, POA&M, and related CPCSC controls?

Sources

Source and attribution.

Formal control language is sourced from the Canadian Centre for Cyber Security ITSP.10.171 publication. CPCSC Level 2 assessment context references the Government of Canada CPCSC program overview and ITSP.10.171-01 assessment guidance.

CPCSC Program OverviewITSP.10.171ITSP.10.171-01Open Government Licence - Canada