CPCSC Level 2 Control

Last updated June 25, 2026

03.08.04Media protection

CPCSC Level 2 03.08.04: Media Marking

Apply media marking to protect storage media through its lifecycle from storage and access through transport, reuse, and disposal 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 03.08.04. Use the Cyber Centre publication and contract requirements as the source of truth for certification, assessment, or procurement submissions.

  • Mark system media containing specified information to indicate distribution limitations, handling caveats, and applicable specified information markings.

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

What This Means In Plain English

Media Marking is part of the CPCSC Level 2 Media protection family. This is about making sure storage media, backups, removable drives, printed material, and transported information do not leak specified information.

For a founder, CISO, engineer, or compliance owner, the practical question is whether media marking 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 media marking.

2

Define media handling rules, restrict access, encrypt or protect backups, track transport, sanitize media before reuse or disposal, and document exceptions.

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

Media Marking: media handling policy.

Media Marking: backup encryption settings.

Media Marking: transport logs.

Media Marking: sanitization certificates.

Media Marking: media inventory.

Media Marking: access records.

Media Marking: owner assignment and review cadence.

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

Common Auditor Questions

Where is media marking implemented in the in-scope environment?

Who owns media marking, and how do they know it is operating?

Show the evidence that proves media marking ran during the assessment period.

What happens when media marking 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