✅ E8 Framework Validation Checklist¶

Overview¶

This checklist validates all critical components of the E8 Assessment Framework before implementation. Each item must pass validation for the framework to be considered production-ready.

1. Control Mapping Validation¶

ACSC Control Coverage (152 → 40 Questions)¶

Application Control¶

AC-01: Q1-Q5 cover executable whitelisting
AC-02: Q6-Q7 cover application control bypass prevention
Validation: All 27 ACSC application control requirements mapped
Coverage: No critical controls omitted
Clarity: Questions unambiguous for IT staff

Patch Applications¶

PA-01: Q8-Q11 cover patching cadence
PA-02: Q12-Q13 cover vulnerability management
Validation: 48-hour critical patch requirement addressed
Coverage: All application types included
Clarity: Timeframes clearly specified

Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings¶

MO-01: Q14-Q16 cover macro blocking
MO-02: Q17 covers trusted locations
Validation: All macro attack vectors addressed
Coverage: Office 365 and legacy versions
Clarity: Technical settings translated clearly

User Application Hardening¶

UAH-01: Q18-Q20 cover browser hardening
UAH-02: Q21-Q22 cover Java/Flash/ads blocking
Validation: Web-based threats comprehensively covered
Coverage: All major browsers included
Clarity: Settings achievable by IT teams

Restrict Administrative Privileges¶

RAP-01: Q23-Q25 cover privilege management
RAP-02: Q26-Q27 cover validation processes
Validation: Privileged access management covered
Coverage: Local and domain admin addressed
Clarity: Delegation model clear

Patch Operating Systems¶

POS-01: Q28-Q30 cover OS patching
POS-02: Q31 covers firmware updates
Validation: All OS platforms covered
Coverage: Servers and workstations included
Clarity: Patch windows specified

Multi-factor Authentication¶

MFA-01: Q32-Q34 cover MFA implementation
MFA-02: Q35-Q36 cover MFA scope
Validation: All access points covered
Coverage: Remote and privileged access
Clarity: MFA types clearly defined

Regular Backups¶

RB-01: Q37-Q39 cover backup processes
RB-02: Q40 covers restoration testing
Validation: 3-2-1 rule addressed
Coverage: All critical data included
Clarity: Recovery objectives specified

2. Triple-Crossover Intelligence Validation¶

Policy Template Crossover (Target: 45%)¶

Policy Mapping: Each question linked to policy sections
Extraction Logic: Clear rules for data extraction
Confidence Scoring: Accuracy ratings defined
Update Tracking: Policy currency validated
Conflict Resolution: Handling for contradictory policies

Insurance Questionnaire Crossover (Target: 30%)¶

Question Alignment: Insurance questions map to E8
Data Freshness: Recency requirements defined
Provider Coverage: Major insurers supported
Format Handling: Various questionnaire formats
Confidence Levels: Reliability scoring implemented

Prior Assessment Crossover (Target: 10%)¶

Assessment Types: ISO, NIST, etc. mapped
Age Limits: Validity periods defined
Partial Matches: Fuzzy matching logic
Authority Levels: Trust scoring for sources
Change Detection: Identifies outdated answers

Combined Performance¶

Overall Target: 85% pre-completion achievable
Scenario Testing: Validated across three scenarios
Fallback Logic: Graceful handling when sources unavailable
User Override: Manual correction capability
Audit Trail: Source tracking for all pre-fills

3. Role-Based Routing Validation¶

IT Staff Routing (~35 Questions)¶

Technical Questions: All technical items route to IT
Skill Matching: Questions match IT capabilities
Time Estimates: 30-45 seconds per question realistic
Delegation Options: Can escalate if needed
Batch Answering: Efficient workflow for multiple questions

Board Routing (~5 Questions)¶

Governance Focus: Only strategic decisions presented
Plain English: No technical jargon
Decision Format: Clear yes/no or level selection
Context Provided: "90% complete by IT" visible
Time Commitment: 2-3 minutes maximum

Management Routing (Remaining Questions)¶

Operational Items: Process and procedure questions
Resource Decisions: Budget and staffing items
Risk Acceptance: Items requiring business judgment
Escalation Path: Clear route to board if needed
Collaboration: Can involve multiple managers

4. Maturity Level Calculation Validation¶

ML0 Determination¶

Criteria Clear: Not implemented = ML0
Partial Credit: No partial points at ML0
Evidence Required: None needed for ML0
Reporting: Clear "not implemented" status

ML1 Calculation¶

Threshold: 30% implementation = ML1
Weighting: Critical controls weighted appropriately
Evidence: Basic documentation sufficient
Progression: Clear path to ML2 shown

ML2 Calculation¶

Threshold: 70% implementation = ML2
Mandatory Items: Critical controls must be met
Evidence: Comprehensive proof required
Compliance: Meets regulatory minimums

ML3 Calculation¶

Threshold: 95%+ implementation = ML3
Excellence: Exceeds standard requirements
Evidence: Audit-grade documentation
Maintenance: Continuous improvement shown

5. Board Experience Validation¶

Dashboard Presentation¶

Single Screen: All critical info visible
Visual Hierarchy: Most important items prominent
Color Coding: Red/Amber/Green intuitive
Benchmarking: Industry comparison visible
Trends: Progress over time shown

Decision Interface¶

Clear Options: ML1/ML2/ML3 explained simply
Cost Estimates: Investment requirements shown
Time Estimates: Implementation timeline clear
Risk Context: What each level protects against
Recommendations: AI-suggested target with rationale

Report Generation¶

Board Package: PDF export ready
Executive Summary: One-page overview
Detailed Appendix: Technical details available
Action Items: Clear next steps listed
Compliance Status: Regulatory alignment shown

6. Integration Point Validation¶

UQB Integration¶

Question Format: E8Questions extend UnifiedQuestion
Metadata Complete: All required fields populated
ID Scheme: E8_STRATEGY_NNN format consistent
Crossover Links: References to UQB questions valid
Version Control: Change tracking implemented

Data Flow Validation¶

Input Sources: All data sources accessible
Processing Logic: Transformation rules clear
Output Format: Results structure defined
Error Handling: Failures gracefully managed
Performance: Processing time acceptable

7. Audit Trail Validation¶

Data Lineage¶

Source Tracking: Every answer traced to origin
Timestamp: All actions time-stamped
User Attribution: Who answered what when
Change History: Modifications tracked
Justification: Reasons for overrides captured

Compliance Evidence¶

Document Links: Evidence attached to answers
Verification Status: Review status tracked
Expiry Dates: Evidence currency monitored
Approval Chain: Sign-offs recorded
Export Capability: Audit-ready reports

Validation Summary¶

Critical Pass/Fail Items¶

Mapping Accuracy: ⚠️ Must cover all 152 ACSC controls
Pre-fill Rate: ⚠️ Must achieve 60%+ minimum
Board Time: ⚠️ Must complete in < 5 minutes
Role Routing: ⚠️ Must achieve 95%+ accuracy
Maturity Calculation: ⚠️ Must align with ACSC model

Sign-off Requirements¶

Next Steps¶

Upon successful validation:

Update main E8 documentation with results
Mark Task 84.8 as complete in TaskMaster
Proceed to Task 86 (UI Implementation)
Create UI testing requirements based on validation findings