An External Network Connection establishes a communication path between a system or environment under organizational control and a network outside the applicable control boundary.
The term identifies the connection rather than the external network, the communication protocol, or a service reached through the connection.
An organization governs an External Network Connection through applicable authorization, configuration, security, monitoring, and recording controls. A Connected Environment contains one or more authorized External Network Connections.
a communication path between a system or environment within an organizational control boundary and a network outside that boundary
Adapted from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) definition of external network:
The word external refers to the applicable organizational control boundary. It does not depend upon geographic location, ownership of the physical infrastructure, or use of the public Internet.
An External Network Connection does not imply unrestricted access. Authorization and security controls determine the permitted endpoints, protocols, traffic, direction, duration, and purpose of the connection.
An External Network Connection provides a communication path. An External Service provides functionality through or beyond the applicable control boundary.
A DIDO-TE Connected Environment uses an authorized HTTPS connection to retrieve a software dependency from a repository outside the environment’s control boundary. The HTTPS communication path constitutes an External Network Connection.
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