Component Relationships and Interactions
Patterns for representing the relationships and interactions between components.
Relationships: Overview
In information systems, components interact with each other. Simple and complex component relationships can be represented accurately using OSCAL.
Relationship Types
Relationship representations include:
- third-party validations
- connectivity
- data flows
- components offered by other components
- components relying on other components
Complex Relationships
In its most basic form, each relationship represented with OSCAL stands alone. A collection of relationships may paint a more complete picture.
Example 1: Cryptographic Modules
A linux operating system includes a cryptographic module that has been successfully FIPS 140-3 validated by NIST Labs.
There are three components and two relationships.
Components:
- Operating System (type: software)
- Cryptographic Module (type: software)
- Validation (type: validation)
Relationships:
- Operating System ---
provided-by---> Cryptographic Module - Cryptographic Module ---
validated---> Validation Module
Example 2: Network Connectivity
A web server and a database are on the same network. The web server performs queries on the database server via a TLS 1.3 connection.
There are ___ components and ___ relationships
Components:
- Web Server (type: software)
- Database Server (type: software)
- Network (type: connection)
Relationships:
- Operating System ---
provided-by---> Cryptographic Module - Cryptographic Module ---
validated---> Validation Module