U.S. CISA Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 — Federal Network Security Architecture

Overview

U.S. CISATrusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 is a federal network securityarchitecture framework that helps U.S. government agencies strengthencybersecurity, enable secure cloud adoption, and manage network risksacross modern IT environments. The framework focuses on enhancing thesecurity and resilience of federal information systems as agenciestransition to cloud and mobile technologies.

Developed andpublished by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency(CISA), TIC 3.0 provides guidance, reference architectures, andsecurity capabilities for federal executive branch agencies and theirservice providers. It addresses areas such as secure connectivity,data protection, risk management, and compliance with federalcybersecurity policies, directly supporting modernization and digitaltransformation initiatives.

Federal agenciesimplement TIC 3.0 by integrating its principles with securitycontrols, risk assessments, and network monitoring processes. Theframework aligns with other federal standards—including NIST SP800-53 and FISMA—enabling organizations to maintain effectivesecurity governance, meet compliance requirements, and strengthentheir overall risk management posture.

Why it Matters

CISA TIC 3.0offers a modern security architecture that enables agencies to betterprotect federal data and adapt to evolving threats.

Key benefitsinclude:

•  Enable dynamic security oversight

Provide agencieswith flexible, risk-based monitoring and enforcement for a variety ofcloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.

•  Strengthen compliance support

Facilitatealignment with federal mandates and OMB policies, helpingorganizations demonstrate adherence to security and privacyrequirements.

•  Enhance operational resilience

Improve networksegmentation and traffic visibility, reducing the risk of widespreaddisruption from cyber incidents or infrastructure outages.

•  Improve incident detection and response

Increase theability to rapidly identify, contain, and remediate security eventsacross distributed and diverse network perimeters.

•  Support protection of sensitive data

Apply consistentcontrols to safeguard government information as it moves betweeninternal systems, cloud providers, and external partners.

How it Works

The U.S. CISATrusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 framework establishes aflexible security architecture for federal networks, structuredaround core security capabilities and trust zones. Rather thanprescribing a fixed set of controls, TIC 3.0 organizes requirementsinto security objectives and policy enforcement points that spantraditional, cloud, and hybrid network environments. It emphasizesrisk management, governance domains, and adaptable use cases toaddress modern network boundaries and evolving technologies.

Organizationsimplement TIC 3.0 by mapping its security objectives to operationalsecurity controls, integrating policy enforcement mechanisms, andcontinually assessing risk across diverse environments, includingcloud and remote access scenarios. This involves conductingcompliance assessments, ensuring alignment with federal standards,and monitoring for ongoing compliance and security posture. Agenciesutilize TIC 3.0 to guide secure architecture design, optimize networksegmentation, and maintain regulatory compliance.

UsingSmartSuite, organizations can operationalize TIC 3.0 by leveragingcontrol libraries tailored to TIC security objectives, maintainingrisk registers, and managing policy governance. The platform supportsevidence collection, compliance tracking, and automated remediationworkflows, helping teams maintain audit readiness. Real-timedashboards and reporting features facilitate comprehensive monitoringof TIC 3.0 implementation and support governance and risk managementactivities.

Key Elements

•  TIC Security Capabilities

Describesbaseline security functions required to protect federal informationand network traffic across environments.

•  Trust Zones Architecture

Defines logicalnetwork segments that separate and secure resources based on trustlevels and sensitivity.

•  Policy Enforcement Points

Specifiescheckpoints where security controls and compliance policies areapplied to network traffic flows.

•  Traffic Flow Guidance

Outlinesapproved network connectivity options for cloud, agency, and externalservice integration.

•  Visibility and Monitoring Components

Establishesrequirements for continuous observation and analysis of networkactivities and anomalies.

•  Federal Enterprise Coordination

Organizesmechanisms for collaboration and standardization among federalagencies implementing TIC principles.

Framework Scope

U.S. CISATrusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 is adopted by federal agenciesand organizations managing government networks and sensitive data.The framework governs security and risk management for enterprisenetworks, cloud services, and information systems, and is typicallyutilized to enhance network security, meet federal mandates, andsupport compliance oversight and robust assurance programs.

Framework Objectives

U.S. CISATrusted Internet Connections (TIC) 3.0 defines modern securityarchitecture to advance federal network cybersecurity and riskmanagement.

•  Strengthen cybersecurity governance and oversight across federalinformation systems

•  Promote adoption of risk management best practices for networkprotection

•  Enhance operational resilience through continuous monitoring ofsecurity controls

•  Improve data protection by safeguarding sensitive and regulatedinformation

•  Support regulatory compliance with federal cybersecuritydirectives and standards

•  Enable audit readiness by documenting network securityactivities and controls CISA TIC 3.0 aligns with frameworks such asNIST SP 800-53, FedRAMP, and ISO 27001, emphasizing secure federalnetwork architectures and cloud environments. U.S. federal agenciestypically implement TIC 3.0 to meet regulatory mandates, standardizesecure access, and enhance security posture for government and hybridcloud operations.

Common Framework Mappings

CISA TIC 3.0 iscommonly mapped to other security and compliance frameworks to ensureconsistent network protection, regulatory alignment, and support forfederal information system requirements across diverse environments.

Mappedframeworks include:

CIS CriticalSecurity Controls

FedRAMP

FIPS 140-3

ISO/IEC 27001

NISTCybersecurity Framework

NIST SP 800-53

PCI DSS

SOC 2

StateRAMP

Zero TrustMaturity Model