Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria

Trusted Computer System Evaluation Criteria (TCSEC) is a United States Government Department of Defense (DoD) standard that sets basic requirements for assessing the effectiveness of computer security controls built into a computer system. The TCSEC was used to evaluate, classify and select computer systems being considered for the processing, storage and retrieval of sensitive or classified information.

The TCSEC, frequently referred to as the Orange Book, is the centerpiece of the DoD Rainbow Series publications. Initially issued in 1983 by the National Computer Security Center (NCSC), an arm of the National Security Agency, and then updated in 1985. TCSEC was replaced by the Common Criteria international standard originally published in 2005.

Fundamental objectives and requirements

The Orange Book or DoDD 5200.28-STD was canceled by DoDD 8500.1 on October 24, 2002. DoDD 8500.1 reissued as DoDI 8500.02 on March 14, 2014.

Policy

The security policy must be explicit, well-defined and enforced by the computer system. There are three basic security policies: