---
name: framework-financial-services-controls-sc-7.5
title: SC-7 (5) -  Deny by Default — Allow by Exception
description: 'Deny network communications traffic by default and allow network communications traffic by exception _[IBM Assignment: any systems]_.'
last-updated: 2026-08-26
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/framework-financial-services-controls?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# SC-7 (5) -  Deny by Default — Allow by Exception
{: #sc-7.5}

## Control requirements
{: #control-requirements}



### SC-7 (5) - 0
{: #sc-7-5-0}


Deny network communications traffic by default and allow network communications traffic by exception _[IBM Assignment: any systems]_.












## NIST supplemental guidance
{: #nist-supplemental-guidance}

Denying by default and allowing by exception applies to inbound and outbound network communications traffic. A deny-all, permit-by-exception network communications traffic policy ensures that only those system connections that are essential and approved are allowed. Deny by default, allow by exception also applies to a system that is connected to an external system.