13 Jul 2026CMMC Phase II suspended: no C3PAO assessments can be designated. DFARS 7012 and Rev 2 still apply.What changed, and what did not

NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 · 3.10 Physical Protection

3.10.1 Limit physical access

Limit physical access to organizational systems, equipment, and the respective operating environments to authorized individuals.
SPRS weight
5
5 points deducted from 110 when not implemented.
CMMC level
L1 + L2
Level 1 practice PE.L1-3.10.1, from FAR 52.204-21(b)(1)(viii)
Assessment objectives
4
From NIST SP 800-171A, each one a “determine if” an assessor answers.

What an assessor checks

NIST SP 800-171A breaks 3.10.1 into 4 objectives. Every one has to be met for the requirement to be met; a partial answer scores as not implemented.

  1. [a]Determine if authorized individuals allowed physical access are identified.
  2. [b]Determine if physical access to organizational systems is limited to authorized individuals.
  3. [c]Determine if physical access to equipment is limited to authorized individuals.
  4. [d]Determine if physical access to operating environments is limited to authorized individuals.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: Physical and environmental protection policy; procedures addressing physical access authorizations; security plan; authorized personnel access list; authorization credentials; physical access list reviews; physical access termination records and associated documentation; other relevant documents or records].
Interview
[SELECT FROM: Personnel with physical access authorization responsibilities; personnel with physical access to system facility; personnel with information security responsibilities].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for physical access authorizations; mechanisms supporting or implementing physical access authorizations].

If it is open: POA&M eligibility

Not POA&M-eligible: above the 1-point ceiling · 5 points deducted

Worth 5 points. No requirement over 1 point may appear on a Level 2 POA&M, so this has to be closed before the assessment.

A POA&M is only permitted at a score of 88 or above, and closes in one 180-day window. Check a full gap list or compute your score.

Where 3.10.1 maps

NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

  • PE-1 Physical and Environmental Protection Policy
  • PE-2 Physical Access Authorizations
  • PE-3 Physical Access Control
  • PE-4 Access Control for Transmission Medium
  • PE-5 Access Control for Output Devices
  • PE-16 Delivery and Removal
  • PE-18 Location of Information System Components

NIST CSF 2.0

  • Physical access is managed Physical Environment

SOC 2

No direct mapping.

Query it from your own tools

This page and the MacTech CMMC MCP server render the same dataset. Ask your assistant and it will answer from the methodology, not from memory.

lookup_control 3.10.1
get_assessment_objectives 3.10.1
generate_poam_entries ["3.10.1"]

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From MacZine

Working notes on Physical Protection

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