NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 · 3.13 System & Communications Protection
3.13.11 FIPS-validated cryptography
Employ FIPS-validated cryptography when used to protect the confidentiality of CUI.
- SPRS weight
- 5
- 5 points when not implemented; 3 points in the methodology's partial state.
- CMMC level
- L2
- Level 2 only; not among the 17 Level 1 practices.
- Assessment objectives
- 1
- From NIST SP 800-171A, each one a “determine if” an assessor answers.
What an assessor checks
NIST SP 800-171A breaks 3.13.11 into 1 objectives. Every one has to be met for the requirement to be met; a partial answer scores as not implemented.
- Determine if FIPS-validated cryptography is employed to protect the confidentiality of CUI.
- Examine
- [SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; procedures addressing cryptographic protection; security plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; cryptographic module validation certificates; list of FIPS-validated cryptographic modules; system audit logs and records; other relevant documents or records].
- Interview
- [SELECT FROM: System or network administrators; personnel with information security responsibilities; system developer; personnel with responsibilities for cryptographic protection].
- Test
- [SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting or implementing cryptographic protection].
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.
Partial state: May be carried on a Level 2 POA&M · 3 points deducted
The one exception in 170.21: 3.13.11 may be carried on a POA&M when encryption is employed but is not FIPS-validated. Encryption missing outright is worth 5 points and gets no such allowance.
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 3.13.11 maps
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
- SC-13 Cryptographic Protection
NIST CSF 2.0
No direct mapping.
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 3.13.11 get_assessment_objectives 3.13.11 generate_poam_entries ["3.13.11"]
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