NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 · 3.4 Configuration Management
3.4.6 Least functionality
Employ the principle of least functionality by configuring organizational systems to provide only essential capabilities.
- SPRS weight
- 5
- 5 points deducted from 110 when not implemented.
- CMMC level
- L2
- Level 2 only; not among the 17 Level 1 practices.
- Assessment objectives
- 2
- From NIST SP 800-171A, each one a “determine if” an assessor answers.
What an assessor checks
NIST SP 800-171A breaks 3.4.6 into 2 objectives. Every one has to be met for the requirement to be met; a partial answer scores as not implemented.
- [a]Determine if essential system capabilities are defined based on the principle of least functionality.
- [b]Determine if the system is configured to provide only the defined essential capabilities.
- Examine
- [SELECT FROM: Configuration management policy; configuration management plan; procedures addressing least functionality in the system; security plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; security configuration checklists; other relevant documents or records].
- Interview
- [SELECT FROM: Personnel with security configuration management responsibilities; personnel with information security responsibilities; system or network administrators].
- Test
- [SELECT FROM: Organizational processes prohibiting or restricting functions, ports, protocols, or services; mechanisms implementing restrictions or prohibition of functions, ports, protocols, or services].
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 3.4.6 maps
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
- CM-7 Least Functionality
NIST CSF 2.0
- Assets are identified and inventoried Asset Management
- Configuration management processes are established Information Protection Processes and Procedures
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 3.4.6 get_assessment_objectives 3.4.6 generate_poam_entries ["3.4.6"]
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