NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 · 3.5 Identification & Authentication
3.5.2 Authenticate users, processes and devices
Authenticate (or verify) the identities of users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational systems.
- SPRS weight
- 5
- 5 points deducted from 110 when not implemented.
- CMMC level
- L1 + L2
- Level 1 practice IA.L1-3.5.2, from FAR 52.204-21(b)(1)(vi)
- Assessment objectives
- 3
- From NIST SP 800-171A, each one a “determine if” an assessor answers.
What an assessor checks
NIST SP 800-171A breaks 3.5.2 into 3 objectives. Every one has to be met for the requirement to be met; a partial answer scores as not implemented.
- [a]Determine if the identity of each user is authenticated or verified as a prerequisite to system access.
- [b]Determine if the identity of each process acting on behalf of a user is authenticated or verified as a prerequisite to system access.
- [c]Determine if the identity of each device accessing or connecting to the system is authenticated or verified as a prerequisite to system access.
- Examine
- [SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; procedures addressing authenticator management; security plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; list of system authenticator types; change control records associated with managing system authenticators; system audit logs and records; other relevant documents or records].
- Interview
- [SELECT FROM: Personnel with authenticator management responsibilities; personnel with information security responsibilities; system or network administrators].
- Test
- [SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting or implementing authenticator management capability].
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 3.5.2 maps
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
- IA-1 Identification and Authentication Policy
- IA-2 Identification and Authentication
- IA-8 Identification and Authentication - Non-Organizational Users
NIST CSF 2.0
- Authentication is managed
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 3.5.2 get_assessment_objectives 3.5.2 generate_poam_entries ["3.5.2"]
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