NIST Special Publication 800-171 Revision 2
Date Published: January 28th, 2021
Withdrawn on May 14, 2024. Superseded by SP 800-171 Rev. 3
Author(s): Ron Ross (NIST), Victoria Pillitteri (NIST), Kelley Dempsey (NIST), Mark Riddle (NARA), Gary Guissanie (IDA)
Note: A Class Deviation is in effect as of May 2, 2024 (DEVIATION 2024O0013). The deviation clause requires contractors, who are subject to 252.204-7012, to comply with National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-171 Revision 2, instead of the version of NIST SP 800-171 in effect at the time the solicitation is issued or as authorized by the contracting officer. Click Here
AC-3.5.6 Disable identifiers after a defined period of inactivity.
Control Family: Identification and Authentication
Control Type: Derived
SPRS Value: 1
SPRS Supplemental Guidance:
N/A
CMMC Level(s):
IA.L2-3.5.6
Top Ten Failed Requirement:
No
Referenced in:
DFARS 252.204-7012
Derived From: NIST SP 800-53r4
IA-4
NIST Supplemental Guidance:
N/A
Discussion:
Inactive identifiers pose a risk to organizational information because attackers may exploit an inactive identifier to gain undetected access to organizational devices. The owners of the inactive accounts may not notice if unauthorized access to the account has been obtained.
Upon assessment, assessors must determine if-
3.5.6[a] a period of inactivity after which an identifier is disabled is defined.
3.5.6[b] identifiers are disabled after the defined period of inactivity.
Assessors are instructed to-
Examine: [SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; procedures addressing identifier management; procedures addressing account management; system security plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; list of system accounts; list of identifiers generated from physical access control devices; other relevant documents or records].
Interview: [SELECT FROM: Personnel with identifier management responsibilities; personnel with information security responsibilities; system or network administrators; system developers].
Test: [SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting or implementing identifier management].