Requirement
Control and manage physical access devices.
Assessment Objectives
- Physical access devices are identified
- Physical access devices are controlled
- Physical access devices are managed
Potential Assessment Methods and Objects [NIST SP 800-171A]
Examine
- Physical and environmental protection policy
- Procedures addressing physical access control
- System security plan
- Physical access control logs or records
- Inventory records of physical access control devices
- System entry and exit points
- Records of key and lock combination changes
- Storage locations for physical access control devices
- Physical access control devices
- List of security safeguards controlling access to designated publicly accessible areas within facility
- Other relevant documents or records
Interview
- Personnel with physical access control responsibilities
- Personnel with information security responsibilities
Test
- Organizational processes for physical access control
- Mechanisms supporting or implementing physical access control
- Physical access control devices
Discussion [NIST SP 800-171 REV. 2]
Physical access devices include keys, locks, combinations, and card readers.
Further Discussion
Identifying and controlling physical access devices (e.g., locks, badges, key cards) is just as important as monitoring and limiting who is able to physically access certain equipment. Physical access devices are only strong protection if you know who has them and what access they allow. Physical access devices can be managed using manual or automatic processes such a list of who is assigned what key, or updating the badge access system as personnel change roles.
Examples
Example 1
You are a facility manager. A team member retired today and returns their company keys to you. The project on which they were working requires access to areas that contain equipment with CUI. You receive the keys, check your electronic records against the serial numbers on the keys to ensure all have been returned, and mark each key returned [c].
Potential Assessment Considerations
- Are lists or inventories of physical access devices maintained (e.g., keys, facility badges, key cards) [a]?
- Is access to physical access devices limited (e.g., granted to, and accessible only by, authorized individuals) [b]?
- Are physical access devices managed (e.g., revoking key card access when necessary, changing locks as needed, maintaining access control devices and systems) [c]?
References
- NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 3.10.5
- FAR Clause 52.204-21 Partial b.1.ix
