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FORCE // CONTROLS LIBRARY

NIST 800-171 & CMMC controls, explained in plain language.

What each control actually requires, why it matters, and the evidence an assessor expects — without the NIST-speak. 256 controls across CMMC Level 1, Level 2, and NIST SP 800-171 r3.

CMMC Level 1 · 17 controls

Access Control

Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users…

Limit system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute.

Verify and control/limit connections to and use of external systems.

Control CUI posted or processed on publicly accessible systems.

Identification and Authentication

Identify system users, processes acting on behalf of users, and devices.

Authenticate (or verify) the identities of users, processes, or devices…

Media Protection

Sanitize or destroy system media containing CUI before disposal or release for reuse.

Physical Protection

Limit physical access to organizational systems, equipment…

Escort visitors and monitor visitor activity.

Maintain audit logs of physical access.

Control and manage physical access devices.

System and Communications Protection

Monitor, control, and protect communications (i.e.…

Implement subnetworks for publicly accessible system components that are physically or logically separated fro…

System and Information Integrity

Identify, report, and correct system flaws in a timely manner.

Provide protection from malicious code at designated locations within organizational systems.

Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available.

Perform periodic scans of organizational systems and real-time scans of files from external sources as files a…

CMMC Level 2 · 109 controls

Access Control

Limit system access to authorized users, processes acting on behalf of authorized users…

Limit system access to the types of transactions and functions that authorized users are permitted to execute.

Control the flow of CUI in accordance with approved authorizations.

Separate the duties of individuals to reduce the risk of malevolent activity without collusion.

Employ the principle of least privilege, including for specific security functions and privileged accounts.

Use non-privileged accounts or roles when accessing nonsecurity functions.

Prevent non-privileged users from executing privileged functions and capture the execution of such functions i…

Limit unsuccessful logon attempts.

Use session lock with pattern-hiding displays to prevent access and viewing of data after a period of inactivi…

Terminate (automatically) a user session after a defined condition.

Monitor and control remote access sessions.

Employ cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of remote access sessions.

Route remote access via managed access control points.

Authorize remote execution of privileged commands and remote access to security-relevant information.

Authorize wireless access prior to allowing such connections.

Protect wireless access using authentication and encryption.

Control connection of mobile devices.

Encrypt CUI on mobile devices and mobile computing platforms.

Verify and control/limit connections to and use of external systems.

Limit use of portable storage devices on external systems.

Control CUI posted or processed on publicly accessible systems.

Awareness and Training

Ensure that managers, systems administrators…

Ensure that personnel are trained to carry out their assigned information security-related duties and responsi…

Provide security awareness training on recognizing and reporting potential indicators of insider threat.

Audit and Accountability

Create and retain system audit logs and records to the extent needed to enable the monitoring, analysis…

Ensure that the actions of individual system users can be uniquely traced to those users so they can be held a…

Review and update logged events.

Alert in the event of an audit logging process failure.

Correlate audit record review, analysis…

Provide audit record reduction and report generation to support on-demand analysis and reporting.

Provide a system capability that compares and synchronizes internal system clocks with an authoritative source…

Protect audit information and audit logging tools from unauthorized access, modification, and deletion.

Limit management of audit logging functionality to a subset of privileged users.

Configuration Management

Establish and maintain baseline configurations and inventories of organizational systems (including hardware…

Establish and enforce security configuration settings for information technology products employed in organiza…

Track, review, approve or disapprove, and log changes to organizational systems.

Analyze the security impact of changes prior to implementation.

Define, document, approve, and enforce physical and logical access restrictions associated with changes to org…

Employ the principle of least functionality by configuring organizational systems to provide only essential ca…

Restrict, disable, or prevent the use of nonessential programs, functions, ports, protocols, and services.

Apply deny-by-exception (blacklisting) policy to prevent the use of unauthorized software or deny-all…

Control and monitor user-installed software.

Identification and Authentication

Identify system users, processes acting on behalf of users, and devices.

Authenticate (or verify) the identities of users, processes, or devices…

Use multifactor authentication for local and network access to privileged accounts and for network access to n…

Employ replay-resistant authentication mechanisms for network access to privileged and non- privileged account…

Prevent reuse of identifiers for a defined period.

Disable identifiers after a defined period of inactivity.

Enforce a minimum password complexity and change of characters when new passwords are created.

Prohibit password reuse for a specified number of generations.

Allow temporary password use for system logons with an immediate change to a permanent password.

Store and transmit only cryptographically-protected passwords.

Obscure feedback of authentication information.

Incident Response

Establish an operational incident-handling capability for organizational systems that includes preparation…

Track, document, and report incidents to designated officials and/or authorities both internal and external to…

Test the organizational incident response capability.

Maintenance

Perform maintenance on organizational systems.

Provide controls on the tools, techniques, mechanisms, and personnel used to conduct system maintenance.

Ensure equipment removed for off-site maintenance is sanitized of any CUI.

Check media containing diagnostic and test programs for malicious code before the media are used in organizati…

Require multifactor authentication to establish nonlocal maintenance sessions via external network connections…

Supervise the maintenance activities of maintenance personnel without required access authorization.

Media Protection

Protect (i.e., physically control and securely store) system media containing CUI, both paper and digital.

Limit access to CUI on system media to authorized users.

Sanitize or destroy system media containing CUI before disposal or release for reuse.

Mark media with necessary CUI markings and distribution limitations.

Control access to media containing CUI and maintain accountability for media during transport outside of contr…

Implement cryptographic mechanisms to protect the confidentiality of CUI stored on digital media during transp…

Control the use of removable media on system components.

Prohibit the use of portable storage devices when such devices have no identifiable owner.

Protect the confidentiality of backup CUI at storage locations.

Personnel Security

Screen individuals prior to authorizing access to organizational systems containing CUI.

Ensure that organizational systems containing CUI are protected during and after personnel actions such as ter…

Physical Protection

Limit physical access to organizational systems, equipment…

Protect and monitor the physical facility and support infrastructure for organizational systems.

Escort visitors and monitor visitor activity.

Maintain audit logs of physical access.

Control and manage physical access devices.

Enforce safeguarding measures for CUI at alternate work sites

Risk Assessment

Periodically assess the risk to organizational operations (including mission, functions, image…

Scan for vulnerabilities in organizational systems and applications periodically and when new vulnerabilities…

Remediate vulnerabilities in accordance with risk assessments.

Security Assessment

Periodically assess the security controls in organizational systems to determine if the controls are effective…

Develop and implement plans of action designed to correct deficiencies and reduce or eliminate vulnerabilities…

Monitor security controls on an ongoing basis to ensure the continued effectiveness of the controls.

Develop, document, and periodically update system security plans that describe system boundaries…

System and Communications Protection

Monitor, control, and protect communications (i.e.…

Employ architectural designs, software development techniques…

Separate user functionality from system management functionality.

Prevent unauthorized and unintended information transfer via shared system resources.

Implement subnetworks for publicly accessible system components that are physically or logically separated fro…

Deny network communications traffic by default and allow network communications traffic by exception (i.e.…

Prevent remote devices from simultaneously establishing non-remote connections with organizational systems and…

Implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure of CUI during transmission unless otherw…

Terminate network connections associated with communications sessions at the end of the sessions or after a de…

Establish and manage cryptographic keys for cryptography employed in organizational systems.

Employ FIPS-validated cryptography when used to protect the confidentiality of CUI.

Prohibit remote activation of collaborative computing devices and provide indication of devices in use to user…

Control and monitor the use of mobile code.

Control and monitor the use of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technologies.

Protect the authenticity of communications sessions.

Protect the confidentiality of CUI at rest.

System and Information Integrity

Identify, report, and correct system flaws in a timely manner.

Provide protection from malicious code at designated locations within organizational systems.

Monitor system security alerts and advisories and take action in response.

Update malicious code protection mechanisms when new releases are available.

Perform periodic scans of organizational systems and real-time scans of files from external sources as files a…

Monitor organizational systems, including inbound and outbound communications traffic…

Identify unauthorized use of organizational systems.

NIST 800-171 r3 · 130 controls

Awareness and Training

Literacy Training and Awareness

Role-Based Training

Audit and Accountability

Audit Record Content

Audit Record Generation

Response to Audit Logging Process Failures

Audit Record Review, Analysis, and Reporting

Audit Record Reduction and Report Generation

Protection of Audit Information

Configuration Management

Baseline Configuration

Configuration Settings

Configuration Change Control

Impact Analyses

Access Restrictions for Change

Least Functionality

Authorized Software – Allow by Exception

System Component Inventory

Information Location

System and Component Configuration for High-Risk Areas

Identification and Authentication

User Identification and Authentication

Device Identification and Authentication

Multi-Factor Authentication

Replay-Resistant Authentication

Identifier Management

Password Management

Authentication Feedback

Authenticator Management

Incident Response

Incident Handling

Incident Monitoring, Reporting, and Response Assistance

Incident Response Testing

Incident Response Training

Incident Response Plan

Maintenance

Maintenance Tools

Nonlocal Maintenance

Maintenance Personnel

Media Protection

Media Sanitization

Media Transport

System Backup – Cryptographic Protection

Personnel Security

Personnel Screening

Personnel Termination and Transfer

Physical Protection

Physical Access Authorizations

Monitoring Physical Access

Alternate Work Site

Physical Access Control

Access Control for Transmission

Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment

Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning

Security Assessment and Monitoring

Security Assessment

Plan of Action and Milestones

Continuous Monitoring

Information Exchange

System and Communications Protection

Boundary Protection

Information in Shared System Resources

Network Communications – Deny by Default – Allow by Exception

Transmission and Storage Confidentiality

Network Disconnect

Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management

Cryptographic Protection

Collaborative Computing Devices and Applications

Session Authenticity

System and Information Integrity

Flaw Remediation

Malicious Code Protection

Security Alerts, Advisories, and Directives

System Monitoring

Information Management and Retention

Planning

Policy and Procedures

System Security Plan

Rules of Behavior

System and Services Acquisition

Security Engineering Principles

Unsupported System Components

External System Services

Supply Chain Risk Management

Supply Chain Risk Management Plan

Acquisition Strategies, Tools, and Methods

Supply Chain Requirements and Processes