Overview:
Identify information system users, processes acting on behalf of users, or devices.
Action Items:
3.5.1[a]
Determine if: system users are identified.
3.5.1[b]
Determine if: processes acting on behalf of users are identified.
3.5.1[c]
Determine if: devices accessing the system are identified.
POTENTIAL ASSESSMENT METHODS AND OBJECTS
1
Examine: Identification and authentication policy; procedures addressing user identification and authentication; system security plan, system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit logs and records; list of system accounts; other relevant documents or records].
2
Interview: Personnel with system operations responsibilities; personnel with information security responsibilities; system or network administrators; personnel with account management responsibilities; system developers].
3
Test: Organizational processes for uniquely identifying and authenticating users; mechanisms supporting or implementing identification and authentication capability].
Related Documents (document name and content will vary by organization):
1) Identification and authentication policy
2) procedures addressing user identification and authentication
3) system security plan, system design documentation
4) system configuration settings and associated documentation
5) system audit logs and records
6) list of system accounts
7) other relevant documents or records
Additional Guidance:
Organizations may require unique identification of individuals in group accounts or for detailed accountability of individual activity. Common device identifiers include, for example, media access control (MAC), Internet protocol (IP) addresses, or device-unique token identifiers. Management of individual identifiers is not applicable to shared system accounts. Typically, individual identifiers are the user names associated with the system accounts assigned to those individuals. In addition, this requirement addresses individual identifiers that are not necessarily associated with system accounts. NIST Special Publication 800-63 provides guidance on digital identities.
Article ID: 149
Created: September 26, 2022
Last Updated: September 27, 2022
Author: Matthew Burdick
Online URL: http://www.compliancewiki.org/article/nist-800-171-identification-of-users-3-5-1-149.html