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IAC-04.2: Termination of Employment

IAC 10 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to revoke user access rights in a timely manner, upon termination of employment or contract.

Renumbered: Formerly IAC-07.2 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, IAC-04.2 was Device Authorization Enforcement. That control is now IAC-34.2.

Control Question: Does the organization revoke user access rights in a timely manner, upon termination of employment or contract?

General (35)
US (13)
EMEA (8)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany BAIT 2017 6.4 6.5 6.6
EMEA Germany C5 2026 AM-08.03B
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 op.acc.4 op.acc.5
EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 Article 21.1(e)(iii)
EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 2024 10.3.1
EMEA Israel CDMO 2.0 Appendix A, 9.2
EMEA LUX CCSF 20/750 2020 3.4.2-31.e
EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 2-2-1-11
APAC (3)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.09.02.A.01 03.09.02.A.02

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

Practices are non-existent, based on the inability to demonstrate an implemented and operational capability. A reasonable person would conclude the control is not being performed.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

Identification & Authentication (IAC) domain capabilities are ad hoc and inconsistent. Capability criteria associated with this control may include: ▪ Policies, standards & procedures associated with IAC domain capabilities provide limited coverage due to the depth and breadth of the existing documentation. ▪ Identity & Access Management (IAM)-related activities are decentralized (e.g., a localized/regionalized function) and uses non-standardized methods to implement secure, resilient and compliant practices. ▪ IAM controls are primarily administrative in nature (e.g., policies & standards) to manage accounts and permissions. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel identify and implement IAM cybersecurity and data protection controls that are appropriate to address applicable statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements. ▪ Active Directory (AD), or a similar technologies, are used to centrally manage identities and permissions, but asset/process owners are authorized to operate a decentralized access control program for their specific Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD).

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

Identification & Authentication (IAC) capabilities are requirements-driven, but are not standardized across the entity (e.g., local/regional level consistency). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with IAC domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with IAC domain capabilities are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ IT and/or cybersecurity personnel work with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with IAC domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Identity & Access Management (IAM)-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines) to enforce Logical Access Control (LAC). ▪ IAM may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel to implement Role Based Access Control (RBAC) practices for the management of user, group and system accounts, including privileged accounts. ▪ A directory services technology is used to centrally manage identities and permissions with RBAC. Due to technical or business limitations, asset/process owners are empowered to operate a decentralized access control program for their specific Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS) that cannot be integrated into directory services. ▪ Configuration management and IAM functions collaborate to ensure Secure Baseline Configurations (SBC) enforce “least privileges” on TAAS.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Identification & Authentication (IAC) capabilities are standardized across the entity for applicability to People, Processes, Technologies, Data and/or Facilities (PPTDF) to ensure consistency for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Policies and standards associated with IAC domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with IAC domain capabilities are well-documented and kept current by process owners. ▪ An Identity & Access Management (IAM) team, or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain IAC domain capabilities. ▪ Technology is leveraged to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of IAM operations (e.g., directory services, Authenticate, Authorize and Audit (AAA) solution). ▪ The entity's Governance, Risk & Compliance (GRC) team, or similar function, works with business stakeholders and process owners to appropriately scope and reasonably implement cybersecurity and data protection controls associated with IAC domain capabilities to address Minimum Compliance Requirements (MCR) (e.g., applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements) and Discretionary Security Requirements (DSR) (e.g., entity-required controls). ▪ An implemented and operational capability exists to revoke user access rights in a timely manner, upon termination of employment or contract.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Identification & Authentication (IAC) capabilities, in addition to being standardized across the entity and centrally managed to ensure consistency across Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD), efforts are metrics driven to provide sufficient insight for decision makers to predict optimal performance, ensure continued operations and/or identify areas for improvement. Capability criteria associated with this control reasonably expect the following criteria to exist: ▪ Applicable SCR-CMM Level 3 (Well Defined) capabilities are implemented and operational. ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). ▪ Metrics reporting includes quantitative analysis of Key Risk Indicators (KRIs). ▪ Scope of metrics, KPIs and KRIs covers organization-wide cybersecurity and data protection controls, including functions performed by third-parties. ▪ Organizational leadership maintains a formal process to objectively review and respond to metrics, KPIs and KRIs (e.g., monthly or quarterly review). ▪ Based on metrics analysis, process improvement recommendations are submitted for review and are handled in accordance with change control processes. ▪ Business and technical stakeholders are involved in reviewing and approving proposed changes to evolve capabilities.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 or Level 4 (if available) criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ Level 5 capabilities should be considered “world-class” where the control builds on Level 4 capabilities, but are continuously improving through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and/or Machine Learning (ML) technologies. ▪ While it may be possible to develop responsive capabilities for this control through the use of AI and/or ML technologies, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

Assessment Objectives

  1. IAC-04.2_A01 prerequisites and criteria for group and role membership are defined.
  2. IAC-04.2_A02 criteria for account creation, enabling, modification, disabling and removal are defined.
  3. IAC-04.2_A03 personnel or roles required to approve requests to create accounts is/are defined.
  4. IAC-04.2_A04 account managers are assigned.
  5. IAC-04.2_A05 attributes (as required) for each account are defined.
  6. IAC-04.2_A06 personnel or roles to be notified is/are defined.
  7. IAC-04.2_A07 time period within which to notify account managers when accounts are no longer required is defined.
  8. IAC-04.2_A08 time period within which to notify account managers when users are terminated or transferred is defined.
  9. IAC-04.2_A09 time period within which to notify account managers when system usage or the need to know changes for an individual is defined.
  10. IAC-04.2_A10 attributes needed to authorize system access (as required) are defined.
  11. IAC-04.2_A11 the frequency of account review is defined.
  12. IAC-04.2_A12 account types allowed for use within the system are defined and documented.
  13. IAC-04.2_A13 account types specifically prohibited for use within the system are defined and documented.
  14. IAC-04.2_A14 prerequisites and criteria for group and role membership are required.
  15. IAC-04.2_A15 authorized users of the system are specified.
  16. IAC-04.2_A16 group and role memberships are specified.
  17. IAC-04.2_A17 access authorizations (i.e., privileges) for each account are specified.
  18. IAC-04.2_A18 attributes (as required) are specified for each account.
  19. IAC-04.2_A19 approvals are required by personnel or roles for requests to create accounts.
  20. IAC-04.2_A20 accounts are created in accordance with policy, procedures, prerequisites and criteria.
  21. IAC-04.2_A21 accounts are enabled in accordance with policy, procedures, prerequisites and criteria.
  22. IAC-04.2_A22 accounts are modified in accordance with policy, procedures, prerequisites and criteria.
  23. IAC-04.2_A23 accounts are disabled in accordance with policy, procedures, prerequisites and criteria.
  24. IAC-04.2_A24 accounts are removed in accordance with policy, procedures, prerequisites and criteria.
  25. IAC-04.2_A25 the use of accounts is monitored.
  26. IAC-04.2_A26 account managers and personnel or roles are notified within an organization-defined time period when accounts are no longer required.
  27. IAC-04.2_A27 account managers and personnel or roles are notified within an organization-defined time period when users are terminated or transferred.
  28. IAC-04.2_A28 account managers and personnel or roles are notified within an organization-defined time period when system usage or the need to know changes for an individual.
  29. IAC-04.2_A29 access to the system is authorized based on a valid access authorization.
  30. IAC-04.2_A30 access to the system is authorized based on intended system usage.
  31. IAC-04.2_A31 access to the system is authorized based on attributes (as required).
  32. IAC-04.2_A32 accounts are reviewed for compliance with account management requirements frequency.
  33. IAC-04.2_A33 a process is established for changing shared or group account authenticators (if deployed) when individuals are removed from the group.
  34. IAC-04.2_A34 a process is implemented for changing shared or group account authenticators (if deployed) when individuals are removed from the group.
  35. IAC-04.2_A35 account management processes are aligned with personnel termination processes.
  36. IAC-04.2_A36 account management processes are aligned with personnel transfer processes.
  37. IAC-04.2_A37 privileged user accounts are established and administered in accordance with organization-defined criteria.
  38. IAC-04.2_A38 privileged role or attribute assignments are monitored.
  39. IAC-04.2_A39 changes to roles or attributes are monitored.
  40. IAC-04.2_A40 access is revoked when privileged role or attribute assignments are no longer appropriate.

Evidence Requirements

E-HRS-19 Deprovisioning Checklist (Offboarding)

Documented evidence of personnel management practices to formally offboard personnel from their assigned roles due to employment termination or role change.

Human Resources

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Revoke all access immediately upon employee termination

Small

  • Documented termination procedure with immediate access revocation

Medium

  • Formal termination checklist
  • Same-day access revocation process

Large

  • Enterprise automated offboarding workflow
  • HR-to-IAM integration for immediate access revocation

Enterprise

  • Enterprise IGA with automated offboarding
  • HR system integration
  • Immediate access revocation across all systems
  • Exit interview and access audit

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