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IAC-05: Identity Proofing (Identity Verification)

IAC 10 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to verify the identity of a user before issuing authenticators or modifying access permissions.

Renumbered: Formerly IAC-28 in SCF 2025.4.

Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, IAC-05 was Identification & Authentication for Third-Party Technology Assets, Applications and/or Services (TAAS). That control is now IAC-36.

Control Question: Does the organization verify the identity of a user before issuing authenticators or modifying access permissions?

General (18)
Framework Mapping Values
MITRE ATT&CK 16 T1078 T1078.002 T1078.003 T1078.004
NIST 800-53 R5.2 IA-12
NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) IA-12
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) IA-12
NIST SP 800-66 R2 164.312(d)
NIST 800-82 R3 IA-12
NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay IA-12
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay IA-12
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.05.12.a
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.05.12.a
NIST 800-172 R3 03.05.06E
NIST 800-172A R3 DS-A.03.05.06E.a DS-A.03.05.06E.b DS-A.03.05.06E.c[01] DS-A.03.05.06E.c[02] DS-A.03.05.06E.c[03]
NIST CSF 2.0 (source) PR.AA-02
PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) 8.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ A-EP (source) 8.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ C (source) 8.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) 8.3.3
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) 8.3.3
US (9)
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 CRY-08.01B.1 PSS-07.03B
APAC (4)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC India RBI PA 2025 IV.13.a IV.15.a.i IV.15.a.ii
APAC India RBI PPI 2025 6.1 7.11.d 10.1.d
APAC Japan ISMAP 7.1.1.4
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 10.54(f)(ii) A3-1(a) A3-1(j) A3-2 A3-2(a) A3-2(c) A3-3 A3-3(c) A3-3(d) A3-3(e) A3-5(a) A4-2(c) A11-4
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.05.12.A

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

SCR-CMM Level 1 criteria definitions are not available for this control: ▪ A reasonable person would conclude this control requires a structured process. ▪ At this level of maturity, the "ad hoc" nature of performing a capability informally would indicate the intent of the control is not met due to a lack of consistency and formality.

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 verify the identity of a user before issuing authenticators or modifying access permissions.

Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

Utilize SCR-CMM Level 3 criteria definitions: ▪ There are no defined Level 4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to operationalize this control. ▪ While it may be possible to develop “metrics-driven” capabilities for this control, the criteria would be organization-specific to define.

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-05_A01 users who require accounts for logical access to systems based on appropriate identity assurance level requirements as specified in applicable standards and guidelines are identity proofed.
  2. IAC-05_A02 user identities are resolved to a unique individual.
  3. IAC-05_A03 identity evidence is collected.
  4. IAC-05_A04 identity evidence is validated.
  5. IAC-05_A05 identity evidence is verified.

Evidence Requirements

E-HRS-18 Provisioning Checklist (Onboarding)

Documented evidence of personnel management practices to formally onboard personnel into their assigned roles.

Human Resources

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Driver's license
  • Passport

Small

  • Driver's license
  • Passport

Medium

  • Driver's license
  • Passport

Large

  • Driver's license
  • Passport

Enterprise

  • Driver's license
  • Passport

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