Skip to main content

IAC-08.1: Automated System Account Management (Directory Services)

IAC 5 — Medium Protect

Automated mechanisms exist to support the management of system accounts (e.g., directory services).

Renumbered: Formerly IAC-15.1 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to support the management of system accounts (e.g., directory services)?

General (25)
Framework Mapping Values
CIS CSC 8.1 5.0 5.6 6.0
CIS CSC 8.1 IG2 5.6
CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 5.6
GovRAMP AC-02(01)
GovRAMP Core AC-02(01)
GovRAMP Low+ AC-02(01)
GovRAMP Moderate AC-02(01)
GovRAMP High AC-02(01)
IEC 62443-2-1 2024 USER 1.3 USER 1.4 USER 1.7 USER 1.8 USER 1.8(a) USER 1.8(b) USER 1.8(c)
IEC 62443-3-3 2013 SR 1.3 SR 1.3 RE 1
ISO 27002 2022 5.18
ISO 27018 2025 5.18
NIST 800-53 R4 AC-2(1)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 AC-02(01)
NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) AC-02(01)
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) AC-02(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 AC-02(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay AC-02(01)
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay AC-02(01)
NIST 800-171 R2 (source) 3.1.1 3.5.1 3.5.2
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.01.01.d.01 03.05.05.b 03.05.05.c 03.05.05.d 03.05.07.c 03.05.07.d 03.05.07.e 03.05.07.f 03.05.12.d 03.05.12.e 03.05.12.f
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.01.01.d.01 A.03.05.05.b[01] A.03.05.05.b[02] A.03.05.05.c A.03.05.05.d A.03.05.07.c A.03.05.07.d A.03.05.07.e A.03.05.07.f A.03.05.12.d A.03.05.12.e A.03.05.12.f[01] A.03.05.12.f[02]
NIST 800-172 R3 03.01.07E 03.01.11E
NIST 800-172A R3 DS-A.03.01.07E[01] DS-A.03.01.07E[02] DS-A.03.01.07E[03] DS-A.03.01.07E[04] DS-A.03.01.07E[05] DS-A.03.01.11E.a
NIST 800-207 NIST Tenet 3 NIST Tenet 4
US (9)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 AC-2-IS.3 AC-2(1)
USA Federal DHS CISA TIC 3.0 3.PEP.ID.EINVE
USA Federal CMMC 2.0 Level 1 AC.L1-B.1.I IA.L1-B.1.V IA.L1-B.1.VI
USA Federal CMMC 2.0 Level 2 ACL2.-3.1.1 IAL2.-3.5.1 IAL2.-3.5.2
USA Federal FAR 52.204-21 52.204-21(b)(1)(i) 52.204-21(b)(1)(v) 52.204-21(b)(1)(vi)
USA Federal CJIS Security Policy 6.0 AC-2(1)
USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (moderate) AC-02(01)
USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) AC-02(01)
USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 AC-2(CE-1)
EMEA (8)
APAC (5)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia Essential 8 2024 ISM-1649 ISM-1688
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-1649 ISM-1688
APAC Japan ISMAP 9.2.2.5
APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 5.4.1(a)
APAC Singapore MAS TRM 2021 9.2.2
Americas (2)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Argentina Reg 132 2018 B.2.3-2
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.01.01.D.01 03.05.05.B 03.05.05.C 03.05.05.D 03.05.07.C 03.05.07.D 03.05.07.E 03.05.07.F 03.05.12.D 03.05.12.E 03.05.12.F

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 automatically support the management of system accounts (e.g., directory services).

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-08.1_A01 automated mechanisms used to support the management of system accounts are defined.
  2. IAC-08.1_A02 the management of system accounts is supported using organization-defined automated mechanisms.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Small

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Medium

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Large

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Enterprise

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) is maintained by SCF Council. Use of SCF content is subject to the SCF Terms & Conditions.

Manage this control in SCF Connect

Track implementation status, collect evidence, and map controls to your compliance frameworks automatically.