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IAC-08.4: Disable Inactive Accounts

IAC 10 — Critical Protect

Automated mechanisms exist to disable inactive accounts after an organization-defined time period.

Renumbered: Formerly IAC-15.3 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to disable inactive accounts after an organization-defined time period?

General (26)
US (10)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CMS MARS-E 2.0 AC-2(3).a AC-2(3).b
USA Federal C2M2 2.1 ACCESS-1j
USA Federal CMMC 2.0 Level 2 IAL2.-3.5.6
USA Federal CJIS Security Policy 6.0 AC-2(3)
USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (moderate) AC-02(03)
USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) AC-02(03)
USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 AC-2(CE-3) AC-2(CE-3).a AC-2(CE-3).b AC-2(CE-3).c AC-2(CE-3).d
USA New York DFS 23 NYCRR500 2023 Amd 2 500.7(a)(4)
USA Texas DIR SCSC 2.2 2025 AC-02(3)
USA Texas TX-RAMP Level 2 AC-02 (03)
EMEA (3)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Germany C5 2026 IAM-01.02B.10 IAM-03.02B
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 op.acc.1
EMEA UK Cyber Essentials 3.3 4-BP3
APAC (4)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia Essential 8 2024 ISM-1648
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-1404 ISM-1648
APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 A2-C2(e)
APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 5.2.1(e) 5.9.2(a) 12.2.2
Americas (2)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Argentina Reg 132 2018 B.2.5
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.01.01.F.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

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 disable inactive accounts after an organization-defined time period.

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-08.4_A01 a period of inactivity after which an account / identifier is disabled is defined.
  2. IAC-08.4_A02 accounts / identifiers are disabled after the defined period of inactivity.
  3. IAC-08.4_A03 accounts / identifiers are disabled within an organization-defined time period when the accounts have expired.
  4. IAC-08.4_A04 accounts / identifiers are disabled within an organization-defined time period when the accounts are no longer associated with a user or individual.
  5. IAC-08.4_A05 accounts / identifiers are disabled within an organization-defined time period when the accounts are in violation of organizational policy.
  6. IAC-08.4_A06 system accounts are disabled when the accounts have been inactive for <A.03.01.01.ODP[01]: time period>.

Evidence Requirements

E-IAC-11 Recently Disabled Accounts

Documented evidence of list of recently disabled system accounts along with the name of the individual associated with each account.

Identity & Access Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Disable accounts after extended inactivity (e.g., 90 days)

Small

  • Policy for disabling inactive accounts
  • Regular review of inactive accounts

Medium

  • Automated inactive account detection and disabling
  • Defined inactivity threshold

Large

  • Enterprise IAM with automated inactive account detection and disabling

Enterprise

  • Enterprise IGA platform with automated account dormancy detection and disabling
  • SIEM integration for last login tracking

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