IAC-08.5: Account Disabling for High Risk Individuals
Mechanisms exist to disable accounts immediately upon notification for users posing a significant risk to the organization.
Renumbered: Formerly IAC-15.6 in SCF 2025.4.
Control Question: Does the organization disable accounts immediately upon notification for users posing a significant risk to the organization?
General (13)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| CSA CCM 4.1.0 | IAM-07 |
| GovRAMP | AC-02(13) |
| GovRAMP High | AC-02(13) |
| NIST 800-53 R4 | AC-2(13) |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | AC-02(13) |
| NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) | AC-02(13) |
| NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) | AC-02(13) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | AC-02(13) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay | AC-02(13) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay | AC-02(13) |
| NIST 800-171 R3 (source) | 03.01.01.f.04 03.01.01.f.05 |
| NIST 800-171A R3 (source) | A.03.01.01.f.04 A.03.01.01.f.05 |
| OWASP Top 10 2025 | A01:2025 |
US (4)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal CJIS Security Policy 6.0 | AC-2(13) |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (moderate) | AC-02(13) |
| USA Federal FedRAMP R5 (high) | AC-02(13) |
| USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 | AC-2(CE-13) |
APAC (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia ISM June 2026 | ISM-1591 |
| APAC Malaysia RMiT 2025 | 12.8(a) |
Americas (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.01.01.F.04 03.01.01.F.05 |
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 disable accounts immediately upon notification for users posing a significant risk to the organization.
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
- IAC-08.5_A01 time period within which to disable accounts of individuals who are discovered to pose significant risk is defined.
- IAC-08.5_A02 significant risks leading to disabling accounts are defined.
- IAC-08.5_A03 accounts of individuals are disabled within an organization-defined time period of discovery of significant risks.
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Disable accounts of users identified as high-risk immediately
Small
- Procedure for immediate account disabling for high-risk individuals
Medium
- Formal high-risk account disabling procedure
- Security team notification protocol
Large
- Enterprise IAM with ability to immediately disable accounts for high-risk individuals
- SIEM/HR integration
Enterprise
- Enterprise IAM/IGA with automated account disabling triggered by HR events or security alerts
- SOAR integration