IAC-11: Emergency Accounts
Mechanisms exist to establish and control "emergency access only" accounts.
Renumbered: Formerly IAC-15.9 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, IAC-11 was Authenticator Feedback. That control is now IAC-20.
Control Question: Does the organization establish and control "emergency access only" accounts?
General (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) | CC8.1-POF13 |
| NIST SP 800-66 R2 | 164.312(a) |
US (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal HIPAA Security Rule NIST SP 800-66 R2 | § 164.312(a)(2)(ii) |
| USA Federal HIPAA Administrative Simplification 2013 | § 164.312(a)(2)(ii) |
EMEA (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA EU DORA RTS 2024 | Article 21.1(e)(ii) |
APAC (3)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC Australia Essential 8 2024 | ISM-1685 |
| APAC Australia ISM June 2026 | ISM-1610 ISM-1611 ISM-1612 ISM-1613 ISM-1614 ISM-1615 ISM-1685 |
| APAC Singapore CCOP CII 2026 | 5.3.1(f) 12.3.3 |
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 establish and control "emergency access only" accounts.
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
- IAC-11_A01 a process exists to establish "emergency access only" accounts.
- IAC-11_A02 "emergency access only" accounts are subject to documented controls that restrict when they may be used and by whom.
Evidence Requirements
- E-IAC-18 Emergency / Temporary Account Records
-
Documented evidence of emergency and temporary accounts, including approvals and removal.
Identity & Access Management
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Maintain emergency break-glass account with controlled access
Small
- Emergency account policy
- Secure storage of break-glass credentials
Medium
- Formal emergency account procedure
- Secure credential storage
- Usage logging
Large
- Enterprise emergency account management
- PAM-vaulted break-glass credentials
- Audit trail for emergency access
Enterprise
- Enterprise PAM with emergency access workflow (e.g., CyberArk)
- Break-glass procedure
- Dual control for emergency credential release
- Automated alerting on emergency account use