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IAC-13.3: Continuous Authentication

IAC 2 — Low Protect

Automated mechanisms exist to enable continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions.

Control Question: Does the organization use automated mechanisms to enable continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions?

General (2)
Framework Mapping Values
SCF CORE ESP Level 2 Critical Infrastructure IAC-13.3
SCF CORE ESP Level 3 Advanced Threats IAC-13.3
US (4)
Framework Mapping Values
US DoD Zero Trust Execution Roadmap 1.8 1.8.4
US DoD Zero Trust Reference Architecture 2.0 1.0
US DHS CISA TIC 3.0 3.PEP.ID.CAUTH
US DHS ZTCF APP-02 SYS-01
EMEA (1)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA EU NIS2 Annex 11.7.1

Capability Maturity Model

Level 0 — Not Performed

There is no evidence of an automated capability to enable continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions.

Level 1 — Performed Informally

C|P-CMM1 is N/A, since a structured process is required to enable continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions.

Level 2 — Planned & Tracked

C|P-CMM2 is N/A, since a well-defined process is required to enable continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Identification & Authentication (IAC) efforts are standardized across the organization and centrally managed, where technically feasible, to ensure consistency. CMM Level 3 control maturity would reasonably expect all, or at least most, the following criteria to exist:

  • An Identity & Access Management (IAM) function, or similar function, centrally manages permissions and implements “least privileges” Role Based Access Control (RBAC) practices for the management of user, group and system accounts, including privileged accounts.
  • The Human Resources (HR) department governs personnel management operations and notifies IAM personnel of personnel role changes for RBAC-based provisioning and deprovisioning actions.
  • An IT Asset Management (ITAM) function, or similar function, categorizes endpoint devices according to the data the asset stores, transmits and/ or processes and applies the appropriate technology controls to protect the asset and data that conform to industry-recognized standards for hardening (e.g., DISA STIGs, CIS Benchmarks or OEM security guides).
  • An IT infrastructure team, or similar function, ensures that statutory, regulatory and contractual cybersecurity and data privacy obligations are addressed to ensure secure configurations are designed, built and maintained.
  • Active Directory (AD), or a similar technology, is used to centrally manage identities and permissions. Only by exception due to a technical or business limitation are solutions authorized to operate a decentralized access control program for systems, applications and services.
Level 4 — Quantitatively Controlled

See C|P-CMM3. There are no defined C|P-CMM4 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a quantitatively-controlled process is not necessary to enable continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions.

Level 5 — Continuously Improving

See C|P-CMM4. There are no defined C|P-CMM5 criteria, since it is reasonable to assume a continuously-improving process is not necessary to enable continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions.

Assessment Objectives

  1. IAC-13.3_A01 technologies are configured to enforce continuous re-authentication through the lifecycle of entity interactions.

Technology Recommendations

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