IAC-15.2: Password Managers
Mechanisms exist to protect and store passwords via a password manager tool.
Renumbered: Formerly IAC-10.11 in SCF 2025.4.
Code reused: In SCF 2025.4 and earlier, IAC-15.2 was Removal of Temporary / Emergency Accounts. That control is now IAC-11.1.
Control Question: Does the organization protect and store passwords via a password manager tool?
General (11)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| CSA CCM 4.1.0 | IAM-15 |
| ISO 27002 2022 | 5.17 5.18 |
| ISO 27017 2015 | 9.2.4 9.4.3 |
| ISO 27018 2025 | 5.17 5.18 |
| NIST 800-53 R5.2 | IA-05(18) |
| NIST 800-82 R3 | IA-05(18) |
| NIST 800-171 R3 (source) | 03.05.07.a 03.05.07.b 03.05.07.c 03.05.07.d 03.05.07.f |
| NIST 800-171A R3 (source) | A.03.05.07.ODP[01] A.03.05.07.a[01] A.03.05.07.a[02] A.03.05.07.a[03] A.03.05.07.b A.03.05.07.c A.03.05.07.d A.03.05.07.f |
| NIST 800-172 R3 | 03.05.02E |
| NIST 800-172A R3 | DS-A.03.05.02E.a |
| SWIFT CSF 2025 | 5.4 |
US (2)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| USA Federal CISA CPG 2022 | 2.L |
| USA Federal DHS CISA TIC 3.0 | 3.PEP.ID.SMANA |
EMEA (6)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 | op.acc.4 op.acc.5 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 2024 | 2212 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L2 2024 | 2212 |
| EMEA UK DEFSTAN 05-138 - L3 2024 | 2212 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia CSCC-1 2019 | 2-2-1-6 |
| EMEA Saudi Arabia OTCC-1 2022 | 2-2-1-9 |
APAC (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| APAC New Zealand NZISM 3.9 | 14.3.13.C.01 14.3.13.C.02 14.3.13.C.03 16.1.37.C.02 |
Americas (1)
| Framework | Mapping Values |
|---|---|
| Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 | 03.05.07.A 03.05.07.B 03.05.07.C 03.05.07.D 03.05.07.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. ▪ Password managers are provided, but decentralized and not actively governed.
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 protect and store passwords via a password manager tool.
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-15.2_A01 password managers employed for generating and managing passwords are defined.
- IAC-15.2_A02 password managers are employed to generate and manage passwords.
- IAC-15.2_A03 systems and system components that do not support multifactor authentication or complex account management are identified.
- IAC-15.2_A04 automated mechanisms for the generation, protection, rotation and management of passwords for systems and system components that do not support multifactor authentication or complex account management are identified.
- IAC-15.2_A05 automated mechanisms for the generation, protection, rotation and management of passwords for systems and system components that do not support multifactor authentication or complex account management are employed.
- IAC-15.2_A06 controls for protecting passwords are defined.
- IAC-15.2_A07 the passwords are protected using controls.
- IAC-15.2_A08 the frequency at which to update the list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords is defined.
- IAC-15.2_A09 a list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords is maintained.
- IAC-15.2_A10 a list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords is updated per an organization-defined frequency.
- IAC-15.2_A11 a list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords is updated when organizational passwords are suspected to have been compromised.
- IAC-15.2_A12 passwords are verified not to be found on the list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords when they are created or updated by users.
- IAC-15.2_A13 a list of commonly used, expected, or compromised passwords is updated <A.03.05.07.ODP[01]: frequency>.
Technology Recommendations
Micro/Small
- Keeper (https://keepersecurity.com)
- LastPass (https://lastpass.com
- 1Password (https://1password.com)
Small
- Keeper (https://keepersecurity.com)
- LastPass (https://lastpass.com
- 1Password (https://1password.com)
Medium
- Keeper (https://keepersecurity.com)
- LastPass (https://lastpass.com
- 1Password (https://1password.com)
- Delinea Secret Server (https://delinea.com)
- ManageEngine Enterprise Password Management (https://manageengine.com)
- Securden (https://securden.com)
- CyberArk (https://cyberark.com)
Large
- Keeper (https://keepersecurity.com)
- LastPass (https://lastpass.com
- 1Password (https://1password.com)
- Delinea Secret Server (https://delinea.com)
- ManageEngine Enterprise Password Management (https://manageengine.com)
- Securden (https://securden.com)
- CyberArk (https://cyberark.com)
Enterprise
- Keeper (https://keepersecurity.com)
- LastPass (https://lastpass.com
- 1Password (https://1password.com)
- Delinea Secret Server (https://delinea.com)
- ManageEngine Enterprise Password Management (https://manageengine.com)
- Securden (https://securden.com)
- CyberArk (https://cyberark.com)