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IAC-33: Identification & Authentication for Non-Organizational Users

IAC 9 — Critical Protect

Mechanisms exist to uniquely identify and centrally Authenticate, Authorize and Audit (AAA) third-party users and processes that provide services to the organization.

Renumbered: Formerly IAC-03 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization uniquely identify and centrally Authenticate, Authorize and Audit (AAA) third-party users and processes that provide services to the organization?

General (37)
Framework Mapping Values
AICPA TSC 2017:2022 (used for SOC 2) (source) CC6.1 CC6.1-POF3 CC6.1-POF4
CIS CSC 8.1 12.5
CIS CSC 8.1 IG2 12.5
CIS CSC 8.1 IG3 12.5
CSA CCM 4.1.0 IAM-11 IAM-13
GovRAMP IA-08
GovRAMP Core IA-08
GovRAMP Moderate IA-08
GovRAMP High IA-08
IEC 62443-2-1 2024 USER 1.1
IEC 62443-3-3 2013 SR 1.1 SR 1.1 RE 1
IEC 62443-4-2 2019 CR 1.1 CR 1.1(1)
ISO 27002 2022 5.16
ISO 27018 2025 5.16
MITRE ATT&CK 16 T1053 T1053.007 T1059 T1059.001 T1059.008 T1087.004 T1190 T1210 T1213 T1213.001 T1213.002 T1213.004 T1213.005 T1528 T1530 T1537 T1538 T1542 T1542.001 T1542.003 T1542.005 T1547.006
NIST 800-53 R4 IA-8
NIST 800-53 R5.2 IA-08
NIST 800-53B R5 (low) (source) IA-08
NIST 800-53B R5 (moderate) (source) IA-08
NIST 800-53B R5 (high) (source) IA-08
NIST 800-82 R3 IA-08
NIST 800-82 R3 LOW OT Overlay IA-08
NIST 800-82 R3 MODERATE OT Overlay IA-08
NIST 800-82 R3 HIGH OT Overlay IA-08
NIST 800-161 R1 IA-8
NIST 800-161 R1 C-SCRM Baseline IA-8
NIST 800-161 R1 Level 2 IA-8
NIST 800-161 R1 Level 3 IA-8
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.05.01.a
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.05.01.a[03]
NIST 800-207 NIST Tenet 3 NIST Tenet 4
NIST CSF 2.0 (source) PR.AA-01 PR.AA-03 PR.AA-05
NIST Privacy Framework 1.0 PR.AC-P6
OWASP Top 10 2025 A07:2025
PCI DSS 4.0.1 (source) 7.2.1
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Merchant (source) 7.2.1
PCI DSS 4.0.1 SAQ D Service Provider (source) 7.2.1
US (11)
EMEA (3)
Framework Mapping Values
EMEA Spain CCN-STIC 825 op.acc.1
EMEA UK CAF 4.0 B2.a
EMEA Saudi Arabia SACS-002 2022 VII.B.TPC-32
APAC (1)
Framework Mapping Values
APAC Australia ISM June 2026 ISM-1583
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.05.01.A

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 uniquely identify and centrally Authenticate, Authorize and Audit (AAA) third-party users and processes that provide services 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

  1. IAC-33_A01 non-organizational users or processes acting on behalf of non-organizational users are uniquely identified and authenticated.

Evidence Requirements

E-IAC-05 Identity & Access Management (IAM) Function

Documented evidence of an Identity & Access Management (IAM), or similar function, that facilitates the implementation of identification and access management controls.

Identity & Access Management
E-IAC-06 Authenticate, Authorize and Audit (AAA) Solution

Documented evidence of an Authenticate, Authorize and Audit (AAA) solution (on-premises and hosted by External Service Providers (ESP)).

Identity & Access Management

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Small

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Medium

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Large

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

Enterprise

  • Microsoft Active Directory (https://microsoft.com)
  • Microsoft Entra (https://microsoft.com)
  • AWS IAM (https://aws.amazon.com)

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