Skip to main content

MNT-15: Non-System Related Maintenance

MNT 5 — Medium Protect

Mechanisms exist to ensure that non-escorted personnel performing non-IT maintenance activities in the physical proximity of systems have required access authorizations.

Renumbered: Formerly MNT-06.2 in SCF 2025.4.

Control Question: Does the organization ensure that non-escorted personnel performing non-IT maintenance activities in the physical proximity of systems have required access authorizations?

General (6)
Framework Mapping Values
NIST 800-53 R4 MA-5(5)
NIST 800-53 R5.2 MA-05(05)
NIST 800-82 R3 MA-05(05)
NIST 800-171 R2 (source) 3.7.6
NIST 800-171 R3 (source) 03.07.06.c
NIST 800-171A R3 (source) A.03.07.06.c
US (3)
Framework Mapping Values
USA Federal CMMC 2.0 Level 2 MAL2.-3.7.6
USA Federal IRS 1075 2021 MA-5(CE-5)
USA Federal 33 CFR Part 101 Subpart F 101.650(d)(3)
Americas (1)
Framework Mapping Values
Americas Canada ITSP-10-171 2025 03.07.06.C

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

Maintenance (MNT) 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 MNT domain capabilities are formally documented and centrally-managed by the entity. ▪ Standardized Operating Procedures (SOP) associated with MNT 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 MNT domain capabilities to address applicable statutory, regulatory and/or contractual requirements for Technology Assets, Applications, Services and/or Data (TAASD). ▪ Maintenance-related controls are primarily administrative and preventative in nature (e.g., policies, standards and procedures & guidelines). ▪ Asset management may be a defined function (e.g., team or department) or assigned as an additional duty to existing IT and/or cybersecurity personnel. ▪ IT personnel, in conjunction with asset custodians, develop and maintain facilitate localized/regionalized procedures to conduct controlled and timely maintenance activities throughout the lifecycle of the Technology Asset, Application and/or Service (TAAS). ▪ Maintenance operations may be centralized for certain locations (e.g., datacenters) and decentralized for other locations, both in terms of change management and execution. ▪ Asset / process owners require maintenance personnel to obtain pre-approval and scheduling for non-local maintenance sessions.

Level 3 — Well Defined

Maintenance (MNT) 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 MNT 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 MNT domain capabilities (e.g., maintenance pans) are documented and maintained by process owners. ▪ A centralized Change Management Office (CMO), or similar function, is appropriately staffed and supported to implement and maintain MNT domain capabilities. ▪ Technical procedures (e.g., ITIL change enablement) are utilized along with change management governance capabilities to ensure successful, efficient and secure maintenance operations. ▪ 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 MNT 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 ensure that non-escorted personnel performing non-IT maintenance activities in the physical proximity of systems have required access authorizations.

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

  1. MNT-15_A01 non-escorted personnel performing maintenance activities not directly associated with the system but in the physical proximity of the system have required access authorizations.
  2. MNT-15_A02 non-escorted personnel who perform maintenance on the system possess the required access authorizations.

Technology Recommendations

Micro/Small

  • Document maintenance activities in a log

Small

  • Maintenance log
  • Authorized maintenance personnel list

Medium

  • Formal maintenance management program
  • CMMS or ticketing system

Large

  • CMMS (e.g., Maximo, ServiceNow)
  • Scheduled maintenance program
  • Vendor access controls

Enterprise

  • Enterprise CMMS platform
  • Automated maintenance scheduling
  • Vendor access controls
  • Remote access controls

The Secure Controls Framework (SCF) is maintained by SCF Council. Use of SCF content is subject to the SCF Terms & Conditions.

Manage this control in SCF Connect

Track implementation status, collect evidence, and map controls to your compliance frameworks automatically.