CM.L2-3.4.5 Access Restrictions for Change

Define, document, approve, and enforce physical and logical access restrictions associated with changes to organizational systems.

Source: NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 3.4.5

Discussion: Any changes to the hardware, software, or firmware components of systems can potentially have significant effects on the overall security of the systems. Therefore, organizations permit only qualified and authorized individuals to access systems for purposes of initiating changes, including upgrades and modifications. Access restrictions for change also include software libraries. Access restrictions include physical and logical access control requirements, workflow automation, media libraries, abstract layers (e.g., changes implemented into external interfaces rather than directly into systems), and change windows (e.g., changes occur only during certain specified times). In addition to security concerns, commonly-accepted due diligence for configuration management includes access restrictions as an essential part in ensuring the ability to effectively manage the configuration. [SP 800-128] provides guidance on configuration change control.

Assessment Objectives:

Determine if:

Examine: [SELECT FROM: Configuration management policy; procedures addressing access restrictions for changes to the system; security plan; configuration management plan; system design documentation; system architecture and configuration documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; logical access approvals; physical access approvals; access credentials; change control records; system audit logs and records; other relevant documents or records].

Interview: [SELECT FROM: Personnel with logical access control responsibilities; personnel with physical access control responsibilities; personnel with information security responsibilities; system or network administrators].

Test: [SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for managing access restrictions associated with changes to the system; mechanisms supporting, implementing, and enforcing access restrictions associated with changes to the system].

SPRS Score: 5

POA&M Allowed: No