---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.1.11 (AC.L2-3.1.11): Session Termination"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.1.11 Session Termination: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/access-control/3.1.11
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/access-control/3.1.11
records: 7
digest: sha3:8a9d5c7957acb82c5a77c5e4f613c3e49a05c8adf54c12ab31bfe46936e1880e
---

# NIST 800-171 3.1.11 (AC.L2-3.1.11): Session Termination

NIST 800-171 / Access Control / 3.1.11

"Terminate (automatically) a user session after a defined condition." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.1.11](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice AC.L2-3.1.11.

## What 3.1.11 means in practice

This is not a screen lock: the session itself ends and the user has to sign in again. Define the conditions, such as a maximum session length, a period of inactivity or a security event, and set the identity provider, VPN and applications to end sessions when one of them occurs.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: AC.L2-3.1.11
- **SPRS points**: 1 point. When it is not met, the DoD Assessment Methodology subtracts 1 from the score of 110.
- **CMMC POA&M**: Allowed. It is worth 1 point, and 32 CFR 170.21(a)(2)(ii) admits requirements worth 1 point. Conditional status also needs a score of at least 88, and the item must be closed within 180 days.

Sources: [NIST SP 800-171 DoD Assessment Methodology, version 1.2.1 (June 24, 2020), Annex A](https://www.acq.osd.mil/asda/dpc/cp/cyber/docs/safeguarding/NIST-SP-800-171-Assessment-Methodology-Version-1.2.1-6.24.2020.pdf); [32 CFR 170.21, Plan of Action and Milestones requirements](https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-32/section-170.21).

## What an assessor checks for 3.1.11

NIST SP 800-171A gives 2 determination statements for 3.1.11, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.1.11[a] conditions requiring a user session to terminate are defined.
- 3.1.11[b] a user session is automatically terminated after any of the defined conditions occur.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.1.11](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.1.11 is met

- The defined conditions that end a session.
- Identity provider session settings, such as sign-in frequency or maximum session lifetime.
- VPN and application session timeout settings.
- A test showing a session ended after a defined condition.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

PolicyCortex reads this evidence with the collectors below, read only, and grades 3.1.11 from it. Each line says what the product checks.

- **Microsoft Entra ID: Conditional Access.** Checks Conditional Access session controls that end a session after inactivity or a maximum lifetime.
- **Okta: Policies.** Checks that Okta ends every session within 12 hours.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.1.11 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-AC)
- **Sample package**: [Sample package: an SSP, a POA&M and an evidence chain the product generated from demonstration data.](https://policycortex.com/sample-package)
- **Family**: [All 22 Access Control requirements (3.1).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/access-control)
- **Previous**: [3.1.10: Session Lock](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/access-control/3.1.10)
- **Next**: [3.1.12: Remote Access Control](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/access-control/3.1.12)
- **All requirements**: [All 110 NIST SP 800-171 requirements, by family.](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171)

Meet the requirement once. Keep the evidence current. [Request Access](https://app.policycortex.com/auth?mode=request-access) · [Book a call](https://policycortex.com/book)

## Register colophon

| Seq | Label | SHA3-256 | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| REC 0000 | REQUIREMENT | 4c5a83034809 | d579e68ab864 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 6ee49517095d | 4c5a83034809 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | aa8d07798400 | 6ee49517095d |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 2e68fb7e0c05 | aa8d07798400 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | 714e69a55267 | 2e68fb7e0c05 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 173ed4b0b445 | 714e69a55267 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 8a9d5c7957ac | 173ed4b0b445 |

Head sha3:8a9d5c7957acb82c5a77c5e4f613c3e49a05c8adf54c12ab31bfe46936e1880e. Each digest is SHA3-256 over the previous digest, the register key, the record label, and the record copy; a second party can recompute it from this document.