NIST 800-171 3.1.6 (AC.L2-3.1.6): Non-Privileged Accounts

What 3.1.6 means in practice

Administrators should not read email, browse the web or do everyday work while signed in with administrator rights. The usual answer is two accounts for each administrator, one ordinary and one privileged, or an administrative role that is switched on only for the task at hand.

SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

What an assessor checks for 3.1.6

NIST SP 800-171A gives 2 determination statements for 3.1.6, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

1. 3.1.6[a] nonsecurity functions are identified.
2. 3.1.6[b] users are required to use non-privileged accounts or roles when accessing nonsecurity functions.

NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.1.6

Evidence that shows 3.1.6 is met

• A list of administrators showing each one's everyday account and separate privileged account.
• Policy text requiring non-privileged accounts or roles for nonsecurity work.
• Settings that keep mailboxes and web browsing away from privileged accounts, or that require activating an administrative role before use.

How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

PolicyCortex reads this evidence with the collectors below, read only, and grades 3.1.6 from it. Each line says what the product checks.

• Azure: Role assignments. Checks that users holding privileged Azure roles also have separate non-privileged accounts for nonsecurity functions.