---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.3.8 (AU.L2-3.3.8): Audit Protection"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.3.8 Audit Protection: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/audit-and-accountability/3.3.8
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/audit-and-accountability/3.3.8
records: 7
digest: sha3:8e51fbdab3c5fd10a393271375c06b8c87eaad85d63ba26f9c527bd4474c06ea
---

# NIST 800-171 3.3.8 (AU.L2-3.3.8): Audit Protection

NIST 800-171 / Audit and Accountability / 3.3.8

"Protect audit information and audit logging tools from unauthorized access, modification, and deletion." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.3.8](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice AU.L2-3.3.8.

## What 3.3.8 means in practice

Audit logs are only useful if nobody can quietly read, alter or delete them. Restrict access to the log data and the logging tools, protect stored logs against change, for example with retention locks or integrity validation, and keep administrators away from the logs of their own actions.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: AU.L2-3.3.8
- **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 3.3.8

NIST SP 800-171A gives 6 determination statements for 3.3.8, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.3.8[a] audit information is protected from unauthorized access.
- 3.3.8[b] audit information is protected from unauthorized modification.
- 3.3.8[c] audit information is protected from unauthorized deletion.
- 3.3.8[d] audit logging tools are protected from unauthorized access.
- 3.3.8[e] audit logging tools are protected from unauthorized modification.
- 3.3.8[f] audit logging tools are protected from unauthorized deletion.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.3.8](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.3.8 is met

- Access permissions on log storage and on the logging tools.
- Settings that prevent modification or deletion, such as retention locks or log file integrity validation.
- Logs of access to the audit data itself.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

PolicyCortex reads this evidence with the collectors below, read only, and grades 3.3.8 from it. Each line says what the product checks.

- **Azure: Role assignments.** Checks that Azure role assignments restrict access to Log Analytics workspaces and audit data.
- **Azure Monitor: Log Analytics workspaces.** Checks workspace settings that protect audit logs from modification and keep them for at least 90 days.
- **AWS: CloudTrail and CloudWatch.** Checks that CloudTrail log file validation is on and that the logs are encrypted with a KMS key.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.3.8 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-AU)
- **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 9 Audit and Accountability requirements (3.3).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/audit-and-accountability)
- **Previous**: [3.3.7: Authoritative Time](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/audit-and-accountability/3.3.7)
- **Next**: [3.3.9: Audit Management](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/audit-and-accountability/3.3.9)
- **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 | c386deea1154 | 82a8b19de17c |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 343d4dc8f19e | c386deea1154 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | ff8d36886893 | 343d4dc8f19e |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | d733df28716f | ff8d36886893 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | 9b2d34e85ae8 | d733df28716f |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 286377ca6619 | 9b2d34e85ae8 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 8e51fbdab3c5 | 286377ca6619 |

Head sha3:8e51fbdab3c5fd10a393271375c06b8c87eaad85d63ba26f9c527bd4474c06ea. 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.