---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.3.9 (AU.L2-3.3.9): Audit Management"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.3.9 Audit Management: 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/3.3.9
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/audit-and-accountability/3.3.9
records: 7
digest: sha3:2f9c352cd21aeeb978b96c3c8dadb3b838c133e97d6e2fdbeb89b1b32406b06b
---

# NIST 800-171 3.3.9 (AU.L2-3.3.9): Audit Management

NIST 800-171 / Audit and Accountability / 3.3.9

"Limit management of audit logging functionality to a subset of privileged users." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.3.9](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice AU.L2-3.3.9.

## What 3.3.9 means in practice

Only a small, named group of privileged users may change logging settings, such as turning logs off or changing what is captured. Other administrators keep their remaining privileges but not this one, so they cannot hide their own actions.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: AU.L2-3.3.9
- **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 3.3.9

NIST SP 800-171A gives 2 determination statements for 3.3.9, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.3.9[a] a subset of privileged users granted access to manage audit logging functionality is defined.
- 3.3.9[b] management of audit logging functionality is limited to the defined subset of privileged users.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.3.9](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.3.9 is met

- The named subset of users allowed to manage audit logging.
- Role assignments showing logging management limited to that group.
- Change records for logging configuration, made only by members of that group.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

PolicyCortex reads this evidence with the collectors below, read only, and grades 3.3.9 from it. Each line says what the product checks.

- **Azure: Role assignments.** Checks that Azure role assignments limit management of audit logging to authorized administrators.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.3.9 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**: [3.3.8: Audit Protection](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/audit-and-accountability/3.3.8)
- **Next**: [3.4.1: Baseline and Inventory](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/configuration-management/3.4.1)
- **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 | 52de6ef6127b | 352a878c4070 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 5dd850260b77 | 52de6ef6127b |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 4735a0d5221b | 5dd850260b77 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | ad72b16e7e3d | 4735a0d5221b |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | f3159ee758f6 | ad72b16e7e3d |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 831a9de389ff | f3159ee758f6 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 2f9c352cd21a | 831a9de389ff |

Head sha3:2f9c352cd21aeeb978b96c3c8dadb3b838c133e97d6e2fdbeb89b1b32406b06b. 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.