---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.2.1 (AT.L2-3.2.1): Security Awareness"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.2.1 Security Awareness: 5 SPRS points, not allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/awareness-and-training/3.2.1
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/awareness-and-training/3.2.1
records: 7
digest: sha3:d18d4c4fe9b0ac1561a803d0041091959d4ec07cf5cf3512832bc0f565e967df
---

# NIST 800-171 3.2.1 (AT.L2-3.2.1): Security Awareness

NIST 800-171 / Awareness and Training / 3.2.1

"Ensure that managers, systems administrators, and users of organizational systems are made aware of the security risks associated with their activities and of the applicable policies, standards, and procedures related to the security of those systems." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.2.1](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice AT.L2-3.2.1.

## What 3.2.1 means in practice

Everyone who uses the system, from managers to administrators, learns the security risks of their work and the policies they must follow. Awareness can come through training, briefings, posters or simulated phishing, but you need records of who received it and when.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: AT.L2-3.2.1
- **SPRS points**: 5 points. When it is not met, the DoD Assessment Methodology subtracts 5 from the score of 110.
- **CMMC POA&M**: Not allowed. It is worth 5 points, and 32 CFR 170.21(a)(2)(ii) admits only requirements worth 1 point, with one exception: 3.13.11 when encryption is used but not FIPS validated.

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 3.2.1

NIST SP 800-171A gives 4 determination statements for 3.2.1, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.2.1[a] security risks associated with organizational activities involving CUI are identified.
- 3.2.1[b] policies, standards, and procedures related to the security of the system are identified.
- 3.2.1[c] managers, systems administrators, and users of the system are made aware of the security risks associated with their activities.
- 3.2.1[d] managers, systems administrators, and users of the system are made aware of the applicable policies, standards, and procedures related to the security of the system.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.2.1](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.2.1 is met

- The awareness program content and how often it runs.
- Completion records for all users, new hires included.
- Acknowledgements of the security policies that apply to each user.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.2.1. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.2.1 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-AT)
- **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 3 Awareness and Training requirements (3.2).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/awareness-and-training)
- **Previous**: [3.1.22: Public Information](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/access-control/3.1.22)
- **Next**: [3.2.2: Role-Based Training](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/awareness-and-training/3.2.2)
- **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 | df576b3ab2eb | 9bde88ac4a77 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 01256c133bae | df576b3ab2eb |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | bcab5a563c36 | 01256c133bae |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 36aea4735759 | bcab5a563c36 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | 5c343f777ff1 | 36aea4735759 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | f42a1dcedc27 | 5c343f777ff1 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | d18d4c4fe9b0 | f42a1dcedc27 |

Head sha3:d18d4c4fe9b0ac1561a803d0041091959d4ec07cf5cf3512832bc0f565e967df. 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.