--- title: "NIST 800-171 3.4.7 (CM.L2-3.4.7): Nonessential Services" description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.4.7 Nonessential Services: 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/configuration-management/3.4.7 sealed: 2026-11-11 amended: 2026-11-11 register: nist-800-171/configuration-management/3.4.7 records: 7 digest: sha3:55619bbc35c92bdc510c0d96c4cb9a40d89477056df68b1a3c306958779758f8 --- # NIST 800-171 3.4.7 (CM.L2-3.4.7): Nonessential Services NIST 800-171 / Configuration Management / 3.4.7 "Restrict, disable, or prevent the use of nonessential programs, functions, ports, protocols, and services." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.4.7](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2)) CMMC Level 2 practice CM.L2-3.4.7. ## What 3.4.7 means in practice Go item by item: decide which programs, functions, ports, protocols and services are essential, and restrict, disable or block the rest. Typical examples are removing unused software, turning off SMBv1 or Telnet, and closing ports nobody uses. ## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M - **CMMC Level 2 practice**: CM.L2-3.4.7 - **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 3.4.7 NIST SP 800-171A gives 15 determination statements for 3.4.7, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if: - 3.4.7[a] essential programs are defined. - 3.4.7[b] the use of nonessential programs is defined. - 3.4.7[c] the use of nonessential programs is restricted, disabled, or prevented as defined. - 3.4.7[d] essential functions are defined. - 3.4.7[e] the use of nonessential functions is defined. - 3.4.7[f] the use of nonessential functions is restricted, disabled, or prevented as defined. - 3.4.7[g] essential ports are defined. - 3.4.7[h] the use of nonessential ports is defined. - 3.4.7[i] the use of nonessential ports is restricted, disabled, or prevented as defined. - 3.4.7[j] essential protocols are defined. - 3.4.7[k] the use of nonessential protocols is defined. - 3.4.7[l] the use of nonessential protocols is restricted, disabled, or prevented as defined. - 3.4.7[m] essential services are defined. - 3.4.7[n] the use of nonessential services is defined. - 3.4.7[o] the use of nonessential services is restricted, disabled, or prevented as defined. [NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.4.7](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A) ## Evidence that shows 3.4.7 is met - Lists of the essential programs, functions, ports, protocols and services. - Firewall and host configuration showing the nonessential ones blocked or disabled. - Scan results showing only approved ports and services listening. ## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.4.7. Your team provides the evidence listed above. ## Related pages - **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.4.7 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-CM) - **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 Configuration Management requirements (3.4).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/configuration-management) - **Previous**: [3.4.6: Least Functionality](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/configuration-management/3.4.6) - **Next**: [3.4.8: Application Execution](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/configuration-management/3.4.8) - **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) ยท [Book a call](https://policycortex.com/book) ## Register colophon | Seq | Label | SHA3-256 | Prev | |---|---|---|---| | REC 0000 | REQUIREMENT | 7c05d337ae6d | 5451e4626a9f | | REC 0001 | MEANING | 11e0b798685c | 7c05d337ae6d | | REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | b613bf78e271 | 11e0b798685c | | REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | c69f03e89f35 | b613bf78e271 | | REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | b11acf60c2e9 | c69f03e89f35 | | REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 018e83180de6 | b11acf60c2e9 | | REC 0006 | RELATED | 55619bbc35c9 | 018e83180de6 | Head sha3:55619bbc35c92bdc510c0d96c4cb9a40d89477056df68b1a3c306958779758f8. 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.