---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.5.6 (IA.L2-3.5.6): Inactive Accounts"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.5.6 Inactive Accounts: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication/3.5.6
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication/3.5.6
records: 7
digest: sha3:7218ef448dce4aaa1534547a1e9a4a7a91330fce4cddd787b37783b9c1ce01de
---

# NIST 800-171 3.5.6 (IA.L2-3.5.6): Inactive Accounts

NIST 800-171 / Identification and Authentication / 3.5.6

"Disable identifiers after a defined period of inactivity." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.5.6](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice IA.L2-3.5.6.

## What 3.5.6 means in practice

Accounts nobody has used for a defined period (90 days is common) are disabled, because a dormant account can be taken over without anyone noticing. Set the period, then disable such accounts automatically or through regular reviews, and keep the reports.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: IA.L2-3.5.6
- **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 3.5.6

NIST SP 800-171A gives 2 determination statements for 3.5.6, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.5.6[a] a period of inactivity after which an identifier is disabled is defined.
- 3.5.6[b] identifiers are disabled after the defined period of inactivity.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.5.6](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.5.6 is met

- The defined inactivity period after which accounts are disabled.
- An automated job or identity provider setting that disables inactive accounts, or records of regular reviews.
- A report of accounts disabled for inactivity.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

PolicyCortex reads this evidence with the collectors below, read only, and grades 3.5.6 from it. Each line says what the product checks.

- **Microsoft Entra ID: Sign-in logs.** Reads Microsoft Entra sign-in activity so that dormant accounts can be found and disabled.
- **Okta: Directory.** Checks that no Okta account that can sign in has gone 90 days without signing in.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.5.6 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-IA)
- **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 11 Identification and Authentication requirements (3.5).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication)
- **Previous**: [3.5.5: Identifier Reuse](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication/3.5.5)
- **Next**: [3.5.7: Password Complexity](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/identification-and-authentication/3.5.7)
- **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 | 37c3407e91f8 | ec1023f5dad4 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 4c10b450faf7 | 37c3407e91f8 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | ce6b87a27935 | 4c10b450faf7 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 833bc9f0af3c | ce6b87a27935 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | d27532d69290 | 833bc9f0af3c |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | da4f11f9aab1 | d27532d69290 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 7218ef448dce | da4f11f9aab1 |

Head sha3:7218ef448dce4aaa1534547a1e9a4a7a91330fce4cddd787b37783b9c1ce01de. 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.