---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.6.3 (IR.L2-3.6.3): Incident Response Testing"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.6.3 Incident Response Testing: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/incident-response/3.6.3
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/incident-response/3.6.3
records: 7
digest: sha3:63db0ebe4a601e7109b45e541642fd2773799dc643e42fe0dc3fa1833842d27d
---

# NIST 800-171 3.6.3 (IR.L2-3.6.3): Incident Response Testing

NIST 800-171 / Incident Response / 3.6.3

"Test the organizational incident response capability." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.6.3](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice IR.L2-3.6.3.

## What 3.6.3 means in practice

Test the incident response capability, for example with a tabletop exercise, a simulation or a full drill, and feed what you learn back into the plan. Tests that find nothing to fix are rare, so assessors expect to see lessons learned.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: IR.L2-3.6.3
- **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 3.6.3

NIST SP 800-171A gives one determination statement for 3.6.3.

- Determine if the incident response capability is tested.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.6.3](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.6.3 is met

- The test plan and the date of the most recent test.
- Exercise records: scenario, participants and results.
- The lessons learned and the plan changes that followed.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.6.3. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.6.3 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-IR)
- **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 Incident Response requirements (3.6).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/incident-response)
- **Previous**: [3.6.2: Incident Reporting](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/incident-response/3.6.2)
- **Next**: [3.7.1: System Maintenance](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/maintenance/3.7.1)
- **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 | 5fa43b85c954 | 6398601d71a1 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | b8d5a9b5e694 | 5fa43b85c954 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 064a862be550 | b8d5a9b5e694 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | f136cf177ec1 | 064a862be550 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | cd3d861ee8c1 | f136cf177ec1 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 65196216654a | cd3d861ee8c1 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 63db0ebe4a60 | 65196216654a |

Head sha3:63db0ebe4a601e7109b45e541642fd2773799dc643e42fe0dc3fa1833842d27d. 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.