---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.7.2 (MA.L2-3.7.2): Maintenance Tools"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.7.2 Maintenance Tools: 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/maintenance/3.7.2
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/maintenance/3.7.2
records: 7
digest: sha3:1e9476578b78747d77e394ef925afbed0166a6b3c75ccc3d42a29fb831884ed8
---

# NIST 800-171 3.7.2 (MA.L2-3.7.2): Maintenance Tools

NIST 800-171 / Maintenance / 3.7.2

"Provide controls on the tools, techniques, mechanisms, and personnel used to conduct system maintenance." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.7.2](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice MA.L2-3.7.2.

## What 3.7.2 means in practice

Control what is used to maintain systems and who uses it: approved diagnostic tools, remote support software, the techniques allowed and the technicians themselves. Unknown tools and unvetted remote support are common ways in.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: MA.L2-3.7.2
- **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 3.7.2

NIST SP 800-171A gives 4 determination statements for 3.7.2, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.7.2[a] tools used to conduct system maintenance are controlled.
- 3.7.2[b] techniques used to conduct system maintenance are controlled.
- 3.7.2[c] mechanisms used to conduct system maintenance are controlled.
- 3.7.2[d] personnel used to conduct system maintenance are controlled.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.7.2](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.7.2 is met

- An approved list of maintenance tools and remote support software.
- Controls on who may use them, such as restricted accounts or check-out logs.
- Records of maintenance personnel and their authorization.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.7.2. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.7.2 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-MA)
- **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 6 Maintenance requirements (3.7).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/maintenance)
- **Previous**: [3.7.1: System Maintenance](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/maintenance/3.7.1)
- **Next**: [3.7.3: Off-Site Maintenance](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/maintenance/3.7.3)
- **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 | 77ddbfceb82f | 68258dd7ae62 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 05627ea805a4 | 77ddbfceb82f |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 9414e4b54c07 | 05627ea805a4 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 360800cd7d77 | 9414e4b54c07 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | af20a169a362 | 360800cd7d77 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | c49a4e25c272 | af20a169a362 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 1e9476578b78 | c49a4e25c272 |

Head sha3:1e9476578b78747d77e394ef925afbed0166a6b3c75ccc3d42a29fb831884ed8. 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.