---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.8.4 (MP.L2-3.8.4): Media Marking"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.8.4 Media Marking: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/media-protection/3.8.4
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/media-protection/3.8.4
records: 7
digest: sha3:d8cee962061d90e0bc4b2b1a3f3c7a74f01d9e91e4e527a7aa06d23a0f066d4f
---

# NIST 800-171 3.8.4 (MP.L2-3.8.4): Media Marking

NIST 800-171 / Media Protection / 3.8.4

"Mark media with necessary CUI markings and distribution limitations." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.8.4](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice MP.L2-3.8.4.

## What 3.8.4 means in practice

Media that holds CUI carries the CUI marking and any distribution limits, following the CUI Registry and the marking guidance you were given. Assessors look at real examples: labeled drives, marked printouts and documents with CUI banners.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: MP.L2-3.8.4
- **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 3.8.4

NIST SP 800-171A gives 2 determination statements for 3.8.4, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.8.4[a] media containing CUI is marked with applicable CUI markings.
- 3.8.4[b] media containing CUI is marked with distribution limitations.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.8.4](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.8.4 is met

- The marking procedure, referencing the CUI Registry markings.
- Examples of marked media and documents.
- Training or job aids for applying the markings.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.8.4. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.8.4 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-MP)
- **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 Media Protection requirements (3.8).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/media-protection)
- **Previous**: [3.8.3: Media Sanitization](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/media-protection/3.8.3)
- **Next**: [3.8.5: Media Transport](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/media-protection/3.8.5)
- **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 | eff0e59ef403 | fa3c4f4cdcac |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 71dbee72621b | eff0e59ef403 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 28209cae4672 | 71dbee72621b |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 51c4f53ad66d | 28209cae4672 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | f13b553bcc12 | 51c4f53ad66d |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 56adcbe7cd4d | f13b553bcc12 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | d8cee962061d | 56adcbe7cd4d |

Head sha3:d8cee962061d90e0bc4b2b1a3f3c7a74f01d9e91e4e527a7aa06d23a0f066d4f. 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.