---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.8.7 (MP.L2-3.8.7): Removable Media"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.8.7 Removable Media: 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/media-protection/3.8.7
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/media-protection/3.8.7
records: 7
digest: sha3:bb1b60362e1d94d0ea38e59833f7d55caf07eaa403bbfa0160bad28e145df3af
---

# NIST 800-171 3.8.7 (MP.L2-3.8.7): Removable Media

NIST 800-171 / Media Protection / 3.8.7

"Control the use of removable media on system components." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.8.7](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice MP.L2-3.8.7.

## What 3.8.7 means in practice

Decide which removable media may be used on which system components, then enforce the decision, for example by blocking USB storage on servers and allowing only approved drives on certain workstations. The control can be technical, such as device control software, or a written rule checked in practice, as long as it covers every system component that handles CUI.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: MP.L2-3.8.7
- **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 3.8.7

NIST SP 800-171A gives one determination statement for 3.8.7.

- Determine if the use of removable media on system components is controlled.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.8.7](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.8.7 is met

- The removable media policy.
- Device control settings in Group Policy or device management.
- Logs of blocked removable media.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.8.7. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.8.7 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**: [3.8.6: Encrypt Media in Transit](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/media-protection/3.8.6)
- **Next**: [3.8.8: Ownerless Storage](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/media-protection/3.8.8)
- **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) · [Book a call](https://policycortex.com/book)

## Register colophon

| Seq | Label | SHA3-256 | Prev |
|---|---|---|---|
| REC 0000 | REQUIREMENT | 189d0c07f80e | 2d82a40cc019 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 27df2f2c7081 | 189d0c07f80e |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | a54eb237a3db | 27df2f2c7081 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | de5c5d23fe92 | a54eb237a3db |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | 5e29611018f5 | de5c5d23fe92 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | e628209cf37b | 5e29611018f5 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | bb1b60362e1d | e628209cf37b |

Head sha3:bb1b60362e1d94d0ea38e59833f7d55caf07eaa403bbfa0160bad28e145df3af. 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.