---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.10.5 (PE.L2-3.10.5): Physical Access Devices"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.10.5 Physical Access Devices: 1 SPRS point, never on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/physical-protection/3.10.5
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/physical-protection/3.10.5
records: 7
digest: sha3:4cafe8fc7db94dd3a87c74d7a31c282dbd86b41844de37033ce2df26ffea4182
---

# NIST 800-171 3.10.5 (PE.L2-3.10.5): Physical Access Devices

NIST 800-171 / Physical Protection / 3.10.5

"Control and manage physical access devices." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.10.5](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice PE.L2-3.10.5.

## What 3.10.5 means in practice

Keys, locks, combinations and badge readers are inventoried and managed: issued to named people, collected when no longer needed, and changed or rekeyed when one is lost or its holder leaves. A master key nobody can account for, or a door code that never changes, undoes the rest of physical protection.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: PE.L2-3.10.5
- **SPRS points**: 1 point. When it is not met, the DoD Assessment Methodology subtracts 1 from the score of 110.
- **CMMC POA&M**: Never. 32 CFR 170.21(a)(2)(iii) names 3.10.5 among the 6 requirements a CMMC POA&M may never include, whatever their point value.

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 3.10.5

NIST SP 800-171A gives 3 determination statements for 3.10.5, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.10.5[a] physical access devices are identified.
- 3.10.5[b] physical access devices are controlled.
- 3.10.5[c] physical access devices are managed.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.10.5](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.10.5 is met

- An inventory of keys, badges and combinations, and who holds each.
- Records of devices collected when people left.
- Records of locks rekeyed or combinations changed after a loss or a departure.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.10.5. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.10.5 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-PE)
- **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 Physical Protection requirements (3.10).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/physical-protection)
- **Previous**: [3.10.4: Physical Access Logs](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/physical-protection/3.10.4)
- **Next**: [3.10.6: Alternate Work Sites](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/physical-protection/3.10.6)
- **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 | 3820e236a153 | 05c9f64faaa2 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | e7923ecb8f71 | 3820e236a153 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 78de72ccb17a | e7923ecb8f71 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 7b7b081c2e43 | 78de72ccb17a |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | a9b21f083a3a | 7b7b081c2e43 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 024d1d7d6ff7 | a9b21f083a3a |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 4cafe8fc7db9 | 024d1d7d6ff7 |

Head sha3:4cafe8fc7db94dd3a87c74d7a31c282dbd86b41844de37033ce2df26ffea4182. 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.