---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.12.1 (CA.L2-3.12.1): Control Assessment"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.12.1 Control Assessment: 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/security-assessment/3.12.1
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/security-assessment/3.12.1
records: 7
digest: sha3:8cc46d72ec79debed719dad52d918d6046ab54192c0dd8375d45f65eb5ebf9ab
---

# NIST 800-171 3.12.1 (CA.L2-3.12.1): Control Assessment

NIST 800-171 / Security Assessment / 3.12.1

"Periodically assess the security controls in organizational systems to determine if the controls are effective in their application." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.12.1](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice CA.L2-3.12.1.

## What 3.12.1 means in practice

Check, on a defined schedule, whether the security controls actually work, not only whether they exist. The assessment can be internal or independent, and its findings feed the plan of action.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: CA.L2-3.12.1
- **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 3.12.1

NIST SP 800-171A gives 2 determination statements for 3.12.1, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.12.1[a] the frequency of security control assessments is defined.
- 3.12.1[b] security controls are assessed with the defined frequency to determine if the controls are effective in their application.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.12.1](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.12.1 is met

- The defined assessment frequency.
- The most recent assessment report, with its findings.
- The plan of action items the findings created.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

PolicyCortex reads this evidence with the collectors below, read only, and grades 3.12.1 from it. Each line says what the product checks.

- **Microsoft Defender for Cloud: Secure score and security contacts · Recommendations and assessments.** Checks the Microsoft Defender for Cloud secure score against a minimum, and that security assessments ran with documented results.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.12.1 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-CA)
- **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 4 Security Assessment requirements (3.12).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/security-assessment)
- **Previous**: [3.11.3: Fixing Vulnerabilities](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/risk-assessment/3.11.3)
- **Next**: [3.12.2: Plans of Action](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/security-assessment/3.12.2)
- **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 | 0452693f65ae | cb41817ebfd4 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | 6069a3dea580 | 0452693f65ae |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 196bb56d138a | 6069a3dea580 |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | b10b6fad59c3 | 196bb56d138a |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | b009ec01c776 | b10b6fad59c3 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 531c30913b25 | b009ec01c776 |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 8cc46d72ec79 | 531c30913b25 |

Head sha3:8cc46d72ec79debed719dad52d918d6046ab54192c0dd8375d45f65eb5ebf9ab. 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.