---
title: "NIST 800-171 3.13.9 (SC.L2-3.13.9): Connection Termination"
description: "NIST SP 800-171 3.13.9 Connection Termination: 1 SPRS point, allowed on a CMMC POA&M. The text, what assessors check and the evidence."
url: https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/system-and-communications-protection/3.13.9
sealed: 2026-11-11
amended: 2026-11-11
register: nist-800-171/system-and-communications-protection/3.13.9
records: 7
digest: sha3:77a138c30fa1fb9b9680ad24a984dd90b72ea58f0861bc816dcdfc11946f7d09
---

# NIST 800-171 3.13.9 (SC.L2-3.13.9): Connection Termination

NIST 800-171 / System and Communications Protection / 3.13.9

"Terminate network connections associated with communications sessions at the end of the sessions or after a defined period of inactivity." ([NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2, requirement 3.13.9](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171r2))

CMMC Level 2 practice SC.L2-3.13.9.

## What 3.13.9 means in practice

Network connections end when the session ends or after a defined idle period, so an idle connection cannot be picked up by someone else. Set idle timeouts on VPNs, remote desktop sessions, firewalls and load balancers.

## SPRS points and the CMMC POA&M

- **CMMC Level 2 practice**: SC.L2-3.13.9
- **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 3.13.9

NIST SP 800-171A gives 3 determination statements for 3.13.9, each found satisfied or other than satisfied. Determine if:

- 3.13.9[a] a period of inactivity to terminate network connections associated with communications sessions is defined.
- 3.13.9[b] network connections associated with communications sessions are terminated at the end of the sessions.
- 3.13.9[c] network connections associated with communications sessions are terminated after the defined period of inactivity.

[NIST SP 800-171A (June 2018), assessment objectives for 3.13.9](https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-171A)

## Evidence that shows 3.13.9 is met

- The defined idle period.
- VPN, remote desktop and firewall session timeout settings.
- A test showing an idle connection was dropped.

## How PolicyCortex gathers the evidence

No PolicyCortex collector reads the evidence for 3.13.9. Your team provides the evidence listed above.

## Related pages

- **Calculator**: [SPRS score calculator: mark 3.13.9 and the other 109 requirements and see the score.](https://policycortex.com/sprs-score-calculator#family-SC)
- **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 16 System and Communications Protection requirements (3.13).](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/system-and-communications-protection)
- **Previous**: [3.13.8: Encryption in Transit](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/system-and-communications-protection/3.13.8)
- **Next**: [3.13.10: Key Management](https://policycortex.com/nist-800-171/system-and-communications-protection/3.13.10)
- **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 | d54bef9068b0 | 85891db97d36 |
| REC 0001 | MEANING | d69c31a9674b | d54bef9068b0 |
| REC 0002 | POINTS AND POA&M | 59754beb7469 | d69c31a9674b |
| REC 0003 | ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES | 203789eb14a5 | 59754beb7469 |
| REC 0004 | EVIDENCE | b1de3c8a631e | 203789eb14a5 |
| REC 0005 | COLLECTORS | 5cc3541b925e | b1de3c8a631e |
| REC 0006 | RELATED | 77a138c30fa1 | 5cc3541b925e |

Head sha3:77a138c30fa1fb9b9680ad24a984dd90b72ea58f0861bc816dcdfc11946f7d09. 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.