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AC-18(1) AC · Access Control

Authentication and Encryption

LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGH
1 Overlay 3 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Protect wireless access to the system using authentication of [one of: users; devices] and encryption.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Wireless networking capabilities represent a significant potential vulnerability that can be exploited by adversaries. To protect systems with wireless access points, strong authentication of users and devices along with strong encryption can reduce susceptibility to threats by adversaries involving wireless technologies.

Implementation Guidance

Engineering Interpretation

Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.

No engineering interpretation has been authored for AC-18(1) yet. This section is architected to receive it — see the Requirements and Assessment sections above for the authoritative NIST source content in the meantime.

Assessment

NIST SP 800-53A REV 5.2.0

Assessment Objectives

  1. one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: {users; devices};
  2. wireless access to the system is protected using authentication of <AC-18(01)_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES>;
  3. wireless access to the system is protected using encryption.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Access control policy; procedures addressing wireless implementation and usage (including restrictions); system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system developers].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms implementing wireless access protections to the system].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control AC-18 — see the AC-18(1) entries within each baseline below.

OT/ICS Overlay SP 800-82r3

NIST SP 800-82r3 Appendix F, Table 22. Blank baseline means the control/control enhancement is not selected in that initial OT baseline.

LOW

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (3)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (3) (4) (5)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for AC-18(1). This section is architected to display, per product: STIG ID, Finding ID, Severity, Title, Description, Check, Fix, CCI, and NIST control mapping — but nothing is populated here until a real DISA STIG/CCI dataset is ingested.

Learn more about STIG/CCI integration →

Evidence

Potential Evidence — Derived

Categorized from the SP 800-53A "Examine"/"Test" artifact list above by keyword — not an authoritative NIST evidence list.

Policy

  • Access control policy
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms implementing wireless access protections to the system

Other Records

  • procedures addressing wireless implementation and usage (including restrictions)
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records