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AC-3(2) AC · Access Control

Dual Authorization

LOW MODERATE HIGH
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Enforce dual authorization for [privileged commands and/or other actions].

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Dual authorization, also known as two-person control, reduces risk related to insider threats. Dual authorization mechanisms require the approval of two authorized individuals to execute. To reduce the risk of collusion, organizations consider rotating dual authorization duties. Organizations consider the risk associated with implementing dual authorization mechanisms when immediate responses are necessary to ensure public and environmental safety.

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-3(2) 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. privileged commands and/or other actions requiring dual authorization are defined;
  2. dual authorization is enforced for <AC-03(02)_ODP privileged commands and/or other actions>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Access control policy; procedures addressing access enforcement and dual authorization; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; list of privileged commands requiring dual authorization; list of actions requiring dual authorization; list of approved authorizations (user privileges); system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

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

Test

[SELECT FROM: Dual authorization mechanisms implementing access control policy].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control AC-3 — see the AC-3(2) 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)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Added: (11)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for AC-3(2). 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

  • Dual authorization mechanisms implementing access control policy

Other Records

  • procedures addressing access enforcement and dual authorization
  • list of privileged commands requiring dual authorization
  • list of actions requiring dual authorization
  • list of approved authorizations (user privileges)
  • other relevant documents or records