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AC-6(1) AC · Access Control

Authorize Access to Security Functions

LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGH
1 Overlay 5 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Authorize access for [individuals and roles] to:

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Security functions include establishing system accounts, configuring access authorizations (i.e., permissions, privileges), configuring settings for events to be audited, and establishing intrusion detection parameters. Security-relevant information includes filtering rules for routers or firewalls, configuration parameters for security services, cryptographic key management information, and access control lists. Authorized personnel include security administrators, system administrators, system security officers, system programmers, and other privileged users.

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-6(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. individuals and roles with authorized access to security functions and security-relevant information are defined;
  2. security functions (deployed in hardware) for authorized access are defined;
  3. security functions (deployed in software) for authorized access are defined;
  4. security functions (deployed in firmware) for authorized access are defined;
  5. security-relevant information for authorized access is defined;
  6. access is authorized for <AC-06(01)_ODP[01] individuals and roles> to <AC-06(01)_ODP[02] security functions (deployed in hardware)>;
  7. access is authorized for <AC-06(01)_ODP[01] individuals and roles> to <AC-06(01)_ODP[03] security functions (deployed in software)>;
  8. access is authorized for <AC-06(01)_ODP[01] individuals and roles> to <AC-06(01)_ODP[04] security functions (deployed in firmware)>;
  9. access is authorized for <AC-06(01)_ODP[01] individuals and roles> to <AC-06(01)_ODP[05] security-relevant information>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Access control policy; procedures addressing least privilege; list of security functions (deployed in hardware, software, and firmware) and security-relevant information for which access must be explicitly authorized; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with responsibilities for defining least privileges necessary to accomplish specified tasks; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system/network administrators].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms implementing least privilege functions].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control AC-6 — see the AC-6(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

Not applicable at this tier.

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (5) (7) (9) (10)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (3) (5) (7) (9) (10)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for AC-6(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 configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

  • Mechanisms implementing least privilege functions

Other Records

  • procedures addressing least privilege
  • list of security functions (deployed in hardware, software, and firmware) and security-relevant information for which access must be explicitly authorized
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records