NIST SP 800-53 IA-3(1) Cryptographic Bidirectional Authentication

Requirements NIST SOURCE

Authenticate [devices and/or types of devices] before establishing [one of: local; remote; network] connection using bidirectional authentication that is cryptographically based.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

A local connection is a connection with a device that communicates without the use of a network. A network connection is a connection with a device that communicates through a network. A remote connection is a connection with a device that communicates through an external network. Bidirectional authentication provides stronger protection to validate the identity of other devices for connections that are of greater risk.

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 IA-3(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

devices and/or types of devices requiring use of cryptographically based, bidirectional authentication to authenticate before establishing one or more connections are defined;
one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: {local; remote; network};
<IA-03(01)_ODP[01] devices and/or types of devices> are authenticated before establishing <IA-03(01)_ODP[02] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES> connection using bidirectional authentication that is cryptographically based.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; system security plan; procedures addressing device identification and authentication; system design documentation; list of devices requiring unique identification and authentication; device connection reports; system configuration settings and associated documentation; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with operational responsibilities for device identification and authentication; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; system/network administrators; system developers].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing device authentication capability; cryptographically based bidirectional authentication mechanisms].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control IA-3 — see the IA-3(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: Added (beyond standard baseline)

MODERATE

Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

HIGH

Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for IA-3(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

Identification and authentication policy
system security plan

Configuration

system design documentation
system configuration settings and associated documentation

Testing

Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing device authentication capability
cryptographically based bidirectional authentication mechanisms

Other Records

procedures addressing device identification and authentication
list of devices requiring unique identification and authentication
device connection reports
other relevant documents or records