NIST SP 800-53 IA-3(4) Device Attestation | Security Control Explorer

Requirements NIST SOURCE

Handle device identification and authentication based on attestation by [configuration management process].

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Device attestation refers to the identification and authentication of a device based on its configuration and known operating state. Device attestation can be determined via a cryptographic hash of the device. If device attestation is the means of identification and authentication, then it is important that patches and updates to the device are handled via a configuration management process such that the patches and updates are done securely and do not disrupt identification and authentication to other devices.

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(4) 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

configuration management process to be employed to handle device identification and authentication based on attestation is defined;
device identification and authentication are handled based on attestation by <IA-03(04)_ODP configuration management process>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; system security plan; procedures addressing device identification and authentication; procedures addressing device configuration management; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; configuration management records; change control records; system audit records; 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].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing device identification and authentication capabilities; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing configuration management; cryptographic mechanisms supporting device attestation].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control IA-3 — see the IA-3(4) 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(4). 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

procedures addressing device configuration management
system design documentation
system configuration settings and associated documentation
configuration management records

Testing

Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing device identification and authentication capabilities
mechanisms supporting and/or implementing configuration management
cryptographic mechanisms supporting device attestation

Other Records

procedures addressing device identification and authentication
change control records
system audit records
other relevant documents or records