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IA-5(12) IA · Identification and Authentication

Biometric Authentication Performance

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Requirements NIST SOURCE

For biometric-based authentication, employ mechanisms that satisfy the following biometric quality requirements [biometric quality requirements].

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Unlike password-based authentication, which provides exact matches of user-input passwords to stored passwords, biometric authentication does not provide exact matches. Depending on the type of biometric and the type of collection mechanism, there is likely to be some divergence from the presented biometric and the stored biometric that serves as the basis for comparison. Matching performance is the rate at which a biometric algorithm correctly results in a match for a genuine user and rejects other users. Biometric performance requirements include the match rate, which reflects the accuracy of the biometric matching algorithm used by a system.

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-5(12) 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. biometric quality requirements for biometric-based authentication are defined;
  2. mechanisms that satisfy <IA-05(12)_ODP biometric quality requirements> are employed for biometric-based authentication.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; procedures addressing authenticator management; system security plan; system design documentation; mechanisms employing biometric-based authentication for the system; list of biometric quality requirements; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system audit records; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

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

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing biometric-based authenticator management capability].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control IA-5 — see the IA-5(12) 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)
  • Included: (1)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (6)

HIGH

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)
  • Included: (1) (2) (6)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for IA-5(12). 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 biometric-based authenticator management capability

Other Records

  • procedures addressing authenticator management
  • mechanisms employing biometric-based authentication for the system
  • list of biometric quality requirements
  • system audit records
  • other relevant documents or records