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IA-5(8) IA · Identification and Authentication

Multiple System Accounts

LOW MODERATE HIGH
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Implement [security controls] to manage the risk of compromise due to individuals having accounts on multiple systems.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

When individuals have accounts on multiple systems and use the same authenticators such as passwords, there is the risk that a compromise of one account may lead to the compromise of other accounts. Alternative approaches include having different authenticators (passwords) on all systems, employing a single sign-on or federation mechanism, or using some form of one-time passwords on all systems. Organizations can also use rules of behavior (see PL-4 ) and access agreements (see PS-6 ) to mitigate the risk of multiple system accounts.

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(8) 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. security controls implemented to manage the risk of compromise due to individuals having accounts on multiple systems are defined;
  2. <IA-05(08)_ODP security controls> are implemented to manage the risk of compromise due to individuals having accounts on multiple systems.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Identification and authentication policy; procedures addressing authenticator management; system security plan; list of individuals having accounts on multiple systems; list of security safeguards intended to manage risk of compromise due to individuals having accounts on multiple systems; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

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

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing safeguards for authenticator management].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control IA-5 — see the IA-5(8) 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(8). 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

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing safeguards for authenticator management

Other Records

  • procedures addressing authenticator management
  • list of individuals having accounts on multiple systems
  • list of security safeguards intended to manage risk of compromise due to individuals having accounts on multiple systems
  • other relevant documents or records