Emergency Power
LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGHRequirements NIST SOURCE
Provide an uninterruptible power supply to facilitate [one of: an orderly shutdown of the system; transition of the system to long-term alternate power] in the event of a primary power source loss.
Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)
An uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is an electrical system or mechanism that provides emergency power when there is a failure of the main power source. A UPS is typically used to protect computers, data centers, telecommunication equipment, or other electrical equipment where an unexpected power disruption could cause injuries, fatalities, serious mission or business disruption, or loss of data or information. A UPS differs from an emergency power system or backup generator in that the UPS provides near-instantaneous protection from unanticipated power interruptions from the main power source by providing energy stored in batteries, supercapacitors, or flywheels. The battery duration of a UPS is relatively short but provides sufficient time to start a standby power source, such as a backup generator, or properly shut down the system.
Enhancements NIST SOURCE
PE-11(1) Alternate Power Supply — Minimal Operational Capability LOW MODERATE ✓ HIGH
Provide an alternate power supply for the system that is activated [one of: manually; automatically] and that can maintain minimally required operational capability in the event of an extended loss of the primary power source.
Discussion
Provision of an alternate power supply with minimal operating capability can be satisfied by accessing a secondary commercial power supply or other external power supply.
PE-11(2) Alternate Power Supply — Self-contained LOW MODERATE HIGH
Provide an alternate power supply for the system that is activated [one of: manually; automatically] and that is:
- (a) Self-contained;
- (b) Not reliant on external power generation; and
- (c) Capable of maintaining [one of: minimally required operational capability; full operational capability] in the event of an extended loss of the primary power source.
Discussion
The provision of a long-term, self-contained power supply can be satisfied by using one or more generators with sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the organization.
Implementation Guidance
Original engineering commentary written for this explorer — not NIST source text and not authoritative guidance.
No engineering interpretation has been authored for PE-11 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
Assessment Objectives
- one of the following PARAMETER VALUES is selected: {an orderly shutdown of the system; transition of the system to long-term alternate power};
- an uninterruptible power supply is provided to facilitate <PE-11_ODP SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE> in the event of a primary power source loss.
Examine
[SELECT FROM: Physical and environmental protection policy; procedures addressing emergency power; uninterruptible power supply; uninterruptible power supply documentation; uninterruptible power supply test records; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].
Interview
[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with the responsibility for emergency power and/or planning; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].
Test
[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing an uninterruptible power supply; the uninterruptable power supply].
Overlays
STIGs & CCIs
No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for PE-11. 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
Categorized from the SP 800-53A "Examine"/"Test" artifact list above by keyword — not an authoritative NIST evidence list.
Policy
- Physical and environmental protection policy
- system security plan
Testing
- Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing an uninterruptible power supply
- the uninterruptable power supply
Other Records
- procedures addressing emergency power
- uninterruptible power supply
- uninterruptible power supply documentation
- uninterruptible power supply test records
- other relevant documents or records