PE-2 PE · Physical and Environmental Protection

Physical Access Authorizations

✓ LOW ✓ MODERATE ✓ HIGH
3 Enhancements 1 Overlay 14 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Physical access authorizations apply to employees and visitors. Individuals with permanent physical access authorization credentials are not considered visitors. Authorization credentials include ID badges, identification cards, and smart cards. Organizations determine the strength of authorization credentials needed consistent with applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Physical access authorizations may not be necessary to access certain areas within facilities that are designated as publicly accessible.

Enhancements NIST SOURCE

PE-2(1) Access by Position or Role LOW MODERATE HIGH

Authorize physical access to the facility where the system resides based on position or role.

Discussion

Role-based facility access includes access by authorized permanent and regular/routine maintenance personnel, duty officers, and emergency medical staff.

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PE-2(2) Two Forms of Identification LOW MODERATE HIGH

Require two forms of identification from the following forms of identification for visitor access to the facility where the system resides: [list of acceptable forms of identification].

Discussion

Acceptable forms of identification include passports, REAL ID-compliant drivers’ licenses, and Personal Identity Verification (PIV) cards. For gaining access to facilities using automated mechanisms, organizations may use PIV cards, key cards, PINs, and biometrics.

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PE-2(3) Restrict Unescorted Access LOW MODERATE HIGH

Restrict unescorted access to the facility where the system resides to personnel with [one of: security clearances for all information contained within the system; formal access authorizations for all information contained within the system; need for access to all information contained within the system; ].

Discussion

Individuals without required security clearances, access approvals, or need to know are escorted by individuals with appropriate physical access authorizations to ensure that information is not exposed or otherwise compromised.

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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 PE-2 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. frequency at which to review the access list detailing authorized facility access by individuals is defined;
  2. a list of individuals with authorized access to the facility where the system resides has been developed;
  3. the list of individuals with authorized access to the facility where the system resides has been approved;
  4. the list of individuals with authorized access to the facility where the system resides has been maintained;
  5. authorization credentials are issued for facility access;
  6. the access list detailing authorized facility access by individuals is reviewed <PE-02_ODP frequency>;
  7. individuals are removed from the facility access list when access is no longer required.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Physical and environmental protection policy; procedures addressing physical access authorizations; authorized personnel access list; authorization credentials; physical access list reviews; physical access termination records and associated documentation; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with physical access authorization responsibilities; organizational personnel with physical access to system facility; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes for physical access authorizations; mechanisms supporting and/or implementing physical access authorizations].

Overlays

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)

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 PE-2. 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

  • Physical and environmental protection policy
  • system security plan

Testing

  • Organizational processes for physical access authorizations
  • mechanisms supporting and/or implementing physical access authorizations

Other Records

  • procedures addressing physical access authorizations
  • authorized personnel access list
  • authorization credentials
  • physical access list reviews
  • physical access termination records and associated documentation
  • other relevant documents or records