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PE-3(5) PE · Physical and Environmental Protection

Tamper Protection

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 3 Related Controls
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Requirements NIST SOURCE

Employ [anti-tamper technologies] to [one of: detect; prevent] physical tampering or alteration of [hardware components] within the system.

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Organizations can implement tamper detection and prevention at selected hardware components or implement tamper detection at some components and tamper prevention at other components. Detection and prevention activities can employ many types of anti-tamper technologies, including tamper-detection seals and anti-tamper coatings. Anti-tamper programs help to detect hardware alterations through counterfeiting and other supply chain-related risks.

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-3(5) 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. anti-tamper technologies to be employed are defined;
  2. one or more of the following PARAMETER VALUES is/are selected: {detect; prevent};
  3. hardware components to be protected from physical tampering or alteration are defined;
  4. <PE-03(05)_ODP[01] anti-tamper technologies> are employed to <PE-03(05)_ODP[02] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUES> physical tampering or alteration of <PE-03(05)_ODP[03] hardware components> within the system.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: Physical and environmental protection policy; procedures addressing physical access control; list of security safeguards to detect/prevent physical tampering or alteration of system hardware components; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: Organizational personnel with physical access control responsibilities; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Organizational processes to detect/prevent physical tampering or alteration of system hardware components; mechanisms/security safeguards supporting and/or implementing the detection/prevention of physical tampering/alternation of system hardware components].

Overlays

Showing the OT/ICS overlay for the parent control PE-3 — see the PE-3(5) 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)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Included (matches standard baseline)

HIGH

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

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for PE-3(5). 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 to detect/prevent physical tampering or alteration of system hardware components
  • mechanisms/security safeguards supporting and/or implementing the detection/prevention of physical tampering/alternation of system hardware components

Other Records

  • procedures addressing physical access control
  • list of security safeguards to detect/prevent physical tampering or alteration of system hardware components
  • other relevant documents or records