SC-41 SC · System and Communications Protection

Port and I/O Device Access

LOW MODERATE HIGH
1 Overlay 2 Related Controls
Graph
Export ▾

Requirements NIST SOURCE

[one of: physically; logically] disable or remove [connection ports or input/output devices] on the following systems or system components: [systems or system components].

Discussion (NIST Supplemental Guidance)

Connection ports include Universal Serial Bus (USB), Thunderbolt, and Firewire (IEEE 1394). Input/output (I/O) devices include compact disc and digital versatile disc drives. Disabling or removing such connection ports and I/O devices helps prevent the exfiltration of information from systems and the introduction of malicious code from those ports or devices. Physically disabling or removing ports and/or devices is the stronger action.

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 SC-41 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. connection ports or input/output devices to be disabled or removed are defined;
  2. one of the following PARAMETER VALUES is selected: {physically; logically};
  3. systems or system components with connection ports or input/output devices to be disabled or removed are defined;
  4. <SC-41_ODP[01] connection ports or input/output devices> are <SC-41_ODP[02] SELECTED PARAMETER VALUE> disabled or removed on <SC-41_ODP[03] systems or system components>.

Examine

[SELECT FROM: System and communications protection policy; access control policy and procedures; procedures addressing port and input/output device access; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; system architecture; systems or system components; list of connection ports or input/output devices to be physically disabled or removed on systems or system components; system security plan; other relevant documents or records].

Interview

[SELECT FROM: System/network administrators; organizational personnel with information security responsibilities; organizational personnel installing, configuring, and/or maintaining the system].

Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the disabling of connection ports or input/output devices].

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: Added (beyond standard baseline)

MODERATE

  • Base control: Added (beyond standard baseline)

HIGH

  • Base control: Added (beyond standard baseline)

STIGs & CCIs

No STIG checks or CCI mappings are currently loaded for SC-41. 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

  • System and communications protection policy
  • access control policy and procedures
  • system security plan

Configuration

  • system design documentation
  • system configuration settings and associated documentation
  • system architecture

Testing

  • Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing the disabling of connection ports or input/output devices

Other Records

  • procedures addressing port and input/output device access
  • systems or system components
  • list of connection ports or input/output devices to be physically disabled or removed on systems or system components
  • other relevant documents or records