CMMC Practice Number: AC.L2-3.1.21
CMMC Level: 2 CMMC Domain: Access Control (AC)
Practice Summary:
Limit use of portable storage devices on external systems.
Contents:
CMMC Practice Implementation |
Assessment Objectives
Determine if:
[a] the use of portable storage devices containing CUI on external systems is identified and documented;
[b] limits on the use of portable storage devices containing CUI on external systems are defined; and
[c] the use of portable storage devices containing CUI on external systems is limited as defined.
Practice Clarification (DOD, CMU)
A portable storage device is a system component that can be inserted or attached and easily removed from a system. It is used to store data or information. Examples of portable storage devices include:
• compact/digital video disks (CDs/DVDs),
• USB drives,
• external hard disk drives,
• flash memory cards/drives, and
• floppy disks.
This practice can be implemented in two ways:
• identifying the portable storage device usage restrictions, identifying portable storage devices that may be used on external systems, identifying associated external systems on which a portable storage device may be used, and administratively (through the use of a written policy) limiting the usage of the devices to those systems [a,b,c]; or
• configuring devices to work only when connected to a system to which the portable storage device can authenticate, limiting the devices’ use on external systems to those that the contractor has the ability to manage [c].
Example
Your organization has a written portable device usage restriction policy. It states that users can only use external storage devices such as thumb dives or external hard disks that belong to the company. When needed for a specific business function, a user checks the device out from IT and returns it to IT when no longer needed [a,b].
Potential Assessment Considerations
- Are the portable storage devices authorized for external use identified and documented [a]?
- Are the circumstances defined in which portable storage devices containing CUI may be used on external systems (e.g., with management approval) [b]?
- Are limitations stipulated for the use of portable storage devices containing CUI on external systems (e.g., authorized personnel only, encrypted drives required) [b]?
Where To Look
- Access control policy;
- procedures addressing the use of external systems;
- system security plan;
- system configuration settings and associated documentation;
- system connection or processing agreements;
- account management documents;
- other relevant documents or records.
Who To Talk To
- Personnel with responsibilities for restricting or prohibiting use of organization-controlled storage devices on external systems;
- system or network administrators;
- personnel with information security responsibilities.
Perform Test On
- Mechanisms implementing restrictions on use of portable storage devices.
Additional Information
A ‘portable storage device’ is an information system component that can be inserted into and removed from an information system, and that is used to store data or information (e.g., text, video, audio, and/or image data). Such components are typically implemented on magnetic, optical, or solid-state devices (e.g., floppy disks, compact/digital video disks, flash/thumb drives, external hard disk drives, and flash memory cards/drives that contain non- volatile memory).
Limits on the use of company-controlled portable storage devices in external information systems include, for example, complete prohibition of the use of such devices or restrictions on how the devices may be used and under what conditions the devices may be used.
This requirement is generally implemented by policy, though some devices can be configured to work only when connected to a system to which they can authenticate (this is, however, not a requirement).
CMMC Practice Background and References (DOD, CMU) |
Practice Discussion:
DISCUSSION FROM SOURCE: DRAFT NIST SP 800-171 R2
Limits on the use of organization-controlled portable storage devices in external systems include complete prohibition of the use of such devices or restrictions on how the devices may be used and under what conditions the devices may be used. Note that while “external” typically refers to outside of the organization’s direct supervision and authority that is not always the case. Regarding the protection of CUI across an organization, the organization may have systems that process CUI and others that do not. Among the systems that process CUI there are likely access restrictions for CUI that apply between systems. Therefore, from the perspective of a given system, other systems within the organization may be considered “external" to that system.
CMMC References:
· NIST SP 800-171 Rev 1 3.1.21
· CIS Controls v7.1 13.7, 13.8, 13.9
· NIST CSF v1.1 ID.AM-4, PR.PT-2
· NIST SP 800-53 Rev 4 AC-20(2)