Book:Comprehensive Guide to Developing and Implementing a Cybersecurity Plan/A simplified description of NIST Special Publication 800-53 controls, with ties to LIMSpec/Identification and authentication

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Appendix 1.7 Identification and authentication

IA-1 Policy and procedures

This control recommends the organization develop, document, disseminate, review, and update identification and authentication policies and procedures. It asks organizations to not only address the purpose, scope, roles, responsibilities, and enforcement of identification and authentication action but also to address how those policies and procedures will be implemented, reviewed, and updated.

Additional resources:

IA-2 Identification and authentication (organizational users)

This control recommends the system be able to identify and authenticate a user or user-propagated process as a single, unique entity by using one or more mechanisms. The choice of these mechanisms will be guided by organizational policy, regulations, laws, standards, and guidance documents. According to NIST, authentication mechanisms will be based on "something you know (e.g., a personal identification number [PIN]), something you have (e.g., a physical authenticator such as a cryptographic private key), or something you are (e.g., a biometric)."

Additional resources:

IA-2 (1) Identification and authentication (organizational users): Multi-factor authentication to privileged accounts

This control enhancement recommends the system be able to implement multifactor authentication to privileged accounts being accessed. "Multi-factor authentication requires the use of two or more different factors to achieve authentication." NIST adds that "[r]egardless of the type of access (i.e., local, network, remote), privileged accounts are authenticated using multi-factor options appropriate for the level of risk."

Additional resources:

IA-2 (2) Identification and authentication (organizational users): Multi-factor authentication to non-privileged accounts

This control enhancement recommends the system be able to implement multifactor authentication to non-privileged accounts being accessed. "Multi-factor authentication requires the use of two or more different factors to achieve authentication." NIST adds that "[r]egardless of the type of access (i.e., local, network, remote), non-privileged accounts are authenticated using multi-factor options appropriate for the level of risk."

Additional resources:

IA-2 (10) Identification and authentication (organizational users): Single sign-on

This control enhancement recommends the system be configurable to allow, if desired, single sign-on to specified system accounts and services, such that a user can log in once and gain access to multiple system resources.

Additional resources:

IA-2 (12) Identification and authentication (organizational users): Acceptance of [personal identity verification] credentials

This control enhancement recommends the system be capable of accepting and electronically verifying personal identity verification (PIV) credentials. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) says of PIV credentials: "PIV credentials have certificates and key pairs, pin numbers, biometrics like fingerprints and pictures, and other unique identifiers. When put together into a PIV credential, it provides the capability to implement multi-factor authentication for networks, applications and buildings."[1] These types of credentials are most often associated with federal agencies, and as such this control enhancement may not be required for a non-federal entity or organization.

Additional resources:

IA-4 Identifier management

This control recommends the organization ensure the individual, group, role, and device identifiers in the system be selected, assigned, and disabled by authorized individuals or roles only. Those same individuals or roles will be responsible for both preventing the reuse of those identifiers for and disabling those identifiers after a specified period of time (including "never").

Additional resources:

IA-5 Authenticator management

This control recommends the organization ensure the individual, group, role, and device receiving a new authenticator has their identity verified, while also ensuring those new authenticators are properly defined, are sufficiently strong, and are backed by administrative and cybersecurity policy and procedure. That policy and procedure should address how authenticators are managed if lost, compromised, or damaged, as well as how to revoke the authenticators. Policy and procedure should also address use and reuse restrictions, refreshing rules, protection recommendations, personnel and device safeguards, and membership/role changes for authenticators.

Additional resources:

IA-5 (1) Authenticator management: Password-based authentication

This control enhancement recommends the system's password-based authentication be configurable to allow specific password-related rules set by the organization. This includes rules related to password complexity (i.e., case sensitivity, number of characters by type, uppercase-lowercase mix, numbers and special characters), minimum and maximum password lifetime rules, changed and updated password rules, and password reuse rules. The system should also be capable of allowing for the creation of temporary passwords and the storage and transmittal of passwords in an encrypted fashion.

Additional resources:

IA-6 Authentication feedback

This control recommends the system obscure how authentication information, such as passwords, is entered, using mechanisms such as showing asterisks instead of the password characters or limiting visual feedback of each password character to an extremely brief period of time.

Additional resources: LIMSpec 32.41

IA-7 Cryptographic module verification

This control recommends the system be capable of authenticating access to a cryptographic module, ensuring the user is authorized to assume the requested role and perform role-based actions within that module.

Additional resources:

IA-8 Identification and authentication (non-organizational users)

This control recommends the system be able to identify and authenticate a non-organizational user or user-propagated process as a single, unique entity by using one or more mechanisms. The choice of these mechanisms will be guided by organizational policy, regulations, laws, standards, and guidance documents. According to NIST, authentication mechanisms will be based on "something you know (e.g., a personal identification number [PIN]), something you have (e.g., a physical authenticator such as a cryptographic private key), or something you are (e.g., a biometric)."

Additional resources:

IA-8 (1) Identification and authentication (non-organizational users): Acceptance of [personal identity verification] credentials from other agencies

This control enhancement recommends the system be capable of accepting and electronically verifying PIV credentials from more than just the primary organization or agency. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) says of PIV credentials: "PIV credentials have certificates and key pairs, pin numbers, biometrics like fingerprints and pictures, and other unique identifiers. When put together into a PIV credential, it provides the capability to implement multi-factor authentication for networks, applications and buildings."[1] These types of credentials are most often associated with federal agencies, and as such this control enhancement may not be required for a non-federal entity or organization.

Additional resources:

IA-8 (2) Identification and authentication (non-organizational users): Acceptance of external authenticators

This control enhancement recommends the system be capable of accepting and electronically verifying NIST-compliant external authenticators (compliant with NIST SP 800-63B).

Additional resources:

IA-8 (4) Identification and authentication (non-organizational users): Use of defined profiles

This control enhancement recommends a system that accepts and electronically verifies identity conform to open identity management standards.

Additional resources:

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Introduction - PIV Guides". PIV Usage Guides. General Services Administration. https://playbooks.idmanagement.gov/piv/. Retrieved 21 March 2023. 
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