MA-5(2)_security-clearances-for-classified-systems

MA-5(2) Security Clearances for Classified Systems

Enhancement of: MA-5

High-Level Description

Family: Maintenance (MA) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Personnel who conduct maintenance on organizational systems may be exposed to classified information during the course of their maintenance activities. To mitigate the inherent risk of such exposure, organizations use maintenance personnel that are cleared (i.e., possess security clearances) to the classification level of the information stored on the system.

What to Check

• Verify MA-5(2) Security Clearances for Classified Systems is documented in SSP
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for MA-5(2)
• Verify enhancement builds upon base control MA-5

How to Test

Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for MA-5(2) implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.

Step 2: Validate Implementation

# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly

# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null

Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness

Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.

Tools

Remediation Guide

Control Statement

Verify that personnel performing maintenance and diagnostic activities on a system processing, storing, or transmitting classified information possess security clearances and formal access approvals for at least the highest classification level and for compartments of information on the system.

Implementation Guidance

Personnel who conduct maintenance on organizational systems may be exposed to classified information during the course of their maintenance activities. To mitigate the inherent risk of such exposure, organizations use maintenance personnel that are cleared (i.e., possess security clearances) to the classification level of the information stored on the system.

Risk Assessment

CWE Categories

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - MA-5(2)
• NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)
• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog

Checklist

• Control documented in SSP
• Implementation evidence collected
• Operating effectiveness validated
• Continuous monitoring in place
• Related controls (PS-3) reviewed