cyberstrikeus PE-10 Emergency Shutoff
High-Level Description
Family: Physical and Environmental Protection (PE) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Emergency power shutoff primarily applies to organizational facilities that contain concentrations of system resources, including data centers, mainframe computer rooms, server rooms, and areas with computer-controlled machinery.
What to Check
- Verify PE-10 Emergency Shutoff is documented in SSP
- Validate all 3 control requirements are implemented
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for PE-10
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PE-10 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
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Provide the capability of shutting off power to [organization-defined] in emergency situations; Place emergency shutoff switches or devices in [organization-defined] to facilitate access for authorized personnel; and Protect emergency power shutoff capability from unauthorized activation.
Implementation Guidance
Emergency power shutoff primarily applies to organizational facilities that contain concentrations of system resources, including data centers, mainframe computer rooms, server rooms, and areas with computer-controlled machinery.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| PE-10 Emergency Shutoff not implemented | Medium | Physical and Environmental Protection |
| PE-10 partially implemented | Low | Incomplete Physical and Environmental Protection |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| N/A | No direct CWE mapping |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - PE-10
- 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 (PE-15) reviewed