PE-11(1) Alternate Power Supply — Minimal Operational Capability
Enhancement of: PE-11
High-Level Description
Family: Physical and Environmental Protection (PE) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Provision of an alternate power supply with minimal operating capability can be satisfied by accessing a secondary commercial power supply or other external power supply.
What to Check
- Verify PE-11(1) Alternate Power Supply — Minimal Operational Capability is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for PE-11(1)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control PE-11
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PE-11(1) 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 an alternate power supply for the system that is activated [organization-defined] and that can maintain minimally required operational capability in the event of an extended loss of the primary power source.
Implementation Guidance
Provision of an alternate power supply with minimal operating capability can be satisfied by accessing a secondary commercial power supply or other external power supply.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| PE-11(1) Alternate Power Supply — Minimal Operational Capability not implemented | Medium | Physical and Environmental Protection |
| PE-11(1) 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-11(1)
- 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 (none) reviewed