PE-11(2)_alternate-power-supply-self-contained

PE-11(2) Alternate Power Supply — Self-contained

Enhancement of: PE-11

High-Level Description

Family: Physical and Environmental Protection (PE) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

The provision of a long-term, self-contained power supply can be satisfied by using one or more generators with sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the organization.

What to Check

• Verify PE-11(2) Alternate Power Supply — Self-contained is documented in SSP
• Validate all 3 control requirements are implemented
• Confirm control is operating effectively
• Review evidence of continuous monitoring for PE-11(2)
• 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(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

Provide an alternate power supply for the system that is activated [organization-defined] and that is: Self-contained; Not reliant on external power generation; and Capable of maintaining [organization-defined] in the event of an extended loss of the primary power source.

Implementation Guidance

The provision of a long-term, self-contained power supply can be satisfied by using one or more generators with sufficient capacity to meet the needs of the organization.

Risk Assessment

CWE Categories

References

• NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - PE-11(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 (none) reviewed