PE-13(4) Inspections
Enhancement of: PE-13
High-Level Description
Family: Physical and Environmental Protection (PE) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Authorized and qualified personnel within the jurisdiction of the organization include state, county, and city fire inspectors and fire marshals. Organizations provide escorts during inspections in situations where the systems that reside within the facilities contain sensitive information.
What to Check
- Verify PE-13(4) Inspections is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for PE-13(4)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control PE-13
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PE-13(4) 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
Ensure that the facility undergoes [organization-defined] fire protection inspections by authorized and qualified inspectors and identified deficiencies are resolved within [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Authorized and qualified personnel within the jurisdiction of the organization include state, county, and city fire inspectors and fire marshals. Organizations provide escorts during inspections in situations where the systems that reside within the facilities contain sensitive information.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| PE-13(4) Inspections not implemented | Medium | Physical and Environmental Protection |
| PE-13(4) 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-13(4)
- 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