cyberstrikeus PE-3(3) Continuous Guards
Enhancement of: PE-3
High-Level Description
Family: Physical and Environmental Protection (PE) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Employing guards at selected physical access points to the facility provides a more rapid response capability for organizations. Guards also provide the opportunity for human surveillance in areas of the facility not covered by video surveillance.
What to Check
- Verify PE-3(3) Continuous Guards is documented in SSP
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for PE-3(3)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control PE-3
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PE-3(3) 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
Employ guards to control [organization-defined] to the facility where the system resides 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Implementation Guidance
Employing guards at selected physical access points to the facility provides a more rapid response capability for organizations. Guards also provide the opportunity for human surveillance in areas of the facility not covered by video surveillance.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| PE-3(3) Continuous Guards not implemented | Medium | Physical and Environmental Protection |
| PE-3(3) 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-3(3)
- 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 (CP-6, CP-7, PE-6) reviewed