cyberstrikeus PS-3(3) Information Requiring Special Protective Measures
Enhancement of: PS-3
High-Level Description
Family: Personnel Security (PS) Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Organizational information that requires special protection includes controlled unclassified information. Personnel security criteria include position sensitivity background screening requirements.
What to Check
- Verify PS-3(3) Information Requiring Special Protective Measures is documented in SSP
- Validate all 2 control requirements are implemented
- Confirm control is operating effectively
- Review evidence of continuous monitoring for PS-3(3)
- Verify enhancement builds upon base control PS-3
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PS-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
Verify that individuals accessing a system processing, storing, or transmitting information requiring special protection: Have valid access authorizations that are demonstrated by assigned official government duties; and Satisfy [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Organizational information that requires special protection includes controlled unclassified information. Personnel security criteria include position sensitivity background screening requirements.
Risk Assessment
| Finding | Severity | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| PS-3(3) Information Requiring Special Protective Measures not implemented | Medium | Personnel Security |
| PS-3(3) partially implemented | Low | Incomplete Personnel Security |
CWE Categories
| CWE ID | Title |
|---|---|
| N/A | No direct CWE mapping |
References
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - PS-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 (none) reviewed