id: "IA-02(02)" title: "Multi-factor Authentication to Non-privileged Accounts" family: "IA" family_name: "Identification and Authentication" sort_id: "ia-02.02" priority: "P1" implementation_level: "system" parent: "IA-02" enhancement: True


Statement

Implement multi-factor authentication for access to non-privileged accounts.

Guidance

Multi-factor authentication requires the use of two or more different factors to achieve authentication. The authentication factors are defined as follows: something you know (e.g., a personal identification number [PIN]), something you have (e.g., a physical authenticator such as a cryptographic private key), or something you are (e.g., a biometric). Multi-factor authentication solutions that feature physical authenticators include hardware authenticators that provide time-based or challenge-response outputs and smart cards such as the U.S. Government Personal Identity Verification card or the DoD Common Access Card. In addition to authenticating users at the system level, organizations may also employ authentication mechanisms at the application level, at their discretion, to provide increased information security. Regardless of the type of access (i.e., local, network, remote), non-privileged accounts are authenticated using multi-factor options appropriate for the level of risk. Organizations can provide additional security measures, such as additional or more rigorous authentication mechanisms, for specific types of access.

Assessment Objective

multi-factor authentication for access to non-privileged accounts is implemented.

Identification and authentication policy

system security plan

procedures addressing user identification and authentication

system design documentation

system configuration settings and associated documentation

system audit records

list of system accounts

other relevant documents or records

Organizational personnel with system operations responsibilities

organizational personnel with account management responsibilities

organizational personnel with information security responsibilities

system/network administrators

system developers

Mechanisms supporting and/or implementing a multi-factor authentication capability