PS 3 PERSONNEL SCREENING - NIST-SP-800-53-R5/NIST-SP-800-53-R5.github.io GitHub Wiki

PS-3 PERSONNEL SCREENING

Control:

  • a. Screen individuals prior to authorizing access to the system; and
  • b. Rescreen individuals in accordance with [ Assignment: organization-defined conditions requiring rescreening and, where rescreening is so indicated, the frequency of rescreening ].

Discussion: Personnel screening and rescreening activities reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, guidelines, and specific criteria established for the risk designations of assigned positions. Examples of personnel screening include background investigations and agency checks. Organizations may define different rescreening conditions and frequencies for personnel accessing systems based on types of information processed, stored, or transmitted by the systems.

Related Controls: AC-2, IA-4, MA-5, PE-2, PM-12, PS-2, PS-6, PS-7, SA-21.

Control Enhancements:

  • (1) PERSONNEL SCREENING / CLASSIFIED INFORMATION
    Verify that individuals accessing a system processing, storing, or transmitting classified information are cleared and indoctrinated to the highest classification level of the information to which they have access on the system.

    Discussion: Classified information is the most sensitive information that the Federal Government processes, stores, or transmits. It is imperative that individuals have the requisite security clearances and system access authorizations prior to gaining access to such information. Access authorizations are enforced by system access controls (see AC-3) and flow controls (see AC-4).

    Related Controls: AC-3, AC-4.

  • (2) PERSONNEL SCREENING / FORMAL INDOCTRINATION
    Verify that individuals accessing a system processing, storing, or transmitting types of classified information that require formal indoctrination, are formally indoctrinated for all the relevant types of information to which they have access on the system.

    Discussion: Types of classified information that require formal indoctrination include Special Access Program (SAP), Restricted Data (RD), and Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI).

    Related Controls: AC-3, AC-4.

  • (3) PERSONNEL SCREENING / INFORMATION WITH SPECIAL PROTECTIVE MEASURES
    Verify that individuals accessing a system processing, storing, or transmitting information requiring special protection:

    • (a) Have valid access authorizations that are demonstrated by assigned official government duties; and
    • (b) Satisfy [ Assignment: organization-defined additional personnel screening criteria ].

    Discussion: Organizational information that requires special protection includes controlled unclassified information. Personnel security criteria include position sensitivity background screening requirements.

Related Controls: None.

  • (4) PERSONNEL SCREENING / CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS
    Verify that individuals accessing a system processing, storing, or transmitting [ Assignment: organization-defined information types ] meet [ Assignment: organization-defined citizenship requirements ].

    Discussion: None.

    Related Controls: None.

References: [EO 13526], [EO 13587], [FIPS 199], [FIPS 201-2], [SP 800-60-1], [SP 800-60-2], [SP 800-73-4], [SP 800-76-2], [SP 800-78-4].

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