What this requirement asks
Protect and monitor the physical facility and support infrastructure for organizational systems.
This is a CMMC Level 2 requirement in the Physical Protection family, drawn from NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2. An assessor evaluates it objective by objective — every objective below must be supported by evidence, not just described in a policy.
Assessment objectives (4)
- 3.10.2[a] — the physical facility where organizational systems reside is protected
- 3.10.2[b] — the support infrastructure for organizational systems is protected
- 3.10.2[c] — the physical facility where organizational systems reside is monitored
- 3.10.2[d] — the support infrastructure for organizational systems is monitored
What an assessor examines
Examine:
- Physical and environmental protection policy
- procedures addressing physical access monitoring
- system security plan
- physical access logs or records
- physical access monitoring records
- physical access log reviews
- other relevant documents or records
Interview:
- Personnel with physical access monitoring responsibilities
- personnel with incident response responsibilities
- personnel with information security responsibilities
Test:
- Organizational processes for monitoring physical access
- mechanisms supporting or implementing physical access monitoring
- mechanisms supporting or implementing the review of physical access logs]. DISCUSSION [NIST SP 800-171 R2] Monitoring of physical access includes publicly accessible areas within organizational facilities. This can be accomplished, for example, by the employment of guards
- the use of sensor devices
- or the use of video surveillance equipment such as cameras. Examples of support infrastructure include system distribution, transmission, and power lines. Security controls applied to the support infrastructure prevent accidental damage, disruption, and physical tampering. Such controls may also be necessary to prevent eavesdropping or modification of unencrypted transmissions. Physical access controls to support infrastructure include locked wiring closets
- disconnected or locked spare jacks
- protection of cabling by conduit or cable trays
- and wiretapping sensors. PE.L2-3.10.2 - Monitor Facility CMMC Assessment Guide - Level 2 | Version 2.13 183 FURTHER DISCUSSION The infrastructure inside of a facility, such as power and network cables, is protected so that visitors and unauthorized employees cannot access it. The protection is also monitored by security guards, video cameras, sensors, or alarms. Example You are responsible for protecting your IT facilities. You install video cameras at each entrance and exit, connect them to a video recorder, and show the camera feeds on a display at the reception desk [c,d]. You also make sure there are secure locks on all entrances, exits, and windows to the facilities [a,b]. Potential Assessment Considerations • Is physical access monitored to detect and respond to physical security incidents [c, d]? KEY REFERENCES • NIST SP 800-171 Rev 2 3.10.2 PE.L2-3.10.3 - Escort Visitors [CUI Data] CMMC Assessment Guide - Level 2 | Version 2.13 184
Evidence that defends it
Camera configs, monitoring evidence
Check your readiness
Score this requirement against your own environment with the Level 2 self-assessment checklist, or estimate your SPRS score with the free CMMC compliance tool. Self-reported answers are planning signals only — they do not establish a verified or assessor-accepted result.