What this requirement asks
Perform periodic scans of organizational systems and real-time scans of files from external sources as files are downloaded, opened, or executed.
This is a CMMC Level 2 requirement in the System & Information Integrity 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 (3)
- 3.14.5[a] — the frequency for malicious code scans is defined
- 3.14.5[b] — malicious code scans are performed with the defined frequency
- 3.14.5[c] — real-time malicious code scans of files from external sources as files are downloaded, opened, or executed are performed
What an assessor examines
Examine:
- System and information integrity policy
- configuration management policy and procedures
- procedures addressing malicious code protection
- malicious code protection mechanisms
- records of malicious code protection updates
- system security plan
- system design documentation
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- scan results from malicious code protection mechanisms
- record of actions initiated by malicious code protection mechanisms in response to malicious code detection
- system audit logs and records
- other relevant documents or records
Interview:
- System or network administrators
- personnel with information security responsibilities
- personnel installing, configuring, and maintaining the system
- personnel with responsibility for malicious code protection
- personnel with configuration management responsibility
Test:
- Organizational processes for employing, updating, and configuring malicious code protection mechanisms
- organizational process for addressing false positives and resulting potential impact
- mechanisms supporting or implementing malicious code protection mechanisms (including updates and configurations)
- mechanisms supporting or implementing malicious code scanning and subsequent actions
Evidence that defends it
Show scheduled scans
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.