What this requirement asks
Control and monitor user-installed software.
This is a CMMC Level 2 requirement in the Configuration Management 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)
- 3.4.9[a] — a policy for controlling the installation of software by users is established
- 3.4.9[b] — installation of software by users is controlled based on the established policy
- 3.4.9[c] — installation of software by users is monitored
What an assessor examines
Examine:
- Configuration management policy
- procedures addressing user installed software
- configuration management plan
- system security plan
- system design documentation
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- list of rules governing user-installed software
- system monitoring records
- system audit logs and records
- continuous monitoring strategy
- other relevant documents or records
Interview:
- Personnel with responsibilities for governing user-installed software
- personnel operating, using, or maintaining the system
- personnel monitoring compliance with user-installed software policy
- personnel with information security responsibilities
- system or network administrators
Test:
- Organizational processes governing user-installed software on the system
- mechanisms enforcing rules or methods for governing the installation of software by users
- mechanisms monitoring policy compliance
Evidence that defends it
Show install privilege restrictions and logs
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.