What this requirement asks
Authenticate (or verify) the identities of users, processes, or devices, as a prerequisite to allowing access to organizational systems.
This is a CMMC Level 2 requirement in the Identification & Authentication 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)
- 3.5.2[a] — the identity of each user is authenticated or verified as a prerequisite to system access
- 3.5.2[b] — the identity of each process acting on behalf of a user is authenticated or verified as a prerequisite to system access
- 3.5.2[c] — the identity of each device accessing or connecting to the system is authenticated or verified as a prerequisite to system access
What an assessor examines
Examine:
- Identification and authentication policy
- system security plan
- procedures addressing authenticator management
- procedures addressing user identification and authentication
- system design documentation
- list of system authenticator types
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- change control records associated with managing system authenticators
- system audit logs and records
- other relevant documents or records
Interview:
- Personnel with authenticator management responsibilities
- personnel with information security responsibilities
- system or network administrators
Test:
- Mechanisms supporting or implementing authenticator management capability
Evidence that defends it
Show auth mechanisms 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.