What this requirement asks
Enforce a minimum password complexity and change of characters when new passwords are created.
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 (4)
- 3.5.7[a] — password complexity requirements are defined
- 3.5.7[b] — password change of character requirements are defined
- 3.5.7[c] — minimum password complexity requirements as defined are enforced when new passwords are created
- 3.5.7[d] — minimum password change of character requirements as defined are enforced when new passwords are created
What an assessor examines
Examine:
- Identification and authentication policy
- password policy
- procedures addressing authenticator management
- system security plan
- system configuration settings and associated documentation
- system design documentation
- password configurations and associated documentation
- 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
Document triggers and response
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.