3.1.1e

Requirement

Employ dual authorization to execute critical or sensitive system and organizational
operations.

Discussion

Dual authorization, also known as two-person control, reduces risk related to insider threats. Dual authorization requires the approval of two authorized individuals to execute certain commands, actions, or functions. For example, organizations employ dual authorization to help ensure that changes to selected system components (i.e., hardware, software, and firmware) or information cannot occur unless two qualified individuals approve and implement such changes. These individuals possess the skills and expertise to determine if the proposed changes are correct implementations of the approved changes, and they are also accountable for those changes. Another example is employing dual authorization for the execution of privileged commands. To reduce the risk of collusion, organizations consider rotating assigned dual authorization duties to reduce the risk of an insider threat. Dual authorization can be implemented via either technical or procedural measures and can be carried out sequentially or in parallel.

Family

Access Control
Protection Strategy
- Penetration-Resistant Architecture
- Damage-Limiting Operations

NIST 800-172A Assessment Guidance

Examine

[SELECT FROM: List of critical or sensitive system and organizational operations; access control policy; dual authorization policy; procedures addressing access enforcement and dual authorization; security plan; configuration management plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; list of privilege access authorizations; commands requiring dual authorization; list of actions requiring dual authorization; system audit records; list of approved authorizations (user privileges); system generated list of dual authorization credentials or rules; logs or records of deletion or destruction of backup information; list of system media requiring dual authorization for sanitization; authorization records; media sanitization records; audit records; other relevant documents or records].
Interview

[SELECT FROM: System and network administrators; system developers; organizational personnel responsible for access enforcement, system backup, dual authorization enforcement for implementing system changes, system media sanitization, audit and accountability, and information security].
Test

[SELECT FROM: Mechanisms implementing the enforcement of dual authorization].

ID	Assessment Objectives
3.1.1e[a]	Critical or sensitive system and organizational operations for which dual authorization is to be enforced are identified.
3.1.1e[b]	Dual authorization is employed to execute critical or sensitive system and organizational operations.

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