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NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 · AC-19

Access Control for Mobile Devices

US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · cited in 11 of our lessons

Explanation

What it asks for. The organisation must establish configuration, connection and implementation requirements for organisation-controlled mobile devices, including when outside controlled areas, and authorise the connection of mobile devices to its systems.

In practice. Doing this well means mobile device management or application management with enforced passcodes, encryption, OS version requirements and remote wipe, plus conditional access that only lets compliant devices reach corporate data. Auditors look for MDM policies, compliance reports and conditional access rules. CIS Controls 4 and 6 include related mobile safeguards. Lost or stolen devices should be wiped promptly, following a reported procedure.

Common gaps. Personal phones often access email and files with no management at all. Compliance policies that only report rather than block give a false sense of control. Outdated mobile operating systems also stay connected long after support ends.

Open SP 800-53 at NIST
The official text
a. Establish configuration requirements, connection requirements, and implementation guidance for organization-controlled mobile devices, to include when such devices are outside of controlled areas; and b. Authorize the connection of mobile devices to organizational systems. Discussion: A mobile device is a computing device that has a small form factor such that it can easily be carried by a single individual; is designed to operate without a physical connection; possesses local, non-removable or removable data storage; and includes a self-contained power source. Mobile device functionality may also include voice communication capabilities, on-board sensors that allow the device to capture information, and/or built-in features for synchronizing local data with remote locations. Examples include smart phones and tablets. Mobile devices are typically associated with a single individual. The processing, storage, and transmission capability of the mobile device may be comparable to or merely a subset of notebook/desktop systems, depending on the nature and intended purpose of the device. Protection and control of mobile devices is behavior or policy-based and requires users to take physical action to protect and control such devices when outside of controlled areas. Controlled areas are spaces for which organizations provide physical or procedural controls to meet the requirements established for protecting information and systems. Due to the large variety of mobile devices with different characteristics and capabilities, organizational restrictions may vary for the different classes or types of such devices. Usage restrictions and specific implementation guidance for mobile devices include configuration management, device identification and authentication, implementation of mandatory protective software, scanning devices for malicious code, updating virus protection software, scanning for critical software updates and patches, conducting primary operating system (and possibly other resident software) integrity checks, and disabling unnecessary hardware. Usage restrictions and authorization to connect may vary among organizational systems. For example, the organization may authorize the connection of mobile devices to its network and impose a set of usage restrictions, while a system owner may withhold authorization for mobile device connection to specific applications or impose additional usage restrictions before allowing mobile device connections to a system. Adequate security for mobile devices goes beyond the requirements specified in [AC-19](#ac-19) . Many safeguards for mobile devices are reflected in other controls. [AC-20](#ac-20) addresses mobile devices that are not organization-controlled.

From NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, a work of the US government in the public domain.

Lessons that cite it

Real incidents where this item mattered.