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NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 · PS-7

External Personnel Security

US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) · cited in 12 of our lessons

Explanation

What it asks for. The organisation must set personnel security requirements, including roles and responsibilities, for external providers, require providers to comply with its personnel security policies, document the requirements, require providers to notify it of transfers or terminations of their staff with credentials or access, and monitor compliance.

In practice. This means contracts with consultants, outsourcers and managed service providers that specify screening, confidentiality, training and prompt notification when their staff leave. Access for external staff should have end dates and named sponsors. Auditors expect contract clauses, notification records and evidence of monitoring.

Common gaps. Organisations often rely on providers to tell them when staff leave, and they frequently do not. External personnel accounts without expiry are a common finding.

Open SP 800-53 at NIST
The official text
a. Establish personnel security requirements, including security roles and responsibilities for external providers; b. Require external providers to comply with personnel security policies and procedures established by the organization; c. Document personnel security requirements; d. Require external providers to notify [Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles] of any personnel transfers or terminations of external personnel who possess organizational credentials and/or badges, or who have system privileges within [Assignment: organization-defined time period] ; and e. Monitor provider compliance with personnel security requirements. Discussion: External provider refers to organizations other than the organization operating or acquiring the system. External providers include service bureaus, contractors, and other organizations that provide system development, information technology services, testing or assessment services, outsourced applications, and network/security management. Organizations explicitly include personnel security requirements in acquisition-related documents. External providers may have personnel working at organizational facilities with credentials, badges, or system privileges issued by organizations. Notifications of external personnel changes ensure the appropriate termination of privileges and credentials. Organizations define the transfers and terminations deemed reportable by security-related characteristics that include functions, roles, and the nature of credentials or privileges associated with transferred or terminated individuals.

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.