AC-11 Device Lock

Control

a.

Prevent further access to the system by [Assignment: Selection (one-or-more): initiating a device lock after [ac-11_odp.02] of inactivity | requiring the user to initiate a device lock before leaving the system unattended] ; and

b.

Retain the device lock until the user reestablishes access using established identification and authentication procedures.

Discussion

Device locks are temporary actions taken to prevent logical access to organizational systems when users stop work and move away from the immediate vicinity of those systems but do not want to log out because of the temporary nature of their absences. Device locks can be implemented at the operating system level or at the application level. A proximity lock may be used to initiate the device lock (e.g., via a Bluetooth-enabled device or dongle). User-initiated device locking is behavior or policy-based and, as such, requires users to take physical action to initiate the device lock. Device locks are not an acceptable substitute for logging out of systems, such as when organizations require users to log out at the end of workdays.

Control enhancements (1)

Related controls

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Control catalog and framework text on this page is reproduced from official NIST publications — a public-domain work of the U.S. Government (17 U.S.C. §105). Maverc commentary, groupings, and readiness guidance are our own and are not part of any NIST publication.