RMF Control PS-6: Access Agreements requires organizations to establish and implement access agreements for all individuals with access to information systems. Access agreements should specify the types of access that are authorized, the purposes for which access is granted, and the conditions that must be met in order to maintain access.
Supplemental Guidance
The Risk Management Framework (RMF) is a cybersecurity framework that provides a process for managing cybersecurity risk to systems and organizations. RMF Control PS-6: Access Agreements is one of the controls in the PS family, which addresses personnel security.
Access agreements are important for protecting information systems from unauthorized access. By establishing and implementing access agreements, organizations can ensure that only authorized individuals have access to information systems and that they are using their access appropriately.
Benefits of Implementing RMF Control PS-6
There are a number of benefits to implementing RMF Control PS-6, including:
- Improved security posture: By establishing and implementing access agreements, organizations can reduce the risk of unauthorized access to information systems.
- Reduced risk of security incidents: Unauthorized access to information systems can lead to a variety of security incidents, such as data breaches, malware infections, and system outages. By implementing RMF Control PS-6, organizations can reduce the risk of these security incidents.
- Improved compliance: Many regulations require organizations to have access agreements in place. By implementing RMF Control PS-6, organizations can improve their compliance with these regulations.
How to Implement RMF Control PS-6
To implement RMF Control PS-6, organizations should:
- Identify all individuals who have access to information systems.
- Develop access agreements for each individual. Access agreements should specify the types of access that are authorized, the purposes for which access is granted, and the conditions that must be met in order to maintain access.
- Have each individual sign the access agreement.
- Monitor compliance with access agreements. This may involve reviewing access logs, conducting audits, and conducting interviews with employees.
Examples of Access Agreements
Some examples of access agreements include:
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
- Acceptable use policies (AUPs)
- Conflict of interest agreements
- Confidentiality agreements
- Data use agreements
Conclusion
RMF Control PS-6: Access Agreements is an important control that can help organizations to improve their security posture, reduce the risk of security incidents, and improve their compliance. By establishing and implementing access agreements, organizations can ensure that only authorized individuals have access to information systems and that they are using their access appropriately.
Additional Tips for Implementing RMF Control PS-6
- Involve stakeholders in the access agreement development process: Organizations should involve stakeholders, such as IT staff, security staff, and business owners, in the access agreement development process. This will help to ensure that the access agreements are aligned with the organization’s business needs and security requirements.
- Use a risk-based approach to access agreement development: Organizations should use a risk-based approach to access agreement development to ensure that the most critical systems and data have the most restrictive access agreements.
- Regularly review and update access agreements: Organizations should regularly review and update access agreements to ensure that they are effective and up-to-date.