# NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3 3.5.2 — Device Identification and Authentication

- Source: https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-5-2-device-identification-and-authentication
- Section: [Compliance](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance) › [NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3 Requirements](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3) › Identification and Authentication — §3.5
- Last updated: 2026-06-05
- Publisher: iCompaas, Inc. (https://www.icompaas.com)

**NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3**·Requirement `3.5.2`·high·Component: **Identification and Authentication**

## What this control requires

> This control requires the unique identification and authentication of specified devices before establishing a system connection. Device identification can include methods like MAC addresses or TCP/IP addresses, while authentication may involve organizational solutions such as IEEE 802.1x, EAP, RADIUS, Kerberos, or PKI-based certificates. This control supports the Device Authentication Management capability within the Identification and Authentication (3.5) family.
> 
> — NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3, Requirement 3.5.2

### In plain English

This control requires the unique identification and authentication of specified devices before establishing a system connection. In practice, this means you can prove you device management-level controls on a defined cadence.

## Why it matters

DoD contractors and their subcontractors must implement all 100 SP 800-171 requirements to keep CUI handling contracts. Gaps are scored against the SPRS scoring methodology; below a 110-point starting score, each unmet requirement deducts points and a below-threshold score can disqualify a bid.

This control is rated **high**. Auditors expect a named owner, a remediation SLA, and a tooling artefact that evidences continuous operation.

## What an auditor looks for

A C3PAO conducting a CMMC Level 2 assessment uses NIST SP 800-171A objectives. They expect a System Security Plan (SSP), Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) for any gaps, and objective evidence (configurations, ticket records, training records) for every requirement.

Within **Identification and Authentication**, the assessor will trace your implementation back to the catalogue reference (Requirement 3.5.2) and look for objective evidence on the latest two assessment cycles.

## How to implement

#### Endpoint Protection

**MDM.** Make MDM enrollment a hard gate for device access (Intune compliance + Conditional Access, or Jamf + Okta device trust). Unmanaged devices simply don't get a session token.

**EDR.** Deploy CrowdStrike / SentinelOne / Defender for Endpoint to every server and laptop; alert on any host that stops sending telemetry for >24h.

### Operational checklist

-   **Device.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Protection.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **System.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Authentication.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Security.** Document the trigger, the owner and the cadence.
-   **Scope:** management, methods like mac addresses, tcp, ip addresses, authentication, security, protection.

## Evidence to collect

-   **User Device Scan.** MDM compliance state per user device (Intune / Jamf / Workspace ONE).

Endpoint compliance telemetry (Intune, Jamf) proves managed coverage. Focus: Device Identification and Authentication.

## Common pitfalls

-   Pilot MDM rollouts that quietly exclude executives or engineers; carving out the highest-risk users is the most common audit failure.

## How it maps to other frameworks

Computed from shared tags, control component and key-operation subjects — handy when you are reconciling controls across an audit.

-   [**NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 IA-2(13)** — Out-Of-Band Authentication](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-53-rev-5/ia-2-13-out-of-band-authentication)

## Related controls in NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3

-   [**Requirement 3.13.1** — Boundary Protection](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3/3-13-1-boundary-protection)

## References

-   [NIST Computer Security Resource Center — NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 3](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/171/r3/final)
-   Catalogue identifier: `Requirement 3.5.2`

Topics: endpoint securityendpoint protectioncertificate managementidentity management

## Related compliance guidance

- [NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC: a practical guide to protecting CUI in the cloud](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-171-rev-3): Start with the full NIST SP 800-171 implementation guide — scope, roadmap, evidence and how the assessment runs.
- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5: a practical implementation guide for cloud teams](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/nist-sp-800-53-rev-5): The catalogue 800-171 is tailored from, and the basis of the FedRAMP Moderate baseline your cloud providers must meet for CUI.
- [ISO/IEC 27001:2022 compliance: a practical implementation guide](https://support.icompaas.com/compliance/iso-27001-2022): If commercial customers ask for a certificate as well, most 800-171 controls can be evidenced once and mapped to Annex A.