NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
AC - Access Control

NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 NIST800-AC-6: AC-6 Least Privilege

Employ the principle of least privilege, allowing only authorized accesses for users (or processes acting on behalf of users) that are necessary to accomplish assigned organizational tasks.

Maintained by Gerard BlokdykVerified against the published standard Control text last updated

What else in your programme already covers this

This control maps to 197 controls across 75 other frameworks. If you already hold one of them, the evidence you collected for it is the starting point here rather than new work.

PCI DSS 4.0 · 22 controls

  • 3.3.3 3.3.3 Issuer SAD storage limited, justified and encrypted
  • 3.4.2 3.4.2 Remote access blocks copying or relocating PAN
  • 3.5.1.2 3.5.1.2 Disk or partition encryption only on removable media
  • 3.6.1.2 3.6.1.2 Permitted storage forms for secret and private keys
  • 3.6.1.3 3.6.1.3 Cleartext key component access limited to minimum custodians
  • 5.3.5 5.3.5 Users cannot disable or alter anti-malware
  • 6.5.5 6.5.5 No live PANs in pre-production
  • 7.2.1 7.2.1 Access control model defined
  • 7.2.2 7.2.2 User access assigned by job function and least privilege
  • 7.3.2 7.3.2 Access control system enforces role-based permissions
  • 7.3.3 7.3.3 Access control default deny all
  • 8.2.2 8.2.2 Shared and generic IDs only by exception
  • 8.2.4 8.2.4 User ID lifecycle changes authorized
  • 9.2.3 9.2.3 Physical protection of network hardware and lines
  • 9.2.4 9.2.4 Locking of consoles in sensitive areas
  • 9.4.1 9.4.1 Physical security of all media
  • 9.4.4 9.4.4 Management approval for media leaving facility
  • 3.6.1 3.6.1 Procedures protect keys against disclosure and misuse
  • 7.2.5 7.2.5 Application and system accounts least privilege
  • 7.2.6 7.2.6 Query access to stored cardholder data restricted
  • 7.3.1 7.3.1 Need-to-know access control system covers all components
  • 8.6.1 8.6.1 Interactive use of system accounts controlled

HIPAA Security Rule · 7 controls

ISO 27001:2022 · 7 controls

  • 5.15 Access control
  • 5.18 Access rights
  • 8.18 Use of privileged utility programs
  • 8.2 Privileged access rights
  • 8.3 Information access restriction
  • 8.31 Separation of development, test and production environments
  • 8.4 Access to source code

ISO 27701:2019 · 7 controls

  • 6.6 Access control
  • 6.6.1 Business requirements of access control
  • 6.6.2 User access management
  • 6.6.4 System and application access control
  • 7.3.6 Access, correction and/or erasure
  • 7.4.2 Limit processing
  • 7.4.4 PII minimization objectives

CIS Controls v8 · 6 controls

  • CIS-12.2 Establish and Maintain a Secure Network Architecture
  • CIS-12.8 Establish and Maintain Dedicated Computing Resources for All Administrative Work
  • CIS-16.10 Apply Secure Design Principles in Application Architectures
  • CIS-3.3 Configure Data Access Control Lists
  • CIS-5.4 Restrict Administrator Privileges to Dedicated Administrator Accounts
  • CIS-6.8 Define and Maintain Role-Based Access Control

CMMC 2.0 · 6 controls

FedRAMP High · 6 controls

  • AC-6 Least Privilege
  • AC-6(1) Authorize Access to Security Functions
  • AC-6(10) Prohibit Non-Privileged Users from Executing Privileged Functions
  • AC-6(2) Non-Privileged Access for Nonsecurity Functions
  • AC-6(5) Privileged Accounts
  • RA-5(5) Privileged Access

FedRAMP Moderate · 6 controls

  • AC-6 Least Privilege
  • AC-6(1) Authorize Access to Security Functions
  • AC-6(10) Prohibit Non-Privileged Users from Executing Privileged Functions
  • AC-6(2) Non-Privileged Access for Nonsecurity Functions
  • AC-6(5) Privileged Accounts
  • RA-5(5) Privileged Access

ISO 27002:2022 · 6 controls

  • 5.15 Access control
  • 5.18 Access rights
  • 8.18 Use of privileged utility programs
  • 8.2 Privileged access rights
  • 8.3 Information access restriction
  • 8.4 Access to source code
  • ANSSI-HYG-05 Maintain an Exhaustive Inventory of Privileged Accounts
  • ANSSI-HYG-08 Identify Each Person by Name and Separate User and Administrator Roles
  • ANSSI-HYG-09 Assign the Correct Rights on Sensitive Resources
  • ANSSI-HYG-27 Prohibit Internet Access from Administration Workstations and Servers
  • ANSSI-HYG-29 Limit Administration Rights on Workstations to Operational Need
  • ASBv3-AM-4 Limit access to asset management
  • ASBv3-IM-2 Protect identity and authentication systems
  • ASBv3-PA-7 Follow just enough administration (least privilege) principle
  • PA-1 Separate and limit highly privileged/administrative users
  • PA-2 Avoid standing access for user accounts and permissions

C5 (Germany) · 5 controls

  • C5-IDM-01 Policy for user accounts and access rights
  • C5-IDM-02 Granting and change of user accounts and access rights
  • C5-IDM-05 Regular review of access rights
  • C5-IDM-06 Privileged access rights
  • C5-PSS-08 Roles and Rights Concept

NIST SP 800-66 Rev 2 · 5 controls

SOC 2 · 5 controls

  • SOC2-CC5.1 CC5.1 Selecting control activities that mitigate risk (COSO principle 10)
  • SOC2-CC6.1 CC6.1 Logical access security over protected information assets
  • SOC2-CC6.3 CC6.3 Role-based access, least privilege and segregation of duties
  • SOC2-P5.1 P5.1 Data subject access
  • SOC2-PI1.3 PI1.3 Controls over system processing

ACSC Essential Eight · 3 controls

  • E8-ADMIN-ML1 Restrict Administrative Privileges (ML1)
  • E8-ADMIN-ML2 Restrict Administrative Privileges (ML2)
  • E8-ADMIN-ML3 Restrict Administrative Privileges (ML3)
  • ASD37-18 Restrict administrative privileges (Essential)
  • ASD37-20 Multi-factor authentication (Essential)
  • ASD37-21 Disable local administrator accounts (Excellent)

NIST SP 800-171 Rev 3 · 3 controls

UK Cyber Essentials · 3 controls

  • CE-AC.4 Privileged Account Approval and Tracking
  • CE-AC.5 Separate Admin Accounts for Administrative Activities
  • CE-AC.6 Periodic Review of Privileged Access
  • AWWA-1.3 Security Awareness and Training
  • AWWA-2.1 User Access Management
  • NISTPF-3 Control-P - Privacy Controls, Data Management, and Disassociated Processing
  • NISTPF-5 Protect-P Access Control (PR.AC-P)
  • SSAE18-CC6.2 CC6.2 - New User Registration and Authorization
  • SSAE18-SOC1-06 Transaction Processing Controls
  • SAM-1 Customer Information Confidentiality (Section 48)
  • SAM-6 Legal Authorization Requirements
  • AUCDR-IS-1 Limit risk of unauthorised access to the CDR data environment
  • AESCSF-IAM-2 Access control

BSI IT-Grundschutz · 1 control

  • BSI-02 Access enforcement and least privilege
  • DSO-3 Data Access Management
  • CAT-IRP-4 Organizational characteristics

GDPR · 1 control

  • GDPR-Art.29 Processing under the authority of the controller or processor
  • 62351-8 Role-based access control (RBAC)

ISO 27799:2025 · 1 control

  • ISO27799-01 ePHI access controls and authorization

ISO/IEC 27011:2024 · 1 control

  • 27011-8.1 User Endpoint Devices

ISO/IEC 27043:2015 · 1 control

  • ISO27043-14 Privileged access management

ISO/IEC 27400:2022 · 1 control

  • 27400-6.1 Secure Device Design

ISO/SAE 21434 · 1 control

  • ISO21434-14 Privileged access management

NIS2 Directive · 1 control

  • Art.21.2.g Basic cyber hygiene practices and cybersecurity training
  • NIST-CSF-PR.AA-05 Access permissions, entitlements, and authorizations are defined in a policy, managed, enforced, and reviewed, and incorporate the principles of least privilege and separation of duties

NIST SP 800-172 · 1 control

  • 3.13.2e Introduce Unpredictability into System Operations

NIST SP 800-190 · 1 control

  • NIST190-08 Privileged access in cloud environments

NIST SP 800-207 · 1 control

NIST SP 800-218 · 1 control

  • AC-6 AC-6 Least Privilege
  • AC-6 AC-6 Least Privilege
  • NISTSP82-4 OT Access Control, Identity, Authentication, and Remote Access

NIST SP 800-88 · 1 control

  • NISTSP88-1 Media Sanitization Policy, Roles, and Decision Framework

NIST SP 800-92 · 1 control

  • NISTSP92-4 Log Management: Time Synchronisation, Parsing, Storage, Integrity, Access Control
  • ORANWG11-2 O-RAN Interface Security: E2, A1, O1, O2, Open Fronthaul

OWASP SAMM · 1 control

  • OWASPSAMM-2 Design: Threat Assessment, Security Requirements, Security Architecture
  • OMANCS-3 Identity and Access Management, Authentication, Privileged Access

OpenSSF Scorecard · 1 control

  • OSSFSC-3 Build, CI/CD Security, Workflow Permissions, Dangerous Patterns

PTES · 1 control

  • PTESPHASE-2 Intelligence Gathering (OSINT)
  • SHAREASSESS-2 Access Control, Identity, Authentication

SLSA · 1 control

  • SUPCHAIN-2 Source Integrity - Branch Protection, Code Review, Two-Person Rule
  • CISABD-1 Take Ownership of Customer Security Outcomes
  • SOCI-CIRMP-SUPPLY CIRMP hazard vector: Supply chain
  • SIGSTORE-2 Transparency Log (Rekor) and Verification

South Korea ISMS-P · 1 control

  • ISMSP-AC-01 Access Control Policy
  • TSAPIPE-2 OT/IT Network Segmentation and Access Control
  • UK-TSA-NET-02 Access Control and Authentication
  • ACE-CR-4 Cargo Release Authorization
  • UGA-10 Sensitive Personal Data Prohibition

Every mapping shown was judged rather than inferred from wording similarity, and the ones that failed review are published too. See the coverage reports and what was rejected.

Other controls in AC - Access Control

You are reading one control. How much of NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 have you already done?

NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 NIST800-AC-6 is one control. If you already hold one of the frameworks below, a reviewed crosswalk already says how much of NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 your existing evidence covers. Hold ISO 27001:2022 and 163 of 1014 NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 controls already carry evidence.

Each report names every control your existing framework evidences, every one it does not, the reasoning behind each claim, and the claims that were argued against and rejected. 342 were rejected on the ISO 27001:2022 pair alone.

Query this from an agent

The graph holds this control, the 197 it maps to, and the evidence behind each claim, over MCP and REST.