| name | PE-21_electromagnetic-pulse-protection |
| description | Employ [organization-defined] against electromagnetic pulse damage for [organization-defined]. |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","pe-21","pe"] |
| tech_stack | ["any"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | ["PE-18","PE-19"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {"PE-18":"Chain with PE-18 for comprehensive security coverage","PE-19":"Chain with PE-19 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
PE-21 Electromagnetic Pulse Protection
High-Level Description
Family: Physical and Environmental Protection (PE)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a short burst of electromagnetic energy that is spread over a range of frequencies. Such energy bursts may be natural or man-made. EMP interference may be disruptive or damaging to electronic equipment. Protective measures used to mitigate EMP risk include shielding, surge suppressors, ferro-resonant transformers, and earth grounding. EMP protection may be especially significant for systems and applications that are part of the U.S. critical infrastructure.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PE-21 implementation details. Verify the organization has documented how this control is satisfied.
Step 2: Validate Implementation
# For cloud environments, use cloud-audit-mcp tools
# For on-premises, review system configurations directly
# Example: Check if account management policies exist
grep -r "account.management\|access.control" /etc/security/ 2>/dev/null
Step 3: Test Operating Effectiveness
Verify the control is actively functioning, not just documented. Check logs, configurations, and operational evidence.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Usage |
|---|
| Manual Review | Documentation and interview-based | N/A |
Remediation Guide
Control Statement
Employ [organization-defined] against electromagnetic pulse damage for [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
An electromagnetic pulse (EMP) is a short burst of electromagnetic energy that is spread over a range of frequencies. Such energy bursts may be natural or man-made. EMP interference may be disruptive or damaging to electronic equipment. Protective measures used to mitigate EMP risk include shielding, surge suppressors, ferro-resonant transformers, and earth grounding. EMP protection may be especially significant for systems and applications that are part of the U.S. critical infrastructure.
Risk Assessment
