| name | PS-3_personnel-screening |
| description | Screen individuals prior to authorizing access to the system; |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","ps-3","ps"] |
| tech_stack | ["any"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | ["AC-2","IA-4","MA-5","PE-2","PM-12","PS-2","PS-6","PS-7","SA-21"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {"AC-2":"Chain with AC-2 for comprehensive security coverage","IA-4":"Chain with IA-4 for comprehensive security coverage","MA-5":"Chain with MA-5 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
PS-3 Personnel Screening
High-Level Description
Family: Personnel Security (PS)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Personnel screening and rescreening activities reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, guidelines, and specific criteria established for the risk designations of assigned positions. Examples of personnel screening include background investigations and agency checks. Organizations may define different rescreening conditions and frequencies for personnel accessing systems based on types of information processed, stored, or transmitted by the systems.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PS-3 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
Screen individuals prior to authorizing access to the system; and
Rescreen individuals in accordance with [organization-defined].
Implementation Guidance
Personnel screening and rescreening activities reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, guidelines, and specific criteria established for the risk designations of assigned positions. Examples of personnel screening include background investigations and agency checks. Organizations may define different rescreening conditions and frequencies for personnel accessing systems based on types of information processed, stored, or transmitted by the systems.
