| name | PS-8_personnel-sanctions |
| description | Employ a formal sanctions process for individuals failing to comply with established information security and privacy policies and procedures; |
| category | configuration |
| version | 5.2.0 |
| author | cyberstrike-official |
| tags | ["nist","sp800-53","rev5","ps-8","ps"] |
| tech_stack | ["any"] |
| cwe_ids | [] |
| chains_with | ["PL-4","PM-12","PS-6","PT-1"] |
| prerequisites | [] |
| severity_boost | {"PL-4":"Chain with PL-4 for comprehensive security coverage","PM-12":"Chain with PM-12 for comprehensive security coverage","PS-6":"Chain with PS-6 for comprehensive security coverage"} |
PS-8 Personnel Sanctions
High-Level Description
Family: Personnel Security (PS)
Framework: NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
Organizational sanctions reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Sanctions processes are described in access agreements and can be included as part of general personnel policies for organizations and/or specified in security and privacy policies. Organizations consult with the Office of the General Counsel regarding matters of employee sanctions.
What to Check
How to Test
Step 1: Review Documentation
Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PS-8 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 a formal sanctions process for individuals failing to comply with established information security and privacy policies and procedures; and
Notify [organization-defined] within [organization-defined] when a formal employee sanctions process is initiated, identifying the individual sanctioned and the reason for the sanction.
Implementation Guidance
Organizational sanctions reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, and guidelines. Sanctions processes are described in access agreements and can be included as part of general personnel policies for organizations and/or specified in security and privacy policies. Organizations consult with the Office of the General Counsel regarding matters of employee sanctions.
