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IA-8 (02)—Identification and Authentication (non-organizational Users) | Acceptance of External Authenticators

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>Control Description

(a) Accept only external authenticators that are NIST-compliant; and (b) Document and maintain a list of accepted external authenticators.

>FedRAMP Baseline Requirements

No FedRAMP-specific parameter values or requirements for this baseline.

>Discussion

Acceptance of only NIST-compliant external authenticators applies to organizational systems that are accessible to the public (e.g., public-facing websites). External authenticators are issued by nonfederal government entities and are compliant with SP 800-63B. Approved external authenticators meet or exceed the minimum Federal Government-wide technical, security, privacy, and organizational maturity requirements.

Meeting or exceeding Federal requirements allows Federal Government relying parties to trust external authenticators in connection with an authentication transaction at a specified authenticator assurance level.

>Assessment Interview Topics

Questions assessors commonly ask

Process & Governance:

  • •What formal policies and procedures govern the implementation of IA-8(2) (Acceptance Of External Authenticators)?
  • •Who are the designated roles responsible for implementing, maintaining, and monitoring IA-8(2)?
  • •How frequently is the IA-8(2) policy reviewed and updated, and what triggers policy changes?
  • •What governance structure ensures IA-8(2) requirements are consistently applied across all systems?

Technical Implementation:

  • •Describe the specific technical mechanisms or controls used to enforce IA-8(2) requirements.
  • •What automated tools, systems, or technologies are deployed to implement IA-8(2)?
  • •How is IA-8(2) integrated into your system architecture and overall security posture?
  • •What configuration settings, parameters, or technical specifications enforce IA-8(2) requirements?

Evidence & Documentation:

  • •What documentation demonstrates the complete implementation of IA-8(2)?
  • •What audit logs, records, reports, or monitoring data validate IA-8(2) compliance?
  • •Can you provide evidence of periodic reviews, assessments, or testing of IA-8(2) effectiveness?
  • •What artifacts would you present during a FedRAMP assessment to demonstrate IA-8(2) compliance?

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