IA-5(18)—Password Managers
>Control Description
Employ ⚙organization-defined password managers to generate and manage passwords; and
Protect the passwords using ⚙organization-defined controls.
>Cross-Framework Mappings
>Supplemental Guidance
For systems where static passwords are employed, it is often a challenge to ensure that the passwords are suitably complex and that the same passwords are not employed on multiple systems. A password manager is a solution to this problem as it automatically generates and stores strong and different passwords for various accounts. A potential risk of using password managers is that adversaries can target the collection of passwords generated by the password manager.
Therefore, the collection of passwords requires protection including encrypting the passwords (see IA-05(01)(d)) and storing the collection offline in a token.
>Assessment Interview Topics
Questions assessors commonly ask
Process & Governance:
- •What formal policies and procedures govern the implementation of IA-5(18) (Password Managers)?
- •Who are the designated roles responsible for implementing, maintaining, and monitoring IA-5(18)?
- •How frequently is the IA-5(18) policy reviewed and updated, and what triggers policy changes?
- •What governance structure ensures IA-5(18) requirements are consistently applied across all systems?
Technical Implementation:
- •Describe the specific technical mechanisms or controls used to enforce IA-5(18) requirements.
- •What automated tools, systems, or technologies are deployed to implement IA-5(18)?
- •How is IA-5(18) integrated into your system architecture and overall security posture?
- •What configuration settings, parameters, or technical specifications enforce IA-5(18) requirements?
Evidence & Documentation:
- •What documentation demonstrates the complete implementation of IA-5(18)?
- •What audit logs, records, reports, or monitoring data validate IA-5(18) compliance?
- •Can you provide evidence of periodic reviews, assessments, or testing of IA-5(18) effectiveness?
- •What artifacts would you present during a FedRAMP assessment to demonstrate IA-5(18) compliance?
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