NIST 800-171 Control 3.1.6: Non-Privileged Account Use
Privileged accounts are high-value targets for attackers. NIST 800-171 control 3.1.6 requires organizations to use non-privileged accounts for everyday work, reserving elevated access only when necessary. This principle of least privilege dramatically reduces your attack surface and limits damage from credential compromise.
What this means
Control 3.1.6 mandates that users access non-security functions—email, document editing, web browsing, routine administrative tasks—using standard user accounts with minimal permissions. Privileged or administrative accounts should only be used when performing security-relevant functions that require elevated access. This separation ensures that if a standard account is compromised, attackers cannot immediately pivot to sensitive systems.
How to comply
- 1.Create and enforce separate user accounts for each employee: one standard account for daily work and one privileged account for administrative duties
- 2.Configure role-based access control (RBAC) to assign the minimum permissions required for each job function
- 3.Document which systems and functions require privileged access versus standard access
- 4.Implement technical controls (e.g., Group Policy, application whitelisting) to prevent users from performing privileged operations with standard accounts
- 5.Establish a process for users to request temporary elevated access when needed, with approval and audit trails
- 6.Train staff on the importance of using the correct account type and never sharing credentials
- 7.Audit account usage periodically to identify and remediate privilege creep
Evidence auditors look for
- Account creation logs showing separate standard and privileged accounts per user
- RBAC policy documentation defining minimum permissions per role
- System configuration screenshots showing enforced account restrictions
- Privileged access request and approval records with business justification
- Access logs demonstrating standard accounts are used for routine tasks
- Training records confirming staff understand account segmentation requirements
- Quarterly access reviews with sign-off confirming accounts remain appropriately scoped
Frequently asked questions
When will FAQs be available?
The FAQ for this control is currently being prepared.
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