NIST 800-171 Control 3.14.2: Malicious Code Protection

What this means

Control 3.14.2 mandates the deployment of malicious code detection and prevention mechanisms throughout your organization's systems. This includes antivirus software, anti-malware tools, and endpoint protection deployed at strategic entry and exit points. 'Appropriate locations' means identifying where threats are most likely to enter or propagate—email gateways, network perimeters, file servers, and end-user devices. The control emphasizes continuous monitoring and timely signature updates to protect against evolving threats.

How to comply

1. 1.Conduct a system inventory to identify all potential entry points for malicious code (email servers, web gateways, file repositories, workstations).
2. 2.Deploy antivirus and anti-malware solutions across identified critical locations aligned with your threat profile.
3. 3.Configure endpoint protection agents on all workstations, laptops, and servers to continuously scan for threats.
4. 4.Establish a process for automatic signature and definition updates to ensure protection against current threats.
5. 5.Set up centralized monitoring and alerting for malicious code detections across all protected systems.
6. 6.Define incident response procedures for systems where malicious code is detected or quarantined.
7. 7.Document your malicious code protection architecture, including tools, locations, and update frequency.
8. 8.Test protection effectiveness through controlled malware simulations or red-team exercises periodically.

Evidence auditors look for

• Antivirus/anti-malware product documentation and deployment lists showing coverage across systems.
• Configuration screenshots of protection policies, automatic update settings, and quarantine rules.
• Centralized console logs or reports showing malware detection and quarantine events over time.
• Network diagrams identifying malicious code protection points at email, web, and file transfer gateways.
• Incident response records documenting detection alerts, containment actions, and remediation steps.
• Vulnerability assessment reports confirming protection definitions are current and no gaps exist.
• User access controls restricting ability to disable or bypass malicious code protection.
• Email gateway logs showing spam/malware filtering and attachment scanning records.
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) tool reports with threat intelligence integration.

Frequently asked questions

GRCWatch automatically tracks antivirus/anti-malware deployment status, signature update currency, and detection logs across your systems, eliminating manual evidence collection and ensuring 3.14.2 compliance is continuously verified.

See how GRCWatch handles this control automatically

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