PS 3 Personnel Screening

---
name: "PS-3_personnel-screening"
description: "Screen individuals prior to authorizing access to the system;"
category: "configuration"
version: "5.2.0"
author: "cyberstrike-official"
tags:
  - nist
  - sp800-53
  - rev5
  - ps-3
  - ps
tech_stack:
  - any
cwe_ids: []
chains_with:
  - AC-2
  - IA-4
  - MA-5
  - PE-2
  - PM-12
  - PS-2
  - PS-6
  - PS-7
  - SA-21
prerequisites: []
severity_boost:
  AC-2: "Chain with AC-2 for comprehensive security coverage"
  IA-4: "Chain with IA-4 for comprehensive security coverage"
  MA-5: "Chain with MA-5 for comprehensive security coverage"
---

# PS-3 Personnel Screening

## High-Level Description

**Family:** Personnel Security (PS)
**Framework:** NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5

Personnel screening and rescreening activities reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, guidelines, and specific criteria established for the risk designations of assigned positions. Examples of personnel screening include background investigations and agency checks. Organizations may define different rescreening conditions and frequencies for personnel accessing systems based on types of information processed, stored, or transmitted by the systems.

## What to Check

- [ ] Verify PS-3 Personnel Screening is documented in SSP
- [ ] Validate all 2 control requirements are implemented
- [ ] Confirm control is operating effectively
- [ ] Review evidence of continuous monitoring for PS-3

## How to Test

### Step 1: Review Documentation

Examine the System Security Plan (SSP) and related artifacts for PS-3 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

Screen individuals prior to authorizing access to the system; and
Rescreen individuals in accordance with [organization-defined].

### Implementation Guidance

Personnel screening and rescreening activities reflect applicable laws, executive orders, directives, regulations, policies, standards, guidelines, and specific criteria established for the risk designations of assigned positions. Examples of personnel screening include background investigations and agency checks. Organizations may define different rescreening conditions and frequencies for personnel accessing systems based on types of information processed, stored, or transmitted by the systems.

## Risk Assessment

| Finding                                  | Severity | Impact                        |
| ---------------------------------------- | -------- | ----------------------------- |
| PS-3 Personnel Screening not implemented | Medium   | Personnel Security            |
| PS-3 partially implemented               | Low      | Incomplete Personnel Security |

## CWE Categories

| CWE ID | Title                 |
| ------ | --------------------- |
| N/A    | No direct CWE mapping |

## References

- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 - PS-3](https://csrc.nist.gov/projects/cprt/catalog#/cprt/framework/version/SP_800_53_5_1_1/home?element=ps-3)
- [NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 (Assessment Procedures)](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/a/r5/final)
- [NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 Full Catalog](https://csrc.nist.gov/pubs/sp/800/53/r5/upd1/final)

## Checklist

- [ ] Control documented in SSP
- [ ] Implementation evidence collected
- [ ] Operating effectiveness validated
- [ ] Continuous monitoring in place
- [ ] Related controls (AC-2, IA-4, MA-5, PE-2, PM-12) reviewed