MA.L2-3.7.5

Nonlocal Maintenance

Source and approval

CMMC Assessment Guide — Level 2 · Revision 2.13

Publisher approved · Complete cited source edition 2026-10-31

See MA.L2-3.7.5 in the reference catalog with its NIST cross-references

Official requirement

Require multifactor authentication to establish nonlocal maintenance sessions via external network connections and terminate such connections when nonlocal maintenance is complete.

Assessment objectives

a. multifactor authentication is used to establish nonlocal maintenance sessions via external network connections; and

b. nonlocal maintenance sessions established via external network connections are terminated when nonlocal maintenance is complete.

Implementation guidance

Editorial examples to help you plan. Adapt them to your environment; the official requirement and objectives remain authoritative.

In plain language

Use MFA for nonlocal maintenance sessions and terminate those connections when work ends.

Implementation example

Example from the source assessment guide (not a mandatory implementation): You are responsible for maintaining your company ’s firewall. In order to conduct maintenance while working remotely, you connect to the firewall ’s management interface and log in using administrator credentials. The firewall then sends a verification request to the multifactor authentication app on your smartphone [a]. You need both of these things to prove your identity [a]. After you respond to the multifactor challenge, you have access to the maintenance interface. When you finish your activities, you shut down the remote connection by logging out and quitting your web browser [b].

Evidence examples

Examples suggested by the source guide (not an exhaustive or mandatory checklist): System maintenance policy; procedures addressing nonlocal system maintenance; system security plan; system design documentation; system configuration settings and associated documentation; maintenance records; diagnostic records; other relevant documents or records

Common mistakes

Leaving a vendor maintenance connection available after the authorized session finishes.

Apply this in your workspace →