RMF Control AC-12: Session Termination is a cybersecurity control that helps to protect information systems by terminating user sessions when they are no longer needed. This control is important because it can help to prevent unauthorized access to information systems and data.
Session Termination Requirements
The RMF Control AC-12: Session Termination requirements are specified in NIST Special Publication 800-53, Revision 5. The requirements state that the organization must:
- Automatically terminate a user session after a period of inactivity; and
- Provide users with the ability to manually terminate their sessions.
Session Termination Best Practices
In addition to the RMF Control AC-12: Session Termination requirements, there are a number of best practices that organizations can follow to improve their session termination posture. These best practices include:
- Setting a short inactivity timeout (e.g., 15 minutes).
- Educating users on the importance of session termination and how to manually terminate their sessions.
- Monitoring and auditing session termination activity to identify and respond to suspicious behavior.
Benefits of Session Termination
Session termination can provide a number of benefits to organizations, including:
- Improved security posture: Session termination can help to prevent unauthorized access to information systems and data.
- Reduced risk of data breaches: Session termination can help to reduce the risk of data breaches by preventing unauthorized users from accessing information systems and data after a user has logged off.
- Increased user awareness: Session termination can help to increase user awareness of security threats and how to protect their accounts.
- Improved compliance: Session termination can help organizations to comply with a variety of security regulations.
How to Implement Session Termination
There are a number of ways to implement session termination. One common approach is to use a web application firewall (WAF). WAFs can be used to manage user sessions and enforce session termination policies.
Another approach to implementing session termination is to use a cloud-based service. There are a number of cloud-based services that offer session termination capabilities. These services can be relatively easy to implement and use.
Example of Session Termination
One example of session termination is when a user’s web browser automatically logs them out of a website after 15 minutes of inactivity. This prevents the user’s account from being accessed by unauthorized users if the user leaves their computer unattended.
Another example of session termination is when a user is required to click a “Log Out” button to manually terminate their session. This prevents the user’s account from being accessed by unauthorized users if the user’s computer is lost or stolen.
Conclusion
RMF Control AC-12: Session Termination is an important cybersecurity control that helps to protect information systems by terminating user sessions when they are no longer needed. By following the RMF Control AC-12: Session Termination requirements and best practices, organizations can help to improve their security posture, reduce the risk of data breaches, increase user awareness, and improve compliance.
Additional Tips for Implementing and Enforcing Session Termination
- Use a centralized session management system to manage user sessions and session termination policies.
- Implement a risk-based approach to session termination. For example, you may want to enforce stricter session termination policies for users with access to sensitive data.
- Educate users on the importance of session termination and how to manually terminate their sessions. This can be done through training programs, documentation, and other resources.
By following these tips, organizations can help to ensure that their information systems are protected from unauthorized access and misuse.