NIST SP 800-171
Control 3.4.6
Employ Least Functionality
CMMC-RP Certified Team
24+ Years Experience
2,500+ Clients Served
Official Requirement
Employ the principle of least functionality by configuring organizational information systems to provide only essential capabilities.
What This Means in Plain English
Systems should only have the software, services, and functions that are needed for their purpose. Unnecessary programs, services, and features should be disabled or removed to reduce the attack surface.
How Petronella Implements This Control
Petronella Technology Group implements this control through:
- Standard OS images with only required applications and services enabled
- Group Policy disabling unnecessary Windows features and services on workstations
- Server roles configured with only the required services (no extra roles installed)
- Sophos XDR application control blocking unapproved applications
- Regular review of installed software and running services against approved baselines
Assessment Guidance
Assessors will review system configurations for unnecessary services and features, verify that application whitelisting or control is enforced, check that standard images include only required software, and test for running services that are not required for the system's function.
Common Implementation Gaps
- Default OS installation with all features enabled
- Unnecessary services running on servers (FTP, Telnet, print services)
- Users able to install any software on their workstations
- No application whitelisting or control
- No periodic review of installed software and running services
Cross-Framework Mapping
| Framework | Mapped Controls |
|---|---|
| NIST SP 800-53 | CM-7 |
| PCI DSS | Req 2.2.2 - Enable only necessary services, protocols, daemons, and functions |
Need Help Implementing 3.4.6?
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