AC.L2-3.13.10[a] — System & Communications Protection (Key Management)Domain: System & Communications Protection (SC) | Practice: SC.L2-3.13.10 | Objective ID: 3.13.10[a] | Source: NIST SP 800-171 Rev. 2 / CMMC 2.0 Level 2 | Assessment Objective: Cryptographic keys are established when cryptography is employed within the system. |
Executive Summary (For Leadership and the Board)
CMMC objective AC.L2-3.13.10[a] sits inside the System & Communications Protection domain (SC.L2-3.13.10 — Key Management) and reads: Cryptographic keys are established when cryptography is employed within the system.. Implement cryptographic key management that includes secure key generation using approved algorithms and sufficient key lengths for all cryptographic operations. For organizations that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), this objective is part of the foundation that every downstream control depends on.
Under DFARS 252.204-7012, AC.L2-3.13.10[a] will be evaluated during a full third-party CMMC Level 2 assessment, Joint Surveillance Voluntary Assessment, or formal certification gating DoD CUI contract awards. Leadership and the board should be asking: Who owns this objective? When was it last reviewed? Where is the evidence stored? And what is our remediation plan if a C3PAO flags a gap? Failing this objective in isolation may be POA&M-able under CMMC 2.0; failing it in conjunction with related objectives in the same practice is typically not.