PS-4

PS-4 PERSONNEL TERMINATION

Overview

Number	Title	Impact	Priority	Subject Area
PS-4	Personnel Termination	LOW	P1	Personnel Security

Instructions
The organization, upon termination of individual employment: PS-4a. Disables information system access within Assignment: organization-defined time period; PS-4b. Terminates/revokes any authenticators/credentials associated with the individual; PS-4c. Conducts exit interviews that include a discussion of Assignment: organization-defined information security topics; PS-4d. Retrieves all security-related organizational information system-related property; PS-4e. Retains access to organizational information and information systems formerly controlled by terminated individual; and PS-4f. Notifies Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles within Assignment: organization-defined time period.

Instructions

The organization, upon termination of individual employment:

PS-4a.

Disables information system access within Assignment: organization-defined time period;

PS-4b.

Terminates/revokes any authenticators/credentials associated with the individual;

PS-4c.

Conducts exit interviews that include a discussion of Assignment: organization-defined information security topics;

PS-4d.

Retrieves all security-related organizational information system-related property;

PS-4e.

Retains access to organizational information and information systems formerly controlled by terminated individual; and

PS-4f.

Notifies Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles within Assignment: organization-defined time period.

Guidance
Information system-related property includes, for example, hardware authentication tokens, system administration technical manuals, keys, identification cards, and building passes. Exit interviews ensure that terminated individuals understand the security constraints imposed by being former employees and that proper accountability is achieved for information system-related property. Security topics of interest at exit interviews can include, for example, reminding terminated individuals of nondisclosure agreements and potential limitations on future employment. Exit interviews may not be possible for some terminated individuals, for example, in cases related to job abandonment, illnesses, and nonavailability of supervisors. Exit interviews are important for individuals with security clearances. Timely execution of termination actions is essential for individuals terminated for cause. In certain situations, organizations consider disabling the information system accounts of individuals that are being terminated prior to the individuals being notified.

Guidance

Information system-related property includes, for example, hardware authentication tokens, system administration technical manuals, keys, identification cards, and building passes. Exit interviews ensure that terminated individuals understand the security constraints imposed by being former employees and that proper accountability is achieved for information system-related property. Security topics of interest at exit interviews can include, for example, reminding terminated individuals of nondisclosure agreements and potential limitations on future employment. Exit interviews may not be possible for some terminated individuals, for example, in cases related to job abandonment, illnesses, and nonavailability of supervisors. Exit interviews are important for individuals with security clearances. Timely execution of termination actions is essential for individuals terminated for cause. In certain situations, organizations consider disabling the information system accounts of individuals that are being terminated prior to the individuals being notified.

Enhancements

PS-4 (1) Post-Employment Requirements

Organizations consult with the Office of the General Counsel regarding matters of post-employment requirements on terminated individuals.

The organization:

PS-4 (1)(a)

Notifies terminated individuals of applicable, legally binding post-employment requirements for the protection of organizational information; and

PS-4 (1)(b)

Requires terminated individuals to sign an acknowledgment of post-employment requirements as part of the organizational termination process.

PS-4 (2) Automated Notification

HIGH

In organizations with a large number of employees, not all personnel who need to know about termination actions receive the appropriate notifications�or, if such notifications are received, they may not occur in a timely manner. Automated mechanisms can be used to send automatic alerts or notifications to specific organizational personnel or roles (e.g., management personnel, supervisors, personnel security officers, information security officers, systems administrators, or information technology administrators) when individuals are terminated. Such automatic alerts or notifications can be conveyed in a variety of ways, including, for example, telephonically, via electronic mail, via text message, or via websites.

The organization employs automated mechanisms to notify Assignment: organization-defined personnel or roles upon termination of an individual.