CMMC 2.0 and shared-workstation access control: what teams need to know

TL;DR: CMMC 2.0 readiness for manufacturers often fails on routine access decisions rather than policy gaps, with shared accounts, inconsistent MFA, weak session handling, and broad privilege making CUI systems harder to defend and audit, according to Imprivata. The practical issue is that plant-floor workflows can quietly invalidate identity controls unless access is tied cleanly to individuals and actions.

NHIMG editorial — based on content published by Imprivata: compliance with CMMC 2.0 access control in manufacturing environments

Questions worth separating out

Q: How should manufacturers secure shared workstations that access CUI systems?

A: Manufacturers should treat shared workstations as high-risk identity enforcement points.

Q: Why do shared accounts create compliance problems in manufacturing environments?

A: Shared accounts make it difficult to prove who performed a specific action, which weakens both accountability and audit evidence.

Q: What breaks when MFA is deployed inconsistently across factory systems?

A: Inconsistent MFA creates a fragmented control surface where some access paths are protected and others are not.

Practitioner guidance

• Map every shared workstation to the CUI systems it can reach Trace each plant-floor endpoint to the applications and data stores it can access, then verify which users, shifts, and support roles are expected to use it.
• Standardise MFA across every access path Include remote support, legacy applications, and privileged workflows in the same authentication policy so an assessor does not find a protected path next to an unprotected one.
• Shorten session persistence on unattended shared endpoints Lock sessions quickly, force reauthentication after idle periods, and verify that handoffs between operators do not preserve the previous user’s privileges.

What's in the full article

Imprivata's full article covers the operational detail this post intentionally leaves for the source:

• Checklist language aligned to CMMC 2.0 assessment expectations for manufacturers
• Workflow examples for shared workstations, operator handoffs, and session handling
• Access-control questions assessors are likely to ask about CUI-touching systems
• The vendor's own implementation framing for identity-first access in production environments

👉 Read Imprivata's guidance on CMMC 2.0 access control for manufacturers →

CMMC 2.0 and shared-workstation access control: what teams need to know?

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