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Periodic Reviews Register: A Practical Guide You Can Actually Use

Build a CMMC Periodic Reviews Register to prove ongoing monitoring, align to NIST 800-171, and feed POA&Ms cleanly with audit-ready evidence.

Published: September 25th, 2025By: CMMC Dashboard TeamLast updated: September 26th, 2025
CMMC CompliancePeriodic ReviewsAudit Preparation

Compliance is not a one-and-done game. NIST SP 800-171 and CMMC both demand ongoing monitoring, periodic control assessments, and documented evidence. That’s what the Periodic Reviews Register delivers: a single place to track recurring checks, link them to evidence, and feed issues straight into your POA&M.

How to Use This

  • Create one table named PeriodicReviews.

  • Add a second tab named Lists for allowed values.

  • Log a new row for every scheduled review and every completion.

  • Link each row to concrete evidence with version history and a stable location.

  • If a review surfaces a gap, open or update the related POA&M line immediately and carry the POA&M ID back into this register.

Why This Aligns to the Rule Set

  • NIST SP 800-171 3.12.1, 3.12.3, 3.12.4 → requires periodic assessments, ongoing monitoring, and SSP updates.

  • NIST SP 800-171 3.3.3 → requires review of audit activities and logged events.

  • CMMC Level 2 Assessment Guide → assessors check your evidence against 800-171A procedures. This log makes it easy.

  • Conditional Status → any POA&M triggered here carries a 180-day closure deadline. Track it directly in this register.

  • Rev 3 Parameters → many “how often” expectations are org-defined. Document your chosen cadences here.

Table Schema

Column Name:
ReviewID
Type:
String
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
PR-YYYY-NNN or UUID
Why It Matters:
Unique key for traceability
Example:
PR-2025-014
Column Name:
ReviewName
Type:
String
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Short action phrase
Why It Matters:
Clear scope
Example:
Quarterly Privileged Access Review
Column Name:
ReviewType
Type:
Enum
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Access Review, Audit Log Review, Config Baseline Review, Vulnerability Exposure Review, Risk Assessment Update, Control Effectiveness Check, SSP Update, IR Plan Exercise, Media Handling Review, Physical Access Review, Training Coverage Review
Why It Matters:
Maps to common recurring actions
Example:
Access Review
Column Name:
PracticeMapping
Type:
Multi-select
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
800-171 citations
Why It Matters:
Shows relevance to model
Example:
3.1.2, 3.12.1
Column Name:
AssessmentObjectives
Type:
Text
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
800-171A objective IDs or summary
Why It Matters:
Proves you tested the right thing
Example:
“All 3.12.1 objectives met”
Column Name:
ScopeAssets
Type:
Text/Lookup
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Systems, groups, or data sets
Why It Matters:
Defines population to sample
Example:
AD, Okta, Prod servers
Column Name:
SamplingPlan
Type:
Text
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Method and percent or count
Why It Matters:
Defensible approach
Example:
“Random 10% of admins”
Column Name:
EvidenceLocation
Type:
URL/Path
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Stable link w/ version history
Why It Matters:
Chain of custody
Example:
SharePoint signed PDF
Column Name:
EvidenceHash
Type:
String
Required:
Conditional
Allowed Values / Format:
SHA-256
Why It Matters:
Integrity check
Example:
7b1c…
Column Name:
Reviewer
Type:
Person
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Named individual
Why It Matters:
Accountability
Example:
Alex Kim
Column Name:
ReviewerRole
Type:
Enum
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Control Owner, Process Owner, Security, IT Ops, Compliance
Why It Matters:
Segregation of duties
Example:
Security
Column Name:
ReviewDate
Type:
Date
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
ISO date
Why It Matters:
When review occurred
Example:
2025-09-23
Column Name:
DueDate
Type:
Date
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
ISO date
Why It Matters:
Scheduled date
Example:
2025-09-30
Column Name:
Frequency
Type:
Enum
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Monthly, Quarterly, Semiannual, Annual, Event-Driven
Why It Matters:
Drives cadence
Example:
Quarterly
Column Name:
FindingsSummary
Type:
Text
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Plain language
Why It Matters:
Makes decision obvious
Example:
“2 dormant accounts found”
Column Name:
ResidualRisk
Type:
Enum
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Low, Moderate, High
Why It Matters:
Prioritize action
Example:
Moderate
Column Name:
RequiredAction
Type:
Text
Required:
Conditional
Allowed Values / Format:
Only if unmet
Why It Matters:
Bridges to POA&M
Example:
Disable dormant accounts
Column Name:
POAM_ID
Type:
String
Required:
Conditional
Allowed Values / Format:
If RequiredAction exists
Why It Matters:
Ensures linkage
Example:
POAM-2025-044
Column Name:
ClosureEvidence
Type:
URL/Path
Required:
Conditional
Allowed Values / Format:
If POA&M exists
Why It Matters:
Proof of fix
Example:
Change ticket link
Column Name:
Status
Type:
Enum
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Scheduled, In Progress, Complete, Blocked
Why It Matters:
Tracking
Example:
Complete
Column Name:
NextDue
Type:
Date
Required:
Yes
Allowed Values / Format:
Formula-driven
Why It Matters:
Keeps cadence honest
Example:
2025-12-23
Column Name:
Approver
Type:
Person
Required:
Conditional
Allowed Values / Format:
If policy requires
Why It Matters:
Management oversight
Example:
CISO
Column Name:
Notes
Type:
Text
Required:
No
Allowed Values / Format:
Freeform context
Why It Matters:
“Aligned with PR-01 policy”

Suggested Formulas

=EDATE(ReviewDate, IF(Frequency="Monthly",1, IF(Frequency="Quarterly",3, IF(Frequency="Semiannual",6, IF(Frequency="Annual",12,0)))))

Conditional formatting: highlight DueDate or NextDue if past due and Status ≠ Complete.

Use Lists tab for validation.

Lists Tab

ReviewType: Access Review, Audit Log Review, Config Baseline Review, Vulnerability Exposure Review, Risk Assessment Update, Control Effectiveness Check, SSP Update, IR Plan Exercise, Media Handling Review, Physical Access Review, Training Coverage Review

Frequency: Monthly, Quarterly, Semiannual, Annual, Event-Driven

Status: Scheduled, In Progress, Complete, Blocked

ResidualRisk: Low, Moderate, High

ReviewerRole: Control Owner, Process Owner, Security, IT Ops, Compliance

Recommended Cadences & Mappings

ReviewType:
Access Review
Default Cadence:
Quarterly
Typical Scope:
User + privileged accounts
Primary Mappings:
3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.12.3
ReviewType:
Audit Log Review
Default Cadence:
Monthly + event-driven
Typical Scope:
High-value systems
Primary Mappings:
3.3.3, 3.3.5, 3.12.3
ReviewType:
Config Baseline Review
Default Cadence:
Quarterly
Typical Scope:
Baseline configs
Primary Mappings:
3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.12.1
ReviewType:
Vulnerability Review
Default Cadence:
Monthly
Typical Scope:
Patch/CVE status
Primary Mappings:
3.14.1, 3.14.3, 3.12.3
ReviewType:
Risk Assessment Update
Default Cadence:
Semiannual
Typical Scope:
Threats + risks
Primary Mappings:
3.11.1, 3.11.2, 3.12.1
ReviewType:
Control Effectiveness Check
Default Cadence:
Quarterly
Typical Scope:
Selected weak signals
Primary Mappings:
3.12.1, 3.12.3
ReviewType:
SSP Update
Default Cadence:
Annual/event-driven
Typical Scope:
SSP sections
Primary Mappings:
3.12.4
ReviewType:
IR Plan Exercise
Default Cadence:
Annual
Typical Scope:
Tabletop/functional
Primary Mappings:
3.6.1, 3.6.2, 3.12.1
ReviewType:
Media Handling Review
Default Cadence:
Semiannual
Typical Scope:
Disposal/reuse records
Primary Mappings:
3.8.3, 3.8.6
ReviewType:
Physical Access Review
Default Cadence:
Quarterly
Typical Scope:
Badge lists, visitor logs
Primary Mappings:
3.10.1, 3.10.4
ReviewType:
Training Coverage Review
Default Cadence:
Quarterly
Typical Scope:
Audience + content
Primary Mappings:
3.2.1, 3.2.2

Evidence Integrity and Chain of Custody

  • Store in versioned systems (SharePoint, Confluence, GRC).

  • Save key artifacts as non-editable PDFs and hash critical files.

  • Set EvidenceLocation and EvidenceHash the same day the evidence is finalized.

  • If CUI is involved, mark and restrict per policy.

Execution Playbook

  • Plan the Year → schedule rows, assign owners/approvers.

  • Do the Work → sample scope, apply 800-171A test methods.

  • Record the Outcome → findings summary, risk rating, RequiredAction + POA&M if needed.

  • Close the Loop → mark complete, auto-roll NextDue, governance spot-checks.

Example Rows

Field:
ReviewID
Value:
PR-2025-014
Field:
ReviewName
Value:
Quarterly Privileged Access Review
Field:
ReviewType
Value:
Access Review
Field:
PracticeMapping
Value:
3.1.2, 3.12.3
Field:
ScopeAssets
Value:
AD, Okta
Field:
SamplingPlan
Value:
Random 10%
Field:
EvidenceLocation
Value:
Link to signed PDF
Field:
Reviewer
Value:
Alex Kim
Field:
ReviewDate
Value:
2025-09-23
Field:
Frequency
Value:
Quarterly
Field:
FindingsSummary
Value:
Two dormant admins found
Field:
ResidualRisk
Value:
Moderate
Field:
RequiredAction
Value:
Disable accounts, tighten checklist
Field:
POAM_ID
Value:
POAM-2025-044
Field:
Status
Value:
Complete
Field:
NextDue
Value:
2025-12-23

Policy Tie-Ins You Can Quote

  • “We periodically assess controls to determine if they are effective.” → 3.12.1

  • “We monitor controls on an ongoing basis.” → 3.12.3

  • “We develop, document, and periodically update the SSP.” → 3.12.4

  • “We review and update logged events and audit activity.” → 3.3.3

Pro Tips So This Never Becomes Shelfaware

  • Put DueDate/NextDue on a dashboard with traffic lights.

  • Require POAM_ID on any row with RequiredAction.

  • Separate Reviewer and Approver for Access + Config reviews.

  • Keep evidence centralized, versioned, and locked down if CUI.

  • During governance, sample two completed reviews and reconstruct the outcome from evidence only.

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