Compute Engine instances should all have OS Login enabled in the project
Checks that OS Login is enabled for all Compute Engine instances in the project. The control description says enabling OS login binds SSH certificates to IAM users and facilitates effective SSH certificate management.
Enabling OS login binds SSH certificates to IAM users and facilitates effective SSH certificate management.
What this control checks
Compute Engine instances in the project must have OS Login enabled.
Audit evidence
Evidence that deployed resources meet this control: PowerPipe control gcp_compliance.control.compute_instance_oslogin_enabled.
Framework-specific interpretation
SOC 2: Mapped to CC6.1 (The entity implements logical access security software, infrastructure, and architectures over protected information...), CC6.2 (Prior to issuing system credentials and granting system access, the entity registers and authorizes new internal and...) and CC6.3 (The entity authorizes, modifies, or removes access to data, software, functions, and other protected information assets...).
NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5: Mapped to AC-2 (Account Management).
NIST Cybersecurity Framework v2.0: Mapped to ID.AM-01 (Inventories of hardware managed by the organization are maintained.) and PR.PS-01 (Configuration management practices are established and applied.).
Framework mappings
The clauses this control is mapped to in each framework.
- CC6.1 The entity implements logical access security software, infrastructure, and architectures over protected information assets to protect them from security events to meet the entity's objectives
- CC6.2 Prior to issuing system credentials and granting system access, the entity registers and authorizes new internal and external users whose access is administered by the entity
- CC6.3 The entity authorizes, modifies, or removes access to data, software, functions, and other protected information assets based on roles, responsibilities, or the system design and changes, giving consideration to the concepts of least privilege and segregation of duties, to meet the entity's objectives
- AC-2 Account Management
NIST Cybersecurity Framework v2.0
- ID.AM-01: Inventories of hardware managed by the organization are maintained.
- PR.PS-01
- 4.4 Ensure Oslogin Is Enabled for a Project
- 4.4 Ensure Oslogin Is Enabled for a Project
- 4.4 Ensure oslogin is enabled for a Project
- 4.4 Ensure oslogin is enabled for a Project
- 4.4 Ensure oslogin is enabled for a Project
Related controls
- Compute Engine instances should have high-level basic roles restricted
- Compute Engine instances should have write permissions on deny policies restricted
- Compute Engine instances should have deletion protection enabled
- Disks for critical VMs should use Customer-Supplied Encryption Keys (CSEK) for encryption
Tool mappings
Use these identifiers to cross-reference this control across tools, reports, and evidence.
- Compliance.tf Control:
compute_instance_oslogin_enabled - Powerpipe Control:
gcp_compliance.control.compute_instance_oslogin_enabled
Last reviewed: 2026-10-09