# MAS-08 Suspend propagation (Critical)

Domain: MAS Multi-Agent Systems · HI-AAF v1.3 · Public review · https://humanintel.net/standard/mas/mas-08

Suspending an agent under ACT-07 also suspends or quarantines any agent currently depending on it within an active chain. The propagation behavior is documented, tested, and exercised during incident response drills.

A suspend or revoke decision propagates to dependent agents within a documented latency. Suspending an agent under ACT-07 also suspends or quarantines any agent currently depending on it within an active chain. The propagation behavior is documented, tested at least annually, and exercised during incident response drills. This ensures that a compromised agent cannot continue operating through downstream proxies.

Critical control: a Critical failure precludes HI-AAF Certification regardless of the maturity level achieved on any other control.

## Maturity

- L1 Ad hoc: Controls exist informally; documentation is incomplete; no consistent review.
- L2 Documented: Controls are written down; ownership is assigned; review cadence is defined.
- L3 Operated: Controls are followed in practice; evidence is collected; deviations are tracked. Published criterion for MAS-08: Suspend propagation is implemented and documented; propagation has been tested in a drill or live incident within the documented cadence; propagation latency is measured and within SLA; dependent agents enter suspend state within the documented latency.
- L4 Measured: Control effectiveness is measured against documented thresholds; trends are reported.
- L5 Continuously Improved: Controls evolve based on incident learning; maturity gains are evidenced over time.

## Evidence an assessor asks for

- Suspend propagation is implemented and documented.
- Propagation has been tested in a drill or live incident within the documented cadence.
- Propagation latency is measured and within SLA.
- Dependent agents enter suspend state within the documented latency.

## Framework mappings

- NIST AI RMF: MANAGE 4.2
- SOC 2 (TSC): CC7.4, A1.2
- EU AI Act: Art. 14(4), Art. 25(1)
- Singapore: MAIGF Accountability

Mappings are directional: meeting this control evidences but does not by itself satisfy the external requirement.

## Related

- Cites ACT-07 Kill switch: https://humanintel.net/standard/act/act-07
- Cited by ACT-07 Kill switch: https://humanintel.net/standard/act/act-07

## Cite this control

Human Intelligence. HI-AAF v1.3, MAS-08 Suspend propagation. Public review edition, July 2026. https://humanintel.net/standard/mas/mas-08