Ensure Power Nap Is Disabled for Intel Macs

LowLevel 1Automatedmacos

Description

Power Nap allows the system to stay in low power mode, especially while on battery power, and periodically connect to previously known networks with stored credentials for user applications to phone home and get updates. This capability requires FileVault to remain unlocked and the use of previously joined networks to be risk accepted based on the SSID without user input. Audit: Intel Macs only; Apple silicon reports 0 (not applicable).

How it is checked

Audit method: Shell command

shell

[ -x /usr/bin/pmset ] || exit 1
/usr/sbin/sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string | /usr/bin/grep -q Intel || { echo 0; exit 0; }
/usr/bin/pmset -g custom | /usr/bin/awk '$1 == "powernap" && $2 == 1 {n++} END {print n+0}'

Expected output: 0

How it is fixed

Fix method: Guidance or infrastructure patch

Terminal: sudo /usr/bin/pmset -a powernap 0. GUI: Desktop Instructions: System Settings > Energy Saver > Set Power Nap to disabled > UPS (if applicable) > Set Power Nap to disabled. Laptop Instructions: System Settings > Battery > Power Adapter (for laptops only) > Set Power Nap to disabled > Battery > Set Power Nap to disabled > UPS (if applicable) > Set Power Nap to disabled.

Properties

Operating systems: macos-15
Tags: macossystem-settings
Reference: CIS Apple macOS 15.0 Sequoia Benchmark v2.1.0 - 2.10.2 Ensure Power Nap Is Disabled for Intel Macs

Check this host

Run this on a machine you are allowed to audit. The scan is read-only.

shell

tmaegis scan --target macos