NIST Frameworks Compliance

NIST Frameworks Compliance

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) publishes widely-adopted cybersecurity frameworks used by federal agencies, defense contractors, and private sector organizations. Whether you’re pursuing federal contracts, need CMMC certification, or simply want to adopt security best practices, NIST frameworks provide proven, comprehensive guidance.

NIST Framework Overview

NIST publishes multiple frameworks and guidelines:

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)

Voluntary framework for managing cybersecurity risk, widely adopted across industries.

NIST SP 800-53

Comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems.

NIST SP 800-171

Controls for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems—required for defense contractors.

NIST SP 800-30

Risk assessment guidance.

NIST SP 800-37

Risk Management Framework (RMF) process.

NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)

The most widely-adopted NIST framework, organized around five core functions:

1. Identify

  • Asset Management
  • Business Environment
  • Governance
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Management Strategy
  • Supply Chain Risk Management

2. Protect

  • Identity Management and Access Control
  • Awareness and Training
  • Data Security
  • Information Protection Processes and Procedures
  • Maintenance
  • Protective Technology

3. Detect

  • Anomalies and Events
  • Security Continuous Monitoring
  • Detection Processes

4. Respond

  • Response Planning
  • Communications
  • Analysis
  • Mitigation
  • Improvements

5. Recover

  • Recovery Planning
  • Improvements
  • Communications

Implementation Tiers:

  • Tier 1: Partial (reactive, limited awareness)
  • Tier 2: Risk Informed (risk management practices approved but not policy)
  • Tier 3: Repeatable (formal policies, regularly updated)
  • Tier 4: Adaptive (continuous improvement, real-time risk awareness)

NIST 800-171: Protecting CUI

Required for defense contractors and anyone handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

14 Control Families, 110 Controls:

  1. Access Control: Limit system access to authorized users
  2. Awareness and Training: Ensure personnel understand security
  3. Audit and Accountability: Create, protect, and retain audit records
  4. Configuration Management: Establish and maintain baseline configurations
  5. Identification and Authentication: Verify user identities
  6. Incident Response: Respond to and recover from incidents
  7. Maintenance: Perform periodic maintenance
  8. Media Protection: Protect information in physical media
  9. Personnel Security: Screen and vet personnel
  10. Physical Protection: Limit physical access
  11. Risk Assessment: Assess risk to operations
  12. Security Assessment: Assess security controls periodically
  13. System and Communications Protection: Monitor and control communications
  14. System and Information Integrity: Identify and manage information system flaws

NIST 800-171 Compliance Levels:

  • Level 1: Basic cybersecurity hygiene (CMMC Level 1)
  • Level 2: Intermediate cybersecurity practices (CMMC Level 2)
  • Level 3: Good cybersecurity practices (CMMC Level 3)

NIST 800-53: Federal System Controls

Comprehensive control catalog for federal information systems and organizations.

20 Control Families, 900+ Controls: Organized into Low, Moderate, and High impact baselines based on FIPS 199 categorization.

Control Families:

  • Access Control (AC)
  • Awareness and Training (AT)
  • Audit and Accountability (AU)
  • Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring (CA)
  • Configuration Management (CM)
  • Contingency Planning (CP)
  • Identification and Authentication (IA)
  • Incident Response (IR)
  • Maintenance (MA)
  • Media Protection (MP)
  • Physical and Environmental Protection (PE)
  • Planning (PL)
  • Program Management (PM)
  • Personnel Security (PS)
  • Risk Assessment (RA)
  • System and Services Acquisition (SA)
  • System and Communications Protection (SC)
  • System and Information Integrity (SI)
  • Supply Chain Risk Management (SR)
  • Privacy (PT)

Our NIST Services

NIST CSF Assessment

  • Current state analysis
  • Target profile development
  • Gap identification
  • Roadmap development
  • Implementation support

NIST 800-171 Compliance (CMMC Prep)

  • Self-assessment and scoring
  • System Security Plan (SSP) development
  • Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M)
  • Control implementation
  • Evidence documentation
  • Annual assessment support

NIST 800-53 Implementation

  • Baseline selection (Low/Moderate/High)
  • Control implementation
  • Security categorization (FIPS 199)
  • Continuous monitoring
  • Authorization package development

Documentation Development

  • System Security Plans (SSP)
  • Plans of Action & Milestones (POA&M)
  • Incident Response Plans
  • Contingency Plans
  • Security Assessment Reports (SAR)
  • Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA)

CMMC and NIST 800-171

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is built on NIST 800-171:

CMMC Levels:

  • Level 1: Basic Cyber Hygiene (17 practices)
  • Level 2: Advanced Cyber Hygiene (NIST 800-171 - 110 practices)
  • Level 3: Expert Cyber Hygiene (110 + enhanced controls)

NIST 800-171 compliance is prerequisite for CMMC Level 2 and above.

NIST for Different Organizations

Defense Contractors (DIB)

NIST 800-171 compliance required for handling CUI—path to CMMC certification.

Federal Agencies

NIST 800-53 required through Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).

Private Sector

NIST CSF provides voluntary framework widely adopted across industries.

Critical Infrastructure

NIST frameworks inform security practices for energy, healthcare, finance sectors.

Implementation Approach

1. Scoping

  • Identify systems containing CUI or requiring protection
  • Define boundaries of assessment
  • Inventory assets and data flows

2. Assessment

  • Self-assessment against applicable framework
  • Document current state
  • Score compliance level
  • Identify gaps

3. Remediation

  • Prioritize gaps by risk
  • Implement missing controls
  • Document compensating controls where needed
  • Update policies and procedures

4. Documentation

  • Develop System Security Plan
  • Create POA&M for remaining gaps
  • Document evidence of implementation
  • Establish continuous monitoring

5. Validation

  • Third-party assessment (if required)
  • Regular self-assessments
  • Continuous monitoring
  • Annual updates

Get NIST Compliant

Need NIST Compliance Support?

Schedule a free NIST assessment. We'll determine which framework applies to you, assess your current state, and provide a clear path to compliance—whether you're pursuing federal contracts or adopting security best practices.

Schedule Assessment Email NIST Team

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