NIST 800-171
NIST 800-171, officially titled "Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations," is a publication developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It provides a set of guidelines and security requirements for protecting sensitive but unclassified information, specifically Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), when it is stored or transmitted by nonfederal (private sector) systems.
Key points of NIST 800-171 include:
Scope and Purpose:
NIST 800-171 was created to help contractors and other nonfederal entities meet security requirements when handling CUI in their IT systems and networks, especially when doing business with the federal government. CUI includes sensitive information related to defense, research, financial data, and other areas that could impact national security or privacy if mishandled.
14 Security Families:
The document organizes 110 security controls into 14 families, which cover areas like access control, incident response, system and communications protection, media protection, and risk assessment. The security families are:
- Access Control
- Awareness and Training
- Audit and Accountability
- Configuration Management
- Identification and Authentication
- Incident Response
- Maintenance
- Media Protection
- Personnel Security
- Physical Protection
- Risk Assessment
- Security Assessment
- System and Communications Protection
- System and Information Integrity
Compliance and Implementation:
Federal contractors, especially those working with the Department of Defense (DoD), must comply with NIST 800-171 when they handle CUI. It is part of broader cybersecurity requirements like the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Companies must assess their systems against the requirements, identify gaps, and take corrective actions to meet the necessary security standards.
DFARS 252.204-7012:
The Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clause 252.204-7012 mandates that defense contractors must implement NIST 800-171 to protect CUI. Failure to comply can result in penalties or disqualification from government contracts. NIST 800-171 is important for contractors because it ensures that sensitive government data remains protected, even when it's outside government systems. This standard helps strengthen the security posture of organizations working with the federal government, particularly in industries like defense and aerospace.