NIST 800-171
NIST Special Publication 800-171 establishes security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems, primarily affecting government contractors and subcontractors.
Scope and Applicability.
NIST 800-171 applies to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) contractors, federal contractors, and subcontractorshandling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). It is required for organizations working with federal agencies, defense supply chains, and critical infrastructure sectors.
Key Requirements.
110 Security Requirements – Categorized into 14 families, covering access control, encryption, audit logging, and incident response.
Risk-Based Approach – Requires security assessments and continuous monitoring of controls.
Data Protection & Access Control – Ensures strong authentication, identity management, and role-based access.
Incident Response & Reporting – Establishes structured incident detection, response, and recovery procedures.
Alignment with CMMC & Federal Regulations – Supports CMMC compliance, DFARS 252.204-7012, and NIST 800-53.
Enforcement and Penalties.
Mandatory for organizations handling CUI under DoD and federal contracts.
Non-compliance can result in contract termination, loss of bidding eligibility, and legal penalties.
Affects eligibility for CMMC certification, which is required for future DoD contracts.
Main Challenges.
Organizations face challenges in understanding and implementing all 110 controls, particularly small and mid-sized businesses. Aligning with CMMC certification and maintaining continuous compliance requires dedicated resources.
Blue INK Security provides NIST 800-171 gap assessments, security control implementation, and CMMC readiness consulting to help organizations secure CUI, meet DoD contract requirements, and achieve compliance.