NIST SP800 Series Overview

Cybersecurity Framework and Guidelines

What is the NIST SP800 Series?

The NIST Special Publication 800 series is a collection of documents that provide guidelines, recommendations, and technical specifications for cybersecurity. These publications are developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help organizations improve their cybersecurity posture.

The SP800 series covers a wide range of cybersecurity topics including risk management, security controls, incident response, and privacy protection. These guidelines are widely adopted by federal agencies, contractors, and private organizations.

Key NIST SP800 Publications

SP 800-53: Security and Privacy Controls

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

  • 20 control families with 1,000+ controls
  • Three implementation levels: Low, Moderate, High
  • Privacy controls and assessment procedures
  • Control baselines and tailoring guidance

SP 800-171: Controlled Unclassified Information

Security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems.

  • 110 security requirements across 14 families
  • Required for DoD contractors and subcontractors
  • Foundation for CMMC compliance
  • Self-attestation and assessment requirements

SP 800-61: Computer Security Incident Handling

Guidelines for incident response planning, detection, analysis, and recovery.

  • Incident response lifecycle phases
  • Incident response team structure
  • Communication and coordination procedures
  • Post-incident activities and lessons learned

SP 800-30: Risk Assessment Guide

Comprehensive guide for conducting risk assessments in information systems.

  • Risk assessment methodology
  • Threat and vulnerability identification
  • Risk analysis and evaluation techniques
  • Risk mitigation strategies

SP 800-53 Control Families

Access Control (AC)

Controls for managing access to information systems and resources.

Awareness and Training (AT)

Security awareness and training programs for personnel.

Audit and Accountability (AU)

Audit logging, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms.

Configuration Management (CM)

Configuration and change management controls.

Contingency Planning (CP)

Business continuity and disaster recovery planning.

Identification and Authentication (IA)

User identification and authentication mechanisms.

Incident Response (IR)

Incident response planning and execution.

Maintenance (MA)

System maintenance and support procedures.

Media Protection (MP)

Protection of information system media.

Personnel Security (PS)

Personnel screening and security requirements.

Physical and Environmental Protection (PE)

Physical security and environmental controls.

Planning (PL)

Security planning and policy development.

Program Management (PM)

Information security program management.

Risk Assessment (RA)

Risk assessment and management processes.

System and Communications Protection (SC)

Network and communications security controls.

System and Information Integrity (SI)

System integrity and information protection.

System and Services Acquisition (SA)

Secure acquisition and development processes.

Supply Chain Risk Management (SR)

Supply chain security and risk management.

Privacy Controls (PR)

Privacy protection and data governance.

Security Assessment and Authorization (CA)

Security assessment and authorization processes.

Implementation Levels

Low Impact

Basic security controls for systems with limited impact if compromised.

  • • Basic access controls
  • • Standard audit logging
  • • Basic configuration management
  • • Standard incident response

Moderate Impact

Enhanced security controls for systems with moderate impact if compromised.

  • • Enhanced access controls
  • • Comprehensive audit logging
  • • Advanced configuration management
  • • Enhanced incident response
  • • Additional monitoring

High Impact

Comprehensive security controls for systems with high impact if compromised.

  • • Comprehensive access controls
  • • Advanced audit logging
  • • Rigorous configuration management
  • • Advanced incident response
  • • Continuous monitoring
  • • Additional security controls

Benefits of NIST SP800 Implementation

  • Comprehensive cybersecurity framework
  • Risk-based approach to security
  • Regulatory compliance and federal requirements
  • Industry best practices and standards
  • Flexible and scalable implementation

Need NIST SP800 Implementation Help?

Get expert guidance on NIST framework implementation and compliance.

Schedule Free Consultation