While most compliance experts and CEOs comprehend the value of cybersecurity measures, security frameworks, like NIST SP 800-171, can make the process a bit too overwhelming. As an organization, you know a formal structure needs to be established: security standards that not only demand adherence to but also offer actionable insight.

In retrospect, a security framework implies procedures and policies to maintain and establish certain security checkpoints/controls. Speaking of which, one of the significant security-specific errors organizations make is reviewing compliance standards once and then forgetting about them.

This is where adhering to NIST SP 800-171 regulations results in a strong security posture for the whole organization.

But before beginning, let’s discuss the prerequisites first.

NIST SP 800-171: What is it?

Reacting to an Obama-era directive, a more modern compliance framework—NIST SP 800-171—was used in 2017. Biden’s executive order reinforced the enhanced protections these laws demanded for private information, which government agencies must offer.

The NIST SP 800-171, a special publication created by the federal agency National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which monitors third-party handling of government data, is the source of the SP in its name.

It provides a structure for protecting what is known as “controlled, unclassified information,” or CUI, for companies that cooperate or engage in contracts with government agencies. The main objective of NIST SP 800-171 is to create a broadly accepted norm for CUI definition and administration.

CUI allows one to add personal information, medical records, communications, drawings, intellectual property, equipment specs, sensitive data, and more.

How Do NIST 800-171 Controls Benefit?

Although non-federal enterprises collaborating with the Department of Defense (DoD) must adhere to NIST 800 171, these controls can be implemented by any firm looking to improve its cybersecurity posture.

Refer to the rundown to examine the advantages of putting NIST 800 171 controls into practice:

1. Adherence to Federal Laws

Organizations can improve cybersecurity procedures and adhere to CUI standards with the aid of NIST 800-171. More specifically, it supports frameworks like CMMC requirements and conforms to regulations like the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS).

By putting NIST 800-171 measures in place, federal contractors can lower their risk of contract loss, data breaches, and possible legal repercussions for non-compliance.

2. Improved Security

When CUI is compromised, it can damage commercial interests and cause privacy and national security problems. In retrospect, NIST 800 171 measures were created to guard against threats, breaches, and illegal access to sensitive data, including government, financial, and personally identifiable information.

This shields defense contractors from cyberattacks caused by control flaws and security gaps through access controls, encryption, media protection, etc.

3. International Competitiveness

An organization’s dedication to security and a culture of robust cybersecurity policies are demonstrated by NIST 800-171 controls.

To ensure compliance and protect data, certain measures must be put in place by any firm looking to collaborate with the US government or handle private data for regulated sectors. In addition to ensuring compliance, adhering to NIST 800-171 can increase your credibility and lead to new commercial prospects and foreign alliances.

4. Enhanced Security of the Supply Chain

In order to reduce supply chain risks, the controls also guarantee that subcontractors and contractors follow uniform security procedures. Encryption, frequent risk assessments, stringent access controls, and other measures reduce weak points and defend the supply chain ecosystem against intrusions.

5. Support for Incident Response

To reduce the risk of breaches and extended business disruptions, the framework also mandates that organizations create, test, and execute an incident response strategy.

Requirements, including proactive threat identification, logging, ongoing monitoring, and recovery activities, can strengthen the organization’s resilience.

The NIST Five Pillars That Enable Data Protection

To create a thorough cybersecurity strategy, each of these five distinct functions represents a set of goals and tasks that must be completed.

1. Identify

The first step in any cybersecurity strategy should be to identify all the threats the company confronts and all the assets that need to be safeguarded.

Your company can ensure controls are put in place to safeguard the data and vital business operations by evaluating risks and recording the locations of sensitive data storage.

2. Protect

The next step is to identify scenarios and use cases for safeguarding each asset. To put it another way, this pillar determines what instruments, procedures, or activities ought to be employed to secure assets, provide sufficient data protection, and avert possible cybersecurity risks and consequences.

3. Detect

The following pillar involves defining and developing procedures to promptly identify cybersecurity events and possible threats.

For instance, tools that forecast and monitor user behavior or patterns can identify unusual activity. This will alert your company and assist you in preventing a possible breach before it happens.

4. Respond

The response pillar requires a specific reaction to the activity once an anomaly or threat has been identified. By doing this, you can be sure that your organization can establish a response to a cybersecurity problem quickly and effectively when it occurs.

Depending on the behavior found and the asset’s significance, these processes may change. As stated differently, every response plan should be customized for every asset, use case, and threat behavior involved.

5. Recover

Last but not least, following an incident, the recovery pillar assists you in figuring out how to restore any damaged infrastructure and keep your company secure.

The following steps will assist your company in recovering from an event and make sure a breach doesn’t occur again:

• Restoring IT assets’ functionality and ensuring your systems are clean.
• Assessing the incident’s origin for any security flaws.

Final Thoughts

Fundamentally, NIST SP 800-171 ensures that the government and its agencies may carry out critical tasks while guaranteeing the security of their data, even from individuals not directly affiliated with the federal government.

Apart from the valuable advantages of NIST SP 800-171, the government may impose sanctions, including fines, if a partner organization fails to comply. Naturally, your company’s contract may be terminated with the possibility of losing your contractor status, and they may even file a lawsuit for damages for breach of contract. Additionally, depending on the seriousness of the matter, criminal charges may be brought because government information is involved.