NIST 800-53 is a risk management framework designed to provide guidance on security and privacy controls, standards of practice, and risk assessment for federal information systems. While applicable to any organization handling sensitive information, compliance with these controls is mandatory for the protection of federal data.
Overview of NIST 800-53
NIST 800-53 is a flexible and dynamic framework that evolves alongside technological advancements. Its controls and guidelines are regularly updated to address the changing landscape of technology. The primary objective of this framework is to help organizations manage information security and privacy risks effectively, enabling the implementation of robust security programs.
Who Needs to Comply with NIST 800-53?
While any private organization can adopt NIST 800-53 as a guiding framework for their security practices, it is specifically mandated for all U.S. federal government agencies and contractors. Compliance with the framework is essential to safeguard critical government data.
NIST 800-53 Controls
Under the Office of Management and Budget Circular A-130 (OMB A-130) and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA), minimum controls must be implemented to protect federal information and systems.
NIST 800-53 consists of over 1000 controls categorized into 20 security control families. These controls are further assessed and classified into three impact levels: low, moderate, and high, based on the potential risks they address. Each control family is identified by a unique two-character code (e.g., "AU" for Audit and Accountability).
Control Breakdown of NIST 800-53
NIST 800-53's controls breakdown encompasses over 1000 controls organized into 20 security control families. The breakdown is as follows:
|
ID |
SECURITY CONTROL FAMILY |
ID |
SECURITY CONTROL FAMILY |
|
AC |
Access Control |
PE |
Physical and Environmental Protection |
|
AT |
Awareness and Training |
PL |
Planning |
|
AU |
Audit and Accountability |
PM |
Program Management |
|
CA |
Assessment Authorization And Monitoring |
PS |
Personnel Security |
|
CM |
Configuration Management |
PT |
PII Processing and Transparency |
|
CP |
Contingency Planning |
RA |
Risk Assessment |
|
IA |
Identification and Authentication |
SA |
System and Services Acquisition |
|
IR |
Incident Response |
SC |
System and Communications Protection |
|
MA |
Maintenance |
SI |
System and Information Integrity |
|
MP |
Media Protection |
SR |
Supply Chain Risk Management |
Compliance with FISMA and NIST 800-53
FISMA requires federal information systems to adhere to the security controls and policies outlined in NIST 800-53. Non-compliance may result in penalties such as reputational damage, government scrutiny, and loss of federal funding.
A NIST 800-53 full controls breakdown can be located as a download from the NIST official website here.
Content found within this document is based on Carbide’s understanding of and the information provided by the official website and documentation of NIST 800-53