EXECUTIVE BRIEF
This blog provides a clear comparison between NIST SP 800-53 and NIST SP 800-171, two critical cybersecurity standards in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). Here's what defense contractors need to know:
Dig deeper and continue learning below!
Operating in the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) means learning to make your way through the host of legal code numbers and agency acronyms that dominate the business landscape. Like constellations in the sky, names and numbers like 32 CFR Part 117 (NISPOM), DFARS 252.204-7012, and 10 U.S.C. § 2220 loom large across the industry, shaping the way defense contractors decide which way to steer their business.
Two codes that loom the largest are NIST 800-53 and NIST 800-171.
This guide breaks down the distinctions and overlaps between these two vital standards, offering clear, actionable steps to help Department of Defense (DoD) contractors strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and achieve compliance with confidence. Understanding the differences between NIST 800-53 and NIST 800-171 will help you better understand the government’s regulatory framework for safeguarding federal data so you can ensure your business remains eligible for lucrative government contracts.
NIST SP 800-53 and NIST SP 800-171 are standards developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), designed to improve cybersecurity frameworks. While they share similarities, they have distinct scopes and purposes:
Let’s look at both in greater detail.
NIST SP 800-53 provides a comprehensive set of security and privacy controls tailored to federal agencies and federal information systems. It helps protect systems regulated by the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and is foundational for organizations handling highly sensitive or classified data.
NIST 800-53 covers various security controls for risk management, safeguarding sensitive data, and ensuring FISMA compliance requirements. These controls are divided into 20+ control families, addressing areas like:
This framework is adaptable based on the risk assessment and unique needs of each federal agency. It’s widely applicable across systems with varying sensitivity levels, making it highly flexible but complex.
The 14 requirements for CMMC Level 1 are actually derived from the Code of Federal Regulations, Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems. (They’re also covered in NIST 800-171 too. We’ll get back to that below.)
NIST SP 800-171, on the other hand, is a subset of NIST 800-53, optimized for small and mid-size DoD contractors who handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems, ensuring their compliance with the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) 252.204-7012. NIST 800-171 extracts and streamlines the relevant controls from NIST 800-53, explicitly tailoring them for non-federal organizations.
The NIST SP 800-171 framework includes:
Understanding and meeting these 320 objectives is essential for obtaining CMMC Level 2 and demonstrating compliance with DFARS clause 252.204-7012.
>> See accompanying guide for a full breakdown of the 14 families.
Compliance with NIST 800-171 is essential for safeguarding CUI and serves as a compliance baseline for future CMMC certification. Here are the basic steps:
Navigating complex cybersecurity frameworks like NIST SP 800-171 and NIST SP 800-53 can be daunting for federal contractors. This is where ISI’s compliance experts come in to simplify the process. With over 900 customers, 300+ years of compliance experience, and over 180 completed NIST assessments, we’re one of the first managed service providers to achieve CMMC Level 2 certification ourselves. We’ve been through the process, so we know how to guide our clients.
Whether you’re new to compliance or looking to refine your cybersecurity posture, ISI is your trusted partner in securing government contracts.
NIST 800-53 provides broad security and privacy controls to safeguard federal information systems and organizations. It establishes a comprehensive framework for risk management and protecting sensitive government data.
NIST 800-171 is crucial for contractors as it focuses on safeguarding Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Compliance with its requirements is mandatory for government contractors under the DFARS 252.204-7012 clause, ensuring the integrity and security of sensitive data.
Yes, achieving compliance with NIST 800-171 is a critical prerequisite for attaining CMMC Level 2 certification. This alignment ensures contractors meet the necessary security standards to handle CUI per federal objectives.