About NIST 800-171

NIST Special Publication 800-171 establishes security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems and organizations. These requirements span 14 security families including access control, configuration management, and incident response, requiring organizations to implement specific controls to safeguard sensitive government information.

The standard was developed to address the growing concern of protecting federal information that resides outside of federal systems. Organizations that process, store, or transmit CUI for federal agencies must comply with NIST 800-171, ensuring consistent security practices across government contractors and establishing a baseline for protecting sensitive but unclassified government data.

NIST 800-171 compliance steps

Understand the scope of NIST 800-171, which focuses on protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems. This standard applies to organizations that handle federal contract information or CUI.

Conduct a thorough gap assessment by comparing your current security practices against the 110 security requirements across 14 security domains in NIST 800-171. Document areas of compliance and non-compliance.

Develop a System Security Plan (SSP) that describes how your organization meets each requirement or plans to meet them. Include implementation details and timelines for addressing gaps.

Create a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) to track remediation efforts for identified gaps. Prioritize actions based on risk level and resource availability.

Implement required security controls across all domains, including access control, awareness training, audit and accountability, configuration management, identification and authentication, incident response, maintenance, media protection, personnel security, physical protection, risk assessment, security assessment, system and communications protection, and system and information integrity.

Train all staff on security awareness and their specific responsibilities in maintaining compliance with NIST 800-171 requirements.

Establish continuous monitoring processes to ensure ongoing compliance. This includes regular security assessments, vulnerability scanning, and updating your SSP and POA&M accordingly.

Prepare for and respond to security incidents according to documented procedures. This includes detection, reporting, analysis, containment, recovery, and post-incident activities.

Document evidence of compliance for all requirements, maintaining records of security activities, configurations, assessments, and remediation efforts.

Engage with third-party assessors or government agencies as needed to verify compliance status and address any identified deficiencies.

Organizations often struggle to implement NIST 800-171 standards due to the comprehensive nature of its requirements spanning 14 security domains. The technical complexity alone presents significant challenges, particularly for smaller organizations lacking dedicated cybersecurity personnel or expertise. Many companies must completely redesign their IT infrastructure and security practices, requiring substantial financial investment in new technologies, staff training, and potential consulting services—costs that weren't necessarily factored into existing contracts or operational budgets.

The documentation requirements present another hurdle, as creating and maintaining detailed System Security Plans and Plans of Action and Milestones demands significant time and resources. Organizations frequently underestimate the ongoing effort needed to sustain compliance through continuous monitoring, regular assessments, and updates to security documentation. Cultural resistance can further complicate implementation, as employees may view new security protocols as impediments to productivity rather than necessary safeguards.

The consequences of non-compliance are severe and multifaceted. Most immediately, organizations risk losing federal contracts or being disqualified from future opportunities, as government agencies increasingly require NIST 800-171 compliance as a prerequisite for handling Controlled Unclassified Information. Beyond contractual penalties, non-compliant organizations face significantly higher cybersecurity risks, potentially resulting in data breaches that expose sensitive government information. Such incidents can trigger legal action, regulatory penalties, and mandatory public disclosure requirements.

Perhaps most damaging is the long-term reputational harm that can result from security failures. Organizations that mishandle CUI may find themselves blacklisted from government contracting entirely, while also facing diminished trust from private sector partners and customers who increasingly value strong information security practices. As cyber threats continue to evolve in sophistication, the gap between NIST-compliant organizations and those failing to implement these standards will likely widen, creating competitive disadvantages that extend well beyond immediate compliance concerns.

Addressing NIST 800-171 requirements with an Enterprise Browser

Organizations contracting with the Department of Defense (DoD) must address NIST 800-171 requirements to ensure that they are "bid compliant" and eligible for contracts.The requirements are based upon the hygiene of the systems and applications interacting with DOD controlled unclassified information (CUI) and a subsequent audit of those controls called Cyber Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). Island Enterprise Browser allows organizations to create application boundaries around DOD CUI data and applications, reducing the size and complexity of the certification.

By creating secure application boundaries and embedding robust controls, Island ensures information stays within authorized systems, reducing audit scope and risk.

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