What is NIST 800-171? A Non-Technical Guide

NIST 800-171 is a set of cybersecurity guidelines developed by the U.S. Government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). It was created to help businesses protect sensitive federal information, specifically Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), when it’s shared with contractors and suppliers outside the federal government. Companies in the Department of Defense (DOD) supply chain (defense, manufacturing, technology) are likely required to follow these standards.

In this article, we’ll explore what NIST 800-171 is, the costs of becoming compliance, and the risks of non-compliance. We’ll also dive into a series of strategic decisions your company can make to secure your data and stay competitive in the federal landscape.

First, What Is CUI?

Controlled Unclassified Information is sensitive information that isn’t classified, but still needs to be protected. It’s shared by the government and its partners and must follow certain rules about who can access it and how it is handled. This sensitive data includes everything from personal details like addresses and social security numbers to design drawings, contract details, technical specs, financial information, and more. Keeping CUI safe helps protect individuals, companies, and national interests.

NIST 800-171 vs. CMMC: What's the Difference?

NIST 800-171 is a set of guidelines for protecting CUI in non-federal systems. It’s more of a checklist of security practices, while Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification, or CMMC, builds on NIST 800-171 but adds levels and requires third-party certification. Basically, NIST tells you what to do, CMMC checks if you’re actually doing it.

CMMC is based on NIST 800-171, especially for levels 2 and above, so following NIST gets you most of the way there. All companies handling CUI for the Department of Defense need to follow NIST and get CMMC certified.

The Business Case for NIST 800-171 Compliance

The goals of NIST 800-171 is to avoid costly data breaches, maintain contracts, and protect your company’s reputation. Think of this set of guidelines as a business enabler: It shows your partners and customers that you take security seriously and are prepared to meet federal standards.

For businesses regularly working with government agencies or primes, non-compliance can mean lost contracts and compliance penalties. Following these standards builds customer trust, strengthens cybersecurity posture, and showcases your commitment to protecting sensitive data. NIST 800-171 helps you remain resilient in this landscape, providing clients and partners with additional assurance that you’re secure.

Any organization seeking to meet NIST compliance requirements needs to show proof of their compliance. Blumira’s SIEM compliance software for NIST 800-171 quickly and easily provides the reports you need for these controls. These pre-built reports can be searched, run, and scheduled to send to your inbox regularly, so you can easily hand over time and date-stamped reports to the auditor.

Failing to comply with NIST SP 800-171 can have serious consequences:

• Increase your risk of data breaches and security complications
• Loss of existing or future contracts where compliance is a mandatory requirement 
• Breach of contract claims, fines, and potential violations under the False Claims Act if you’ve certified compliance without meeting the standards
• Harm to your company’s credibility in the industry which will likely impact partnerships and overall business growth

Your Path to Compliance: A Step-by-Step Overview

Breaking Down the Core NIST 800-171 Controls

While the full list includes 110 requirements, the goal is to provide a clear strategy for protecting sensitive information. These controls are scalable, meaning they can be tailored to fit your organization’s size and complexity. By breaking the controls into four manageable phases and focusing on your most sensitive systems first, compliance becomes far more achievable. Let’s break it down.

How to Conduct a NIST 800-171 Self Assessment

• Scoping Your Environment and Identifying CUI

Start by identifying all systems, users, and processes that handle CUI. This step is extremely important because it defines the boundaries of your compliance efforts and ensures you prioritize the relevant parts of your business.

• Conducting a Gap Analysis with a Self-Assessment

Using the NIST 800-171 Assessment Guide, compare your current practices against the 110 security requirements to see where you're already compliant and where gaps exist. Many businesses use tools or consultants like Microsoft Compliance Manager or CyberStrong by CyberSaint to simplify the process. 

• Creating Your System Security Plan (SSP)

Next, you’ll need to create a SSP, which details how your organization meets (or plans to meet) each of the 110 NIST 800-171 controls. The SSP includes details like your system’s architecture, security policies, user roles, data flows, and the specific tools and practices you use to protect CUI. It should name who’s responsible for each control, describe how controls are implemented, and reference supporting documents.

• Developing a Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M)

A POA&M outlines how and when you’ll close the gaps. When it comes to timeline, there’s no fixed, universal deadline in the NIST 800-171 standard itself. Instead, your timing is influenced by who you’re working with and what the contract says. Both the POA&M and the SSP are required for compliance and demonstrate your commitment to cybersecurity, even if you're not completely there yet.

Understanding Your Investment: The NIST 800-171 Compliance Cost

Initial costs vary based on your organization's size, existing security measures, and in-house capabilities, but overall can range from $10,000 to over $100,000. Achieving NIST 800-171 compliance is an investment in your company’s long-term viability within the federal supply chain. For small to mid-sized businesses, expenses typically include gap assessments, security tools, policy development, employee training, and possibly hiring a third-party consultant or managed service provider. To ease the cost burden, many SMBs start with foundational controls and build over time.

The 14 NIST 800-171 Controls Families

The NIST 800-171 compliance checklist outlines the following 14 key areas that form the foundation of strong cybersecurity practices: 

• Access Control - This ensures only the right people have access to the right information. It limits who can view or use sensitive data, based on their role or need. Think of it like giving employees keys to only the rooms they need to do their jobs.

• Awareness and Training - Even the best security tools can fail if employees don’t know how to use them. Conducting training ensures your team is prepared to spot phishing, follow security policies, and handle data responsibly. This turns your staff into your first line of defense.

• Audit and Accountability - This ensures there’s a record of who accessed what, and when. If a data breach occurs, you can trace the activity and figure out what happened.

• Configuration Management - Systems and software need to be set up securely from the start and maintained over time. This control family makes sure default settings are changed, unnecessary features are turned off, and updates are properly managed. It helps prevent vulnerabilities before they become problems.

• Identification and Authentication - You need to know exactly who’s accessing your systems. This focuses on verifying user identities, using things like passwords, ID badges, or multi-factor authentication, before granting access.

• Incident Response - When something like a cyberattack or data leak happens, you need a plan that minimizes damage and allows you to recover fast. This ensures you know how to detect, report, and respond to security incidents quickly.

• Maintenance - IT systems need routine maintenance. This includes securely updating software, replacing outdated equipment, and managing support visits. Proper maintenance keeps systems running smoothly and securely.

• Media Protection - Sensitive information often lives on physical devices such as hard drives, USBs, and printed reports. This ensures that data stored on devices is protected, especially when transported or disposed of, preventing information from falling into the wrong hands.

• Personnel Security - People are a big part of security. This area focuses on background checks, security training, and making sure access is removed when employees leave or change roles. It helps ensure that only trusted individuals have access to sensitive systems.

• Physical Protection - Cybersecurity isn't just digital. This covers physical security, and ensures that unauthorized people can’t walk in and access sensitive systems or data.

• Risk Assessment - You can’t fix what you don’t know. Risk assessments help identify vulnerabilities and threats in your environment so you can take action before an issue arises. It’s a proactive way to stay ahead of potential problems.

• Security Assessment - Once controls are in place, you need to verify that they’re working. This control family focuses on regularly testing, reviewing, and updating your security practices. It’s like doing regular check-ups to ensure your defenses are still strong.

• System and Communications Protection - Data moves constantly through networks, emails, apps, and more. This ensures that sensitive data is protected during transmission and that communication channels are secure.

• System and Information Integrity - This ensures that your data stays accurate and protected from corruption, viruses, or tampering. It includes things like antivirus software, patch management, and alerting on suspicious changes.

How Blumira Simplifies Your NIST Audit & Compliance

Meeting NIST SP 800-171 requirements doesn’t have to be complex. Blumira’s integrated Security Operations platform helps you meet NIST 800-171 compliance requirements by automating many of these controls for you. Our team provides the tools and guidance to keep your data secure and your systems compliant using a NIST SIEM for continuous monitoring. See how Blumira can help you meet NIST 800-171 standards faster and with less complexity.