Many businesses lack the in-house expertise, tools, or resources to establish a comprehensive cybersecurity team, processes, and systems to defend against ransomware, malware, and other threats. That’s why compliance frameworks, such as NIST 800-53, exist to guide organizations in creating and implementing robust security policies. If you’ve been searching for clear FAQ’s about NIST 800-53 compliance, you’re in the right place.
Developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2005, with input from the defense, intelligence, and civil sectors, NIST 800-53 compliance has undergone significant evolution. The latest 5th revision, released in late 2020, introduced major updates compared to revision 4. The framework contains nearly 1,000 controls organized into 20 control “families,” such as access control, personnel training, incident response, maintenance, system recovery, media handling, and physical access. Including sub-control improvements, there are over 5,300 possible requirements allowing organizations to tailor them to their specific needs for a robust security posture. If you want answers to the most common FAQ’s about NIST 800-53 compliance, this guide will help.
If you are navigating NIST 800-53 compliance for the first time, implementing ongoing monitoring, or preparing for a re-certification audit after revision 5, the complexity can be overwhelming. That’s why Akitra has created this series to answer the most frequently asked questions about NIST 800-53 compliance, giving you clear, practical insights to help you meet its requirements with confidence. Our FAQ section on NIST 800-53 compliance will cover everything from its purpose to key changes in Revision 5.
What is NIST 800-53?
NIST Special Publication 800-53A Revision 5 Assessing Security and Privacy Controls in Information Systems and Organizations is a comprehensive collection of security guidelines that can be used to defend information systems against a variety of cyber attacks. It was initially developed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to help fortify US federal information systems against known cyber threats and outline security and privacy measures that ensure the continued operation of information systems, as well as the privacy of users.
Federal information systems all across the country are expected to have the same level of security in line with the standardized controls guidance. When applied appropriately, the NIST 800-53 controls enhance the reliability of information systems and protect processed user data. Civilian organizations have since adopted NIST 800-53.
If you’re starting your research, you might want to jump straight to our FAQ’s about NIST 800-53 compliance for a quick overview before diving deeper. Find out more about who should comply with NIST 800-53, what information this framework protects, and its benefits by reading one of our previous posts right here. You’ll find these resources complement the FAQ’s about NIST 800-53 compliance in this article.
5 Most Frequently-Asked Questions about NIST 800-53
1. What is the purpose of NIST 800-53?
The NIST 800-53 framework is designed to provide a foundation of guiding elements, strategies, systems, and controls that support a company’s cybersecurity objectives and priorities. It promotes communication and enables companies to use a common language by creating a standardized framework and terminology.
Lastly, it is intended to be used as new technologies, systems, settings, and organizational changes develop, modifying cybersecurity needs, as it does not specifically propose or support any particular products, businesses, or vendors. Our FAQ’s about NIST 800-53 compliance make it easier to understand how this adaptability benefits modern organizations.
2. What is the difference between NIST 800-53 and other frameworks?
The majority of compliance frameworks belong to the NIST 800 series, despite NIST having over 1,300 standard reference documents. The multitude of reference documents outlines guidance and recommendations for various situations and circumstances that users may encounter whilst maintaining the core principles and themes outlined in NIST 800-53.
An example of a framework for federal agencies working with non-federal departments or businesses is NIST 800-171 Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information in Nonfederal Systems and Organizations.
The compliance standards set out by NIST are distinct from those established by standards related to specific industries, such as HIPAA, FISMA, or SOX. NIST does, however, offer a variety of guidelines and standards to assist businesses in becoming compliant, all of which are covered in our FAQs about NIST 800-53 compliance.
3. What is CUI?
CUI, or what is better known as Controlled Unclassified Information, is information that, despite not being classified, nonetheless needs to be protected. The US government defines CUI as “information that requires safeguarding or dissemination controls subject to and consistent with applicable law, regulations, and government-wide policies, but is not classified under Executive Order 13526 or the Atomic Energy Act, as amended.”
Anything from a government contract to designs for an aircraft carrier could fall under this category. NIST controls are often used to provide better security over CUI.
4. What are the NIST SP 800-53 minimum controls?
Every NIST SP 800-53 control has a base control, which represents the bare minimum, as well as an enhanced control. The bare minimum controls are the fundamental privacy and security measures that must be implemented to safeguard the system. Achieving compliance with the particular NIST SP 800-53 control requires integrating minimal controls.
Additionally, each NIST SP 800-53 control has an “improved” part. The improved controls add functionality or better protection over the standard controls. Organizations or systems with higher risks employ enhanced controls to mitigate these risks. However, the base control must be put in place by the concerned organizations before a change in control is made. Details can also be found in our FAQ’s about NIST 800-53 compliance.
5. What’s new in NIST 800-53 Revision 5?
Since the release of the fourth iteration of NIST SP 800-53 in 2013, several non-governmental groups have found it to be unduly prescriptive and challenging to utilize. Revision 5, updated in September 2020, made a few notable improvements. First, the nomenclature was altered; the terms “federal” and “information” were eliminated, allowing other organizations and system types to use the framework.
Second, the updated framework places greater importance on privacy, likely due to the increasing prevalence of privacy protection regulations. With the integration of privacy and security controls, all businesses now have access to a single, comprehensive set of controls that provide a unified approach to managing these critical aspects.
Revision 5 added a new degree of operational flexibility. The focus is still on fulfilling the requirement, but there is far less strict monitoring of a particular tool or technology. For example, passwords now only need to be complex and effective; no fixed length is required. This kind of flexibility is discussed in detail in our FAQ’s about NIST 800-53 compliance.
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Our solution offers substantial time and cost savings, including discounted audit fees, enabling fast and cost-effective compliance certification. Customers achieve continuous compliance as they grow, becoming certified under multiple frameworks through a single automation platform.
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