NIST compliance is notorious for being complicated and stress-inducing. Updated regulations, detailed cybersecurity requirements, complex rules, non-compliance fines—there’s a lot to keep track of. We’re here to help with everything you need to know about NIST 800-172: what it is, why it’s important, and what you can do to stay compliant.
NIST 800-172 Explained
Here’s an overview of the NIST 800-172 basics you should know.
What It Is
NIST 800-172 is a document from the National Institute of Standards and Technology that serves as a companion to NIST 800-171. Both sets of regulations apply to the protection of controlled unclassified information (CUI), but NIST 800-172 adds additional measures that seek to protect sensitive data from sophisticated cyberattacks like APTs, supply chain attacks, and more.
Why It Matters
A variety of businesses handle CUI to help the government manage critical industries like healthcare, defense, energy, and manufacturing. With cyberattacks becoming more complex, it’s crucial for organizations that handle this sensitive information to have strong protective measures in place to prevent large data breaches or shutdowns of foundational systems.
Who Needs to Comply
Organizations working with high-value or sensitive CUI as specified in their government contracts may need to comply with NIST 800-172. This typically includes some DoD contractors and subcontractors, research facilities, and critical infrastructure providers in sectors like energy, manufacturing, healthcare, and defense.
Why Is NIST Compliance So Hard to Achieve?
Staying compliant presents challenges for many business owners. Already complex regulations are frequently updated, and changes in company systems can require further adjustments to maintain compliance. Keeping up with these standards can be difficult for business owners and IT providers who don’t specialize in compliance.
NIST compliance also involves advanced network evaluations, risk assessments, monitoring, cybersecurity measures, etc., that require specialized tools and expert insights to be effective and work well in your organization.
That’s why it’s crucial to work with a reliable provider who specializes in NIST compliance for your industry. They have the expertise and resources to interpret regulations and contracts, perform the proper assessments, identify areas of improvement, and offer tailored insights and solutions for your compliance—a benefit non-specialists simply can’t offer.
How Do I Become NIST 800-172 Compliant?
NIST 800-172 includes 35 requirements that are organized into 14 categories, but not every business needs to implement every one of these controls. If your business is working toward NIST compliance, it’s important to understand the distinction between NIST SP 800-171 (general CUI protection) and NIST SP 800-172 (enhanced protection for high-risk environments).
Consult an IT and compliance expert to ensure your organization meets its contract requirements and implements the necessary measures to remain compliant. Here are some tips to help you on your compliance journey.
Perform an Initial Gap Analysis
A huge part of NIST 800-172 is proper risk, security, and threat assessments. These evaluations will help you determine what gaps exist in your current infrastructure, which attacks you’re most likely to face, and how prepared you are to recover. These insights can then guide you to make necessary adjustments to tighten your security.
Make a Compliance Roadmap
Once you have an idea of your current NIST compliance status, work with your IT team to make a plan. Identify which controls you still need to implement and make goals for how and when you’ll launch each one.
Implement Access and Authentication Controls
Many NIST 800-172 requirements involve preventing unauthorized access to data and resources. With this in mind, the following procedures may help you with compliance:
- Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) on all employee accounts.
- Use the principle of least privilege and give employees access to only the information they need to do their work, and nothing more.
- Launch a zero trust infrastructure, which requires continuous user verification to prevent breaches.
Prepare for Incidents
Incident response plans (IRPs) and data backups also play a part in NIST compliance. Ensure you have a plan for recovering from breaches, including data backup and retrieval, communication techniques, and tasks for each team member. Run drills and tests regularly to confirm data integrity and make sure your plan flows smoothly.
Establish Continuous Monitoring and Updates
Cyberattacks and your own systems will continue to evolve after your initial assessments. To maintain comprehensive and compliant protection, schedule regular evaluations, implement 24/7 network monitoring, and establish a consistent software update routine.
Achieve NIST Compliance with Run Networks
When it comes to NIST 800-172, you need a trusted IT provider with the right skills, tools, and experience to help you stay compliant. At Run Networks, we specialize in helping businesses like yours maintain their government contracts and keep their systems safe and secure.
So, don’t leave your compliance to just anyone—choose the quality and expertise of Run Networks. Send us a message to learn more.
