National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST)

Overview

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is a non-regulatory federal agency within the Department of Commerce that develops measurement standards, technology, and guidelines used across government and industry. For government contractors, NIST is most significant for its cybersecurity publications — particularly NIST SP 800-171, which defines the security controls contractors must implement to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Why It Matters in GovCon

NIST SP 800-171 compliance is a contractual requirement for virtually all DoD contractors handling CUI, and compliance is increasingly required across civilian agencies as well. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) program is built on NIST standards, making them central to contractor eligibility.

Key Details

• NIST SP 800-171: 110 security controls across 14 families that contractors must implement to protect CUI. Required by DFARS clause 252.204-7012.
• NIST SP 800-53: A broader set of security controls used by federal agencies themselves and sometimes referenced in contracts.
• CMMC Alignment: The CMMC framework maps directly to NIST SP 800-171 controls at Level 2.
• Self-Assessment: Contractors must conduct self-assessments and report their score in the Supplier Performance Risk System (SPRS).

Related Terms

• Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS)
• Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)
• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)
• System Security Plan (SSP)