What To Expect From A NIST 800-171 Gap Analysis

• A NIST 800-171 Gap Analysis initially involves interviews and questions to understand the current state of security measures.
• The next steps involve developing a Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) to address the identified gaps, creating a System Security Plan (SSP), and setting a realistic completion date for achieving full compliance.
• External assistance might be necessary for many small businesses (SMBs) due to the process’s technical nature and resource demands.

NIST SP 800-171 is a framework designed to help non-federal organizations protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI). Understanding and achieving compliance can be complex for many small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs). A crucial part of this compliance process is conducting a NIST 800-171 Gap Analysis, which compares current security measures against the ideal controls outlined by NIST.

A NIST 800-171 Gap Analysis involves several steps. Initially, it includes interviews and questions to understand the current state of security measures. This is followed by scoring, where the current practices are evaluated against NIST standards. The scoring method is reductive; points are deducted for missing or incomplete controls, potentially resulting in a negative score. The primary goal is not the score but identifying gaps and areas for improvement.

The next steps involve developing a Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) to address the identified gaps, creating a System Security Plan (SSP), and setting a realistic completion date for achieving full compliance. This process provides a roadmap for enhancing cybersecurity measures and ensures that the organization is on track to meet NIST 800-171 requirements.

For many SMBs, external assistance might be necessary due to the process’s technical nature and resource demands. Organizations working with the Department of Defense will find that compliance with NIST SP 800-171 is also critical to meeting the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) requirements. Whether handled internally or with the help of a consultant, completing a NIST 800-171 Gap Analysis is essential for securing government contracts and enhancing overall cybersecurity posture.

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