NIST 800-53
Security and Privacy Controls for Information Systems and Organizations
Comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems.
What is NIST 800-53?
NIST Special Publication 800-53 provides a catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations. It serves as the foundation for FedRAMP, FISMA compliance, and many other federal security requirements. The current version, Revision 5, includes over 1,000 controls organized into 20 families.
NIST 800-53 is used to develop security baselines (low, moderate, high impact) that federal agencies must implement based on their system categorization. The controls also serve as a reference for organizations outside the federal government seeking comprehensive security coverage.
Who Needs NIST 800-53?
- Federal agencies
- FedRAMP cloud service providers
- Government contractors
- Organizations with federal system connections
- Security-conscious organizations seeking comprehensive framework
Key Requirements
Core compliance areas for NIST 800-53
20 Control Families
Address controls across all 20 families from Access Control (AC) through Supply Chain Risk Management (SR).
Impact-Based Selection
Select baseline controls appropriate for system impact level (low, moderate, high).
Tailoring
Tailor baselines based on specific organizational needs, technologies, and risk factors.
Implementation
Implement selected controls and document implementation in System Security Plan.
Assessment
Assess control effectiveness using NIST SP 800-53A assessment procedures.
Benefits of NIST 800-53 Compliance
- Comprehensive security coverage
- Required for federal compliance (FISMA, FedRAMP)
- Flexibility through tailoring
- Privacy controls integrated
- International recognition
- Foundation for other frameworks
Official Resources
Related Frameworks
FedRAMP
Standardized approach to security assessment for cloud products used by federal agencies.
NIST 800-171
NIST guidelines for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems.
NIST CSF
Voluntary framework providing standards and best practices for managing cybersecurity risk.
CMMC
DoD framework ensuring defense contractors protect sensitive defense information.