The Only Guide For NIST 800-53 You Need: Controls List, Control Examples, Challenges, Implementation Tips

NIST, or the National Institute of Standards and Technology, is a U.S. federal government agency that creates frameworks and publications to manage organisations’ security requirements. NIST has released many Special Publications (SP), each containing several guidelines and security controls.

One of the most comprehensive frameworks under NIST is the SP 800-53. Initially designed for federal agencies, this framework has become increasingly relevant for businesses of all sizes. This article will dive into the depths of the SP 800-53 and how it can benefit your organisation’s requirements.

What is the NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5?

The purpose of the NIST SP 800-53 framework is to equip federal agencies, contractors, and other organisations with a comprehensive set of security and privacy controls.

The framework also aims to bolster an organisation’s security posture by offering guidance on risk management and ensuring that security requirements are met consistently.

Purpose of the NIST SP 800-53 Framework

The primary purpose of the NIST SP 800-53 framework is to equip federal agencies, contractors, and other organisations with a comprehensive set of security and privacy controls. These controls help shield information systems from threats, including hostile attacks, insider threats, human errors, structural failures, and natural disasters.

The framework is aimed at improving an organisation’s security posture by offering guidance on risk management and ensuring that security requirements are met consistently.

“Implementing the controls in NIST 800-53 is not just about compliance; it’s about fostering a culture of security within organizations.” – – Ron Ross, Fellow at NIST.

Who Should Adhere to NIST 800-53?

NIST SP 800-53 was initially developed for federal government agencies and contractors, but its relevance extends beyond these entities. These guidelines apply to federal civil agencies, private sector companies, and other organisations seeking to improve their information security and privacy controls.

Benefits of NIST 800-53 Compliance for Your Organisation

Compliance with NIST 800-53 offers several key benefits:

Enhanced Security and Privacy

NIST 800-53 protects the organisation’s operations and sensitive data from various cyber threats. It uses a holistic approach. What do we mean by this? It takes into consideration the technical side as well as the human side of security. The technical side is protected with the help of many security controls, while the human side is protected by staff training and awareness campaigns.

Risk Management

The framework provides a structured risk assessment and management approach, enabling organisations to effectively identify, assess, and mitigate risks.

Regulatory Compliance

No one likes to pay fines, including organisations. Regulatory fines are no exception. Meeting regulatory compliance is a good way to avoid fines and keep you and other stakeholders happy.

Improved Trust and Reputation

Being compliant with NIST 800-53 can enhance an organisation’s reputation and build trust with customers, partners, and stakeholders.

Operational Efficiency

By standardising security controls and practices, organisations can streamline their security operations and reduce the likelihood of security incidents.

NIST SP 800-53 Security Controls List

Since SP 800-53 has more than 1000 security controls, they have been grouped into 20 sections known as control families. Each control family addresses a specific aspect of information security to protect organisational assets.

Here’s a list of the 20 control families in NIST 800-53:

1. Access Control (AC): It contains security controls related to the users’ access level, that is, which users will have access to which resources. It includes policies such as the principles of least privilege and separation of duties.
2. Awareness and Training (AT): It contains security controls related to training and educating employees.
3. Audit and Accountability (AU): It includes an organisation’s auditing processes.
4. Assessment, Authorisation, and Monitoring (CA): This includes policies and controls for monitoring systems and conducting penetration testing and risk assessments.
5. Configuration Management (CM): Establishes a baseline configuration for managing future changes and building information systems.
6. Contingency Planning (CP): It includes business continuity and data backup recovery plans in case of a disaster, such as a cyber attack or a natural calamity.
7. Identification and Authentication (IA): It includes identification and authentication protocols for managing access to information systems.
8. Incident Response (IR): It focusses on detecting, analysing, and responding to security incidents. Usually, playbooks or runbooks are available at the disposal of security analyts to stop security incidents.
9. Maintenance (MA): It includes controls for performing routine maintenance on information systems.
10. Media Protection (MP): Contains controls related to the use and storage of organisational media
11. Physical and Environmental Protection (PE): It includes controls for protecting systems from physical and environmental damage, such as theft and fire damage to assets.
12. Planning (PL): As the name suggests, it contains controls for implementing strategies to safeguard assets and systems.
13. Program Management (PM): This involves checking whether the security and privacy controls are working as intended.
14. Personnel Security (PS): It provides controls for protecting employees by setting up screening, transfer, and termination policies for staff.
15. Personally Identifiable Information Processing and Transparency (PT): It includes controls for protecting personally identifiable information (PII).
16. Risk Assessment (RA): It includes risk management and mitigation controls.
17. System and Services Acquisition (SA): It contains controls related to acquiring information systems and services, such as vulnerability assessment and encryption methods.
18. System and Communications Protection (SC): It provides controls for protecting system boundaries and information at rest and in transit.
19. System and Information Integrity (SI): It focusses on maintaining the integrity of information systems.
20. Supply Chain Risk Management (SR): It establishes controls for managing risks associated with the information and communications technology supply chain.

These control families cover all the security and privacy aspects required to keep your organisation safe from cyber attacks.

Organisational Responsibilities Suggested by NIST 800-53

This framework outlines the responsibilities of organisations to ensure security best practices are followed. These include:

1. Establishing a Risk Management Framework (RMF): Organisations must implement this framework for managing and mitigating cyber attacks.  
2. Developing Security Policies and Procedures: Security teams must stay updated with the latest cyber news and implement policies accordingly.
3. Conducting Regular Risk Assessments: Organisations must conduct risk assessments regularly to identify vulnerabilities. These assessments help stay up-to-date with the evolving threat landscape.
4. Implementing Security Controls: Organisations must implement those security controls from the NIST SP 800-53 publication which align with their business goals.
5. Training and Awareness Programs: Organisations should establish training and awareness sessions to ensure employees understand their roles in protection information.
6. Incident Response Planning: Organisations must develop and maintain an incident response plan for effectively responding to security incidents. This plan should include the detection, containment, eradication, and recovery procedures
7. Continuous Monitoring: It is necessary to continuously monitor information systems and security controls to detect and respond to real-time security events. Organisations should use automated tools and techniques, such as SIEM tools, to support this process.

How is NIST 800-53 Related to FISMA IMP?

U.S. has enacted the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) that requires federal companies to create a detailed security plan to protect their information systems. Under this Act, the FISMA Implementation Project (FISMA IMP) was created based on guidelines and best practices from many cybersecurity frameworks, including the NIST SP 800-53.

NIST SP 800-53 provides detailed controls that federal agencies use to comply with FISMA. During a FISMA audit, organisations assess their information systems against the controls in NIST 800-53 to ensure compliance.

Common Challenges in Achieving NIST 800-53 Compliance

Challenges often arise when implementing such as vast set of regulations. It can get confusing check how these security controls align with an organisation’s security needs.

Complexity of the framework

It is an extensive set of controls across 20 families, and for particular organisations, it adds difficulty in interpreting and applying controls to specific organisational contexts.

Resource constraints

Limited budget for security investments where previous forecasting and budgets haven’t been taken into account. A shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals may add further challenges where timescales are a concern.

Keeping up with evolving threats

The rapidly changing threat landscape adds to newer technological know-how and risk mitigation approaches.

Security measures need continuous updates and monitoring. This includes engaging with the cybersecurity community and sharing information with other organisations about emerging threats.

Integrating controls across diverse systems

Different organisations use different technologies based on what is required for their business. Hence, it becomes difficult to implement these guidelines in so many different environments.

NIST 800-53 vs. 800-37 vs. 800-171: Key Differences

While all three are part of the NIST cybersecurity framework, they serve different purposes. Below is a table that lists the main differences between these frameworks.

NIST SP 800-53 Checklist to Follow

To ensure compliance with NIST SP 800-53, organisations can follow this checklist:

1. Implement controls and improvements: The identified security controls should be deployed and configured across all relevant systems and processes. These controls should be regularly assessed and enhanced to address evolving threats.
2. Document controls to prove compliance: Organisations must maintain detailed records and documentation of all implemented security controls and configurations.
3. Perform routine audits to validate security controls: Organisations must conduct regular audits to verify the effectiveness of security controls.
4. Continuous training and awareness: Staff shold be provided regular security training so that they understand their responsibilities for protecting information systems.

How Cyphere Can Help You with NIST 800-53 Compliance

Our team of experts is equipped with many years of experience to provide you with a detailed audit. Apart from technical expertise, we will also understand the specific business requirements of your organisation and align our audit process to your goals and needs.

We will collate this information in a detailed, easy-to-understand report and provide a step-by-step remediation plan. We also arrange customised training sessions to ensure employees understand their security responsibilities.

Conclusion

NIST SP 800-53 provides a comprehensive and flexible framework for securing information systems and protecting privacy. By implementing these guidelines, organisations can significantly enhance their security posture and manage risks effectively.

FAQs

What is the difference between ISO 27001 and NIST 800-53?

While ISO 27001 offers a broad global framework for managing information security, NIST 800-53 focusses on delivering specific security and privacy controls for US federal information systems.

Is NIST 800-53 the same as NIST CSF?

No, NIST 800-53 focusses on security and privacy controls, while the NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) provides a broader framework for managing cybersecurity risks.

How do you get NIST 800-53 certification?

There is no official certification for NIST 800-53; organisations can implement its controls and conduct assessments to demonstrate compliance.

What is the difference between SOC 2 and NIST 800-53?

SOC 2 is an auditing procedure for service organisations focussing on five trust service criteria, while NIST 800-53 provides detailed security and privacy controls for federal information systems.

Is NIST 800-53 mandatory?

NIST 800-53 is mandatory for federal agencies and contractors but is voluntary for private sector organisations.

Who is responsible for NIST 800-53 implementation?

The organisation’s leadership, typically the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) or equivalent, is responsible for implementing NIST 800-53.

What is NIST Special Publication 800-53A & 800-53B?

NIST SP 800-53A provides guidelines for assessing the security and privacy controls in NIST 800-53, while SP 800-53B offers security and privacy control baselines.