NIST SP 800-171
Protect Controlled Unclassified Information to contract standard
Scope where CUI lives, evidence the 800-171 requirements, and keep your System Security Plan and POA&M current between assessments.
What NIST SP 800-171 is
NIST SP 800-171 sets security requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) when it is held in nonfederal systems, such as a contractor's own environment.
Defense contracts apply it through DFARS clause 252.204-7012, and CMMC Level 2 assesses against it. Revision 3 was published in 2024, so check which revision your contract and assessment use.
The core artifacts are a System Security Plan describing how each requirement is met, and a Plan of Action and Milestones for the requirements that are not met yet.
Who needs NIST SP 800-171
Your contract involves CUI, carries a DFARS 252.204-7012 clause, or a prime contractor has flowed the requirement down to you.
How TrustLynce helps with NIST SP 800-171
CUI boundary
Record which systems store, process, or transmit CUI, and evidence how the boundary is enforced.
Requirement evidence
Each 800-171 requirement mapped to the controls and evidence that meet it.
SSP and POA&M
Kept current as your controls change, rather than rewritten before each assessment.
Shared with CMMC
The same controls and evidence carry straight into a CMMC Level 2 assessment.
NIST SP 800-171 questions
Follow your contract and your assessment. CMMC Level 2 was established against Revision 2, while Revision 3 is NIST's current publication.
No. 800-171 is the set of requirements. CMMC is the Department of Defense program that verifies contractors meet them.
Contractors subject to DFARS 252.204-7019 post a NIST SP 800-171 assessment score in the Supplier Performance Risk System. Your contract says whether it applies.
No. TrustLynce keeps the controls and evidence ready. Verification comes from a C3PAO assessment or your own self-assessment, as your contract requires.
Other frameworks
Evidence collected for one framework carries into the next.
SOC 2
The one your buyers ask for
ISO 27001
Recognised worldwide
HIPAA
Protect health information
GDPR
Handle EU personal data
PCI DSS
Take card payments safely
ISO 42001
Govern how you use AI
NIST CSF
A common security language
CMMC
Work with the DoD
Custom
Your own control set
ISO 27701
Privacy extension to ISO 27001
DORA
EU financial operational resilience
NIS 2
EU critical infrastructure cybersecurity
CCPA / CPRA
California comprehensive privacy
FERPA
Student education privacy standard
FDA 21 CFR Part 11
FDA electronic records & signatures
HDS Certification
French health data hosting certification
SOX ITGC
IT controls for public companies
HITRUST CSF
Assurance healthcare buyers ask for
FedRAMP
Sell cloud services to US agencies
NIST SP 800-53
The federal security control catalog
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