NIST SP 800-171 R2 Guide

Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information
in Nonfederal Systems & Organizations

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, develops and promotes measurement standards, guidelines, & best practices to enhance innovation, security, & technological advancements across various industries.

To safeguard against cyber threats, NIST created Special Publication 800-171 to help organizations like yours secure sensitive (but unclassified) information across government and defense related sectors.

For organizations handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), adhering to NIST SP 800-171 R2 is not just a regulatory requirement—it’s a critical strategy for protecting operations, ensuring resilience, and staying competitive in the federal marketplace.

Schedule a FREE consultation
Nist cloud Icon

You may have seen or been told that there are 110 controls that you need to map to. That is technically correct, there are 110 controls, but that is the tip of the iceberg.

You may have mapped the 110 controls laid out in 800-171, but did you know that each control can have multiple assessment objectives? There are a total of 320 assessment objectives (AOs) that you need to meet before you can be CMMC certified.

To confirm compliance, you should:

Review NIST SP 800-171A

Review NIST SP 800-171A

Ensure that you are meeting all the assessment objectives associated with each of the 110 controls.

Conduct a Gap Analysis

Conduct a Gap Analysis

Verify whether each control is fully implemented and produces evidence that satisfies all the AOs.

Prepare for Assessment

Prepare for Assessment

The C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessor Organization) will evaluate whether you can demonstrate compliance with all 320 assessment objectives during an official CMMC Level 2 certification assessment.

Regardless of your role and industry, there are many reasons why you need to know the ins and outs of this special publication.

Here are just a few:
Cards Icons

Government ContractingCompliance

If you work for or with government agencies like the DoD, GSA, or NASA, you need to understand NIST SP 800-171 to ensure compliance with contractual cybersecurity requirements. Many government contracts require adherence to these security controls.

Cards Icons

DFARS 252.204-7012 Requirements

Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) clauses mandate that contractors implement NIST SP 800-171 R2 controls to handle CUI securely. If you are in aerospace, manufacturing, IT, or defense services, you likely need to ensure compliance with these requirements.

Cards Icons

CMMC Readiness

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) builds upon NIST SP 800-171 R2. If your organization is pursuing DoD contracts, compliance with NIST SP 800-171 R2 is a necessary step toward achieving the required CMMC Level 2 certification.

Cards Icons

Cybersecurity Best Practices

Even if not required, organizations use NIST SP 800-171 R2 as a baseline for improving security posture. Its 14 control families cover essential cybersecurity practices that enhance data protection, incident response, and access control.

Cards Icons

Protecting ControlledUnclassified Information (CUI)

If your business stores, processes, or transmits CUI, NIST SP 800-171 R2 provides a structured framework for safeguarding that information. Compliance is essential for mitigating the risk of data breaches and avoiding penalties.

Cards Icons

Risk Management& Liability

Understanding and implementing NIST SP 800-171 R2 can help reduce risk exposure and limit liability in case of a cyber incident. Compliance demonstrates a commitment to strong cybersecurity practices, which can also be a competitive advantage when working with government and private-sector clients.

Mapped to Level 2 requirements, this resource can be used to help you understand how NIST SP 800-171 R2 aligns to CMMC, simplify gap analysis and assessments, help with your System Security Plan (SSP) and Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M), and even help streamline audits and reporting all in service of fortifying your compliance and security posture.

Explore:

Below are the 14 control families essential to achieving compliance with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC)—and get everything you need to know, including which Microsoft licenses we recommend and why, to help you implement each family effectively.

Access Control (AC)

Meet NIST 800 171 Controls Access Control (AC) requirements with secure authentication, role-based access, and compliance solutions.

Read More

+

Audit & Accountability (AU)

Ensure compliance with NIST 800 171 Controls Audit & Accountability (AU) controls for secure logging, monitoring, and data integrity.

Read More

+

Awareness & Training (AT)

Achieve NIST 800 171 Controls Awareness & Training (AT) compliance with employee security training and awareness programs.

Read More

+

Configuration Management (CM)

Follow NIST 800 171 Controls Configuration Management (CM) best practices to maintain secure system configurations and updates.

Read More

+

Identification & Authentication (IA)

Comply with NIST 800 171 Controls Identification & Authentication (IA) guidelines for secure user verification and identity management.

Read More

+

Incident Response (IR)

Implement NIST 800 171 Controls Incident Response (IR) strategies for effective cybersecurity threat detection and mitigation.

Read More

+

Maintenance (MA)

Maintain IT systems with NIST 800 171 Controls Maintenance (MA) controls for security, compliance, and operational efficiency.

Read More

+

Media Protection (MP)

Protect sensitive data with NIST 800 171 Controls Media Protection (MP) requirements for secure storage and disposal.

Read More

+

Personnel Security (PS)

Ensure personnel security with NIST 800 171 Controls PS controls for employee screening, training, and access management.

Read More

+

Physical Protection (PE)

Enhance facility security with NIST 800 171 Controls Physical Protection (PE) measures for restricted access and monitoring.

Read More

+

Risk Assessment (RA)

Identify and mitigate security risks with NIST 800 171 Controls Risk Assessment (RA) frameworks and compliance solutions.

Read More

+

Security Assessment (CA)

Conduct NIST 800 171 Controls Security Assessment (CA) evaluations to improve cybersecurity posture and regulatory compliance.

Read More

+

System & Communication Protection (SC)

Secure communications with NIST 800 171 Controls System & Communication Protection (SC) standards for encryption and monitoring.

Read More

+

System & Information Integrity (SI)

Ensure data integrity and threat mitigation with NIST 800 171 Controls System & Information Integrity (SI) compliance measures.

Read More

+
Microsoft Cloud for CMMC Compliance

Contact our team today

See how Agile IT's MSP for CMMC can strengthen your data security and allow your team to focus on your business's objectives and success.

Schedule a FREE
consultation