NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements
NIST Special Publication 800-171A Revision 3 (2024) provides assessment procedures for the security requirements in NIST SP 800-171 Rev 3. It defines assessment objectives and methods (examine, interview, test) for each of the 110 security requirements protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems. Used by CMMC assessors, DoD contractors, and federal agencies to verify CUI protection compliance.
NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements is a compliance framework from United States (NIST) with 5 domains and 35 controls that map to 360 other frameworks. The largest domains are System Protection and Communications (15 controls), Incident Response and Media Protection (6 controls), Access Control and Identification (5 controls). Every control below carries what it requires and what an assessor expects to see.
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Framework Domains (5)
Access Control and Identification
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 3.1 | Physical Security |
| 3.1.1 | All security policies and operational procedures that are identified in Requirement 3 are: • Documented. • Kept up to date. • In use. • Known to all affected parties |
| 3.1.2 | Roles and responsibilities for performing activities in Requirement 3 are documented, assigned, and understood |
| 3.7 | Establish and Maintain a Data Classification Scheme |
| 3.7.1 | Key-management policies and procedures are implemented to include generation of strong cryptographic keys used to protect stored account data |
Audit, Assessment, and Monitoring
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 3.11 | Encrypt Sensitive Data at Rest |
| 3.12 | Segment Data Processing and Storage Based on Sensitivity |
| 3.3 | Configure Data Access Control Lists |
| 3.3.1 | SAD is not stored after authorization, even if encrypted. All sensitive authentication data received is rendered unrecoverable upon completion of the authorization process |
| 3.4 | Enforce Data Retention |
Awareness, Training, and Personnel
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 3.2 | Establish and Maintain a Data Inventory |
| 3.2.1 | Account data storage is kept to a minimum through implementation of data retention and disposal policies, procedures, and processes that include at least the following: • Coverage for all locations of stored account data. |
| 3.9 | Encrypt Data on Removable Media |
| 3.9.1 | Personnel Screening Assessment |
Incident Response and Media Protection
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 3.15 | Planning |
| 3.16 | System and Services Acquisition |
| 3.17 | Supply Chain Risk Management |
| 3.5 | Securely Dispose of Data |
| 3.6 | Encrypt Data on End-User Devices |
| 3.6.1 | Procedures are defined and implemented to protect cryptographic keys used to protect stored account data against disclosure and misuse that include: • Access to keys is restricted to the fewest number of custodians necessary. |
System Protection and Communications
System and communications protection, configuration management, and contingency planning
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| 3.10 | Encrypt Sensitive Data in Transit |
| 3.13 | Deploy a Data Loss Prevention Solution |
| 3.13.1 | Boundary Protection Assessment |
| 3.14 | Log Sensitive Data Access |
| 3.8 | Document Data Flows |
| FEDRAMP-CM-1 | Configuration Management Policy |
| FEDRAMP-CM-2 | Baseline Configuration |
| FEDRAMP-CM-6 | Configuration Settings |
| FEDRAMP-CP-9 | System Backup |
| FEDRAMP-SC-1 | System and Communications Protection Policy |
| FEDRAMP-SC-12 | Cryptographic Key Establishment and Management |
| FEDRAMP-SC-13 | Cryptographic Protection |
| FEDRAMP-SC-28 | Protection of Information at Rest |
| FEDRAMP-SC-7 | Boundary Protection |
| FEDRAMP-SC-8 | Transmission Confidentiality and Integrity |
Your Compliance Coverage
If you comply with NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements, you already cover:
NIST SP 800-82 Revision 3: Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security
57%
20 controls mapped
Compare →South Korea ISMS-P
57%
20 controls mapped
Compare →NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5
51%
18 controls mapped
Compare →+ 357 more: MTCS (Singapore) (49%), NIST Privacy Framework (46%)
See all 360 mapped frameworks ↓Maps to 360 other frameworks
What is NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements and who does it apply to?
NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements is a compliance framework from United States (NIST) with 5 domains and 35 controls. NIST Special Publication 800-171A Revision 3 (2024) provides assessment procedures for the security requirements in NIST SP 800-171 Rev 3. It defines assessment objectives and methods (examine, interview, test) for each of the 110 security requirements protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in nonfederal systems. Used by CMMC assessors, DoD contractors, and federal agencies to verify CUI protection compliance. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
What does NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements actually require?
NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements has 35 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are System Protection and Communications (15 controls), Incident Response and Media Protection (6 controls), Access Control and Identification (5 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
If I already comply with another framework, how much of NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements do I already cover?
NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements maps to 360 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are NIST SP 800-82 Revision 3: Guide to Industrial Control Systems (ICS) Security (57% coverage), South Korea ISMS-P (57% coverage), NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 (51% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I implement NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements?
Start your NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements compliance journey by running a self-assessment on our platform to identify your current compliance posture. Our AI advisory can answer specific questions about NIST SP 800-171A Rev 3 - Assessing CUI Security Requirements requirements, and cross-framework mapping helps you leverage existing controls from other frameworks you may already comply with. Create a free account to access all 35 controls and track your progress.
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